Welcome!!
I am so beyond excited to announce, that instead of going to college right after high school, I have committed to a nine month mission trip called the World Race Gap Year Program!
This program will send me to three different countries within the nine months that I will be on the Race, spending three months in each!
Applying for this program consisted of a ton of prayer by both myself and some of the amazing support I have behind me.
On a breezy September night back in 2019, I felt lower than low and decided the best thing to do, would be to open my bible. I came across a story in Acts chapter 26.
Paul had been persecuting the followers of Jesus. Going to synagogues and punishing any and every follower he could. Until he met God Himself….
“We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ “Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ “ ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied. ‘Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me. I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’”
??(Acts? ?26:14-18? ?NIV??)
This verse hit me differently than any other I had read that night. What did it mean?? Send me out to the Gentiles?? Deliver me from my own people?
I felt a calling but to what, I didn’t know. So I prayed. As I stumbled through my Junior year, with less grace than I’d care to admit, I’d began to notice something. Growth. Change. Challenge. Relationships and friendships falling through. My heart broke over and over and over again this year and in so many different ways. From family issues to friendship issues and eventually to Corona cutting my school year short. God pruning me. Sitting me down, alone with Him, learning more and more and more each day about the way life should and would look with Him. Encouraging me constantly to drop every worldly thing I could have ever desired, pick up my cross, and follow nothing but Him.
Let’s back up a minute.
It wasn’t until December 2019, that I began to seriously consider applying for the World Race. I sat down at a lunch with my beloved mentor and small group leader, and presented the idea. Ever since I voiced the possibility to someone besides my mom, (lol) it has felt more and more real the closer I have gotten to this point. It is now no longer a dream to follow God anywhere and everywhere that He may call me, it is reality. It is a yes I have said with full confidence that the Lord is fully behind it.
I cannot even begin to express how thankful I am for the tremendous support I have already received from both this program and my family. I can only imagine the adventures and relationships I will cultivate as I embark on this incredible journey.
If you have read this far, you rock my world.
Subscribe for updates from me on this epic adventure I have began with my Rock and Savior. And do not ever hesitate to contact me, or comment with ANY questions you may have for me, about myself, or the Race.
If you feel called to donate, please do!!! My fundraising goal is displayed at the top of my page. I have a little over a year to reach this and I’m so thankful to anyone who may contribute to that, or anyone who may support me in any way through my Gap Year.
Prayers for me are more than welcome throughout this journey.
You‘re amazing for reading.
Until next time,
Landry <3
