This is a question I’ve gotten a lot recently, from fellow racers, from family and friends, but even more from myself. Why give up my final year of high school, leave my friends and family, leave the town I grew up in, leave comfort, to go out for nine months. To places I have never been, places I know little to nothing about. And that is such a fantastic question. Why am I doing this.
I am a big planning person. I like to feel secure in the sense that I know what is going to happen in the coming months and even years. At the end of 2021, my plan was to finish high school as normal, take some college courses, have it easy, work, stay at home, then go to college. But just as 2022 started, I heard about the World Race, and as much as I want to say I’m not an impulsive person, the second I did more research, I had applied the following day. The opportunity to finish high school early, travel the world with a solid group of people who love the Lord, and on top of that not have to enter college later than planned. Arguably the perfect plan.
Words cannot express how excited I am to be apart of this experience. Surrounded by the same god-loving people for 9 months, in 4 different countries, 3 different continents, away from what has been real like for 17 years. Living out of just a backpack, sleeping somewhere that’s not our own bed. Into a place where I will grow in my relationship not with everyone in my group, but especially the Lord. To dive deep into the Word and truly know and understand what my calling is.
Stay tuned for more blog posts and all sorts of content from me! In the upcoming months, I will update you on my faith journey and with more news about my trip. For now I would love prayers as I get ready for this trip, for a clear mindset and an open heart for whatever God has to offer. As well as to donate to my fundraising, because that is a huge part of my preparation.
Thank you for reading!
-Jackson
