You’re probably wondering: Why World Race Gap Year?
I’ve been thinking about taking a gap year for the longest time. It’s been on my mind for at least the past year, probably longer. I considered two other programs – one called Global Year and another named YWAM. I knew someone who did YWAM; I didn’t know of anyone who’d done either of the two other programs. I had heard about the World Race Gap Year a while ago, but originally threw it out the window because it seemed expensive and hard, but yet somehow too good to be true. However, several months ago, two different people mentioned the program to me and it was once again brought to the forefront of my mind.
For those unfamiliar with it, I’ll give a quick summary of the World Race Gap Year program. It is a nine-month overseas mission experience for young adults aged 18-20. There are five different “routes,” each going to three different continents (part of what makes this program unique is how you get to experience more than one country). Participants get to do a variety of missions and outreach, while growing closer to God and building Christ-like community with fellow racers. If you’d like to know more, check out this website!
Now back to my main focus.
- Let’s backtrack a bit.
It’s that lovely time of life where I’m bombarded with nonstop choices… Do I want to go to college? Where do I want to go to college? What do I want to do as a career? What job do I want? What’s God’s plan for my life? What should I do next? What’s the right path? So much opportunity at my fingertips and so much stress on my shoulders. All that to say: I’ve been stuck in indecision in my life for at least the past year. Even though it’s something I’ve really wanted to do, choosing a gap year program was just another decision weighing me down.
I recently read an article in a magazine that said something like this: sometimes we want God to make our decisions for us because we are too scared of making wrong choices. If we find that one lone path of God’s will, everything will go as it should – right? Nope. God never promised us security, success, and prosperity when we follow Him. We don’t need Him to tell us our future – He’s already holding it in His hands, and sometimes he says, “Just choose a path. I will be with you wherever you go.”
That article just SPOKE to me so much. I hate making decisions! And when the stakes are so high? It’s even more challenging! Even though I know putting off making a decision is, in itself, making a decision, I slip into that default behavior more often than I’d like. Now I feel like I have the clarity to actually commit. Deep down, I know I don’t have the power to control everything in my life – that’s not my job! God has it in his hands. And ultimately, His plan for my life is greater than anything I can come up with on my own. Even if I’m not “successful” by the world’s standards, I need to remember that’s okay. God’s ways are not our ways. By saying yes to the World Race Gap Year, I’m choosing to trust that He will take care of me wherever I end up.
It will be scary and exciting and radically life-changing. I don’t pretend to imagine it will be easy. But I know it will be so worth it. There’s no way I will come out of this experience being the same Shanan. This blog will be a spot full of vulnerability (scary!) and randomness as I prepare and embark on this crazy adventure.
I hope you’ll follow along, and if you feel led, that you’ll consider supporting me on my journey with your prayers and/or donations! If you’d like to stay up to date with any new posts, feel free to subscribe! Thanks for reading
