MY LIFE IS ABOUT TO CHANGE AND THIS IS WHY:

I AM PURSUING MY PASSION and so I’m going on mission to do just that, literally! I have committed to serving as a missionary with Adventures in Missions starting in July 2021. I find no greater joy in this life than working to see children, individuals and families come to know the love and mercy of Jesus Christ. Whenever I go on a mission, whether locally, domestically or internationally, I am blessed by the opportunity to serve others. In these moments I get to bring joy to the sick, the abandoned and the disheartened. I get to pray with those who need encouragement, play with those who need attention and distraction from the poverty they live in, and bring light to this darkened world. We often ask God, why are there so many starving children in this world? Why is there so much poverty, depression, and loneliness? Have you ever considered that God is asking us these very same questions? He calls us to action, to make change in our communities and in our world. We are called to love and serve widows and orphans (James 1:27). We are called to spread the Good News of the Gospel, that we don’t have to spend this life in fear, guilt or shame (Mathew 28:19-20). We are called to pick up our cross daily and follow Him (Matthew 16:24). So that’s how I want to live my life, in obedience to the Lord, and ultimately to make a Kingdom building impact with the only earthly life I get to live. 

THIS IS MY OPPORTUNITY to do just that. Since the age of 17, on my first international mission in Jamaica, I have felt a strong desire to be a missionary, to live my life 100% for my Creator and to bring joy with me wherever I go. I settled that with my worldly fears by going to college for a Bachelor’s and now a Master’s in General Education. Yes, I’ve gotten to serve in the lives of many kids in my community through teaching and coaching but I’m not able to share with them the joy of life that I’m so passionate about sharing. The WorldRace Global South trip through Adventures in Missions is a mission trip to 11 countries over the course of 11 months. Over the course of my trip starting in August 2021, I will be serving people in South America, Asia and Africa, through multiple capacities. Some of the ways we will be serving throughout our trip are through education, construction, athletics, trekking, anti-human trafficking, church-planting, etc. This opportunity isn’t about what I can do for the world, but what God can do through me to bring light and life back into darkened places and lost people (Ephesians 2:6-10). This is a launching pad for the rest of my life.

THIS IS A SHOT AT FREEDOM. I have found it very easy to be consumed by this world. I often find myself trying to escape responsibilities, and realities by trying to have the most fun. This leads me into a spiral of overspending, falling to temptations, finding contentment in the simple routines of life and losing focus of what really matters: living an impactful life. Committing to the WorldRace is committing to letting go of the possessions and sins I entangle myself with and finding freedom in holding dear only the intangibles: Jesus, people, experiences, joy, challenge, and trust (Matthew 19:21-30). 

I saved the best for last: THIS IS A TESTIMONY OF MY UPBRINGING, MY COMMUNITY AND MY BIGGEST SUPPORTERS. You know that saying “you are who you hang around.” And I fully believe I am a byproduct of my communities and who I hang around. From the people I love most, I have learned the power of forgiveness, the worth of adventure and the importance of hardwork. From my church family, I have learned the need for Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, the desire to serve, and the willingness to trust in the Lord. From my community I have learned that relationships come in all shapes and sizes, encouragement is life giving and support is always accessible. I want this experience to be a reminder to you all the influence you play in the lives of others, your ability to make a positive impact on your world, and an invitation to continue to prove to this world that there is good in mankind. My act of going becomes possible due to the support, encouragement and love I receive from YOU (1 Thessalonians 5:11-21).