Learning to Breathe

Hi!

So the title of my first blog is honestly not that relevant to what I’m talking about other than the fact that I’m listening to the song as I write. My first title is more relevant (“famous last words”); however, it kinda seemed like clickbait? This is also somewhat of a quirky title, but that’s alright. Point is, this is a very long-winded story of how God got me to this moment and why I am going on the race, enjoy!

I heard about the World Race when I was a freshman. My friend from church, Meagan, was planning on going, and after learning about it for her, it was like a pebble in my shoe that I couldn’t shake out. For the next three years, the idea of taking a gap year was always in the back of my mind, but as I was a relatively good student with a rigorous AP course schedule and the youngest of 7 siblings who all went to college right after high school, the idea seemed pretty off base. 

I would lowkey bring up the idea (of a gap year) to my parents every once in a while, but it didn’t really stick until the end of my junior year. Junior year was preeeetty rough for me workload-wise, and while I (mostly) worked hard in school, I intensely disliked (and still dislike) the academic aspect of high school. The idea of going from four years of high school straight into four years of college seemed truly abhorrent. And the pebble in my shoe kicked in as I remembered this super cool mission trip program that Meagan had gone on. I knew that both, I, and my parents, hated the idea of taking a fun year off where I would go gallivant around Europe. God has also just grown a love of missions in my heart through my involvement in a missions choir for high school kids at my church. So, I was super stoked when my parents finally agreed to support me in pursuing this non-traditional pathway. (Of course, I am still going to school after though, #gopanthers #h2p).

BUT my mom said I had to make sure that I felt called and it wasn’t just me deciding I want to go without any prompting from the spirit. That sent me into a summer FULL of God just so clearly calling me to go. Which was just so so so cool to see and I could share all the stories, but it was like a summer full of these random sermons about missions and why we should all be missionaries, and little moments with strangers where I would share this desire in my heart and they would just like speak truth over it and affirm this decision. Also, I met with Meagan — that girl was patient and answered all my questions about the race (still does). I ended summer with this overwhelming peace about my decision. I felt comforted that God really, truly wanted me to do this, and honestly, it was just so freaking cool to see him so blatantly answer this prayer with (seemingly) random signs. 

So I applied, and I’ve been fundraising and praying and telling everyone I know about the race! And for real– God is STILL affirming me with signs. Most recently, I went on this winter retreat where there was another missions sermon that I attended, and I’ll end it with some of the words the speaker shared. 

– You’re either a missionary or you’re a fraud.

– The question isn’t if we’re called to go, more often it’s if we’re called to stay. 

– God doesn’t need us to be awesome, He just needs us to be faithful. 

So if you didn’t read this whole long-winded, and instead decided to skim (which I get) READ THIS PART:

I am going because, yes, I felt some really cool Holy Spirit promptings and experienced God moments with random people. However, even without out that, Jesus is very clear. His very last words (see it was relevant) before ascending to Heaven to be with His father, OUR father, (woah) were to go. Like, how do you mess that up? It’s so clear that we’re all called to share the love of Jesus with everyone we meet. Personally, I’ve really felt burdened with the call to go and preach His name lately, cause man it’s like the most important, the only really important thing, there is to do. This is eternity we’re talking about. Imagine living eternity apart from our perfect Father and the Creator of the universe. It’s just the worst thought!

SO I am just super excited to go on the World Race, and I am so thankful that God has put this desire on my heart, as well as given me the opportunity and money necessary to go. 

Thanks for reading this, and if you made it this far you ROCK!

Love, Sarah

 

1 Corinthians 2:1-5

And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.