Why am I going on this trip? Well honestly it had been something on my mind since I heard of it freshman year of high school. 

I have always been a person who will see something they wanna do, then do it. I am constantly on the go and love being busy with many many things. I always have had at least 2 jobs and I played a sport all the way up until last year. Busyness was like my calling.

One specific thing, though, that has taken up my time since middle school, has been working at a kids camp. This has always been by far my favorite thing to do. Over the past 4-5 years working at this camp taught me so many things such as patience, kindness, and especially how to love others in a Godly manner. I believe this was the beginning spark of why I am here going on this trip. 

The World Race was something that was periodically mentioned between me and my parents over the past few years, but since I was planning on playing a sport in college, it didn't seem possible. I was planning on graduating high school early to be able to go to college and begin practice earlier.  Volleyball was my passion, it was what defined me. I guess that's where God had to change me. 

July 2021 was where my world changed. I got a really bad concussion and a fractured nose from getting hit in the face with a silly duct tape ball at work. The months after that were spent in the darkness, going to brain rehab, therapy, I got laser treatment, pretty much any brain fixer you can think of, I needed. This, of course, was the downfall to my volleyball career. I tried to go back to the gym when I felt better but every time I went back, I would get hit again. This led to me getting 5 concussions in 3 months. I had to quit. I had never felt the sadness I felt as I had to say goodbye to my coaches, my teammates, to the hours spent a day on training. I was hopeless. I wanted to say that God had me, but did I really believe it? 

Through this time I had to put more faith in God than I have ever before. What was I gonna do? This is where missions began popping in my head more. I had been working at this camp for years which is a little bit of a mission in itself, and I was graduating early anyway so why not do it for the greater good? I continued praying about it and after talks with my parents, here I am committing to World Race! 

I am so excited for this opportunity I have and my faith and passion for spreading the good news has grown tremendously. I can combine my excitement for adventure and love for working with kids into a trip that will change peoples lives for the good!