What makes a person, in the middle of their college experience, decide to put their degree on hold to leave everything and everyone behind? What makes a person decide to travel overseas, not for a week or two, but for 9 months to multiple countries they know very little about? What makes a person decide to make seemingly crazy life decisions? Why would I do this?

One answer, seven words: Because when God calls, I say yes.

Let's step back a little. Since I can remember, I have had a heart and a passion for helping people. I’ve been so extroverted and unafraid to talk to anyone, even strangers, and I’ve loved getting to understand people, but I didn’t know how to use these gifts. I was first introduced to what a missionary was in 7th grade when, at my old church, I flipped through postcards of missionary families and read their stories. I remember thinking briefly, "this would be cool to do," but nothing more, and it wasn’t until the beginning of my freshman year of college that I understood why God made me the way I am.

The previous year, my senior year of high school, I had led my first person ever to Jesus (all glory to God!), and it ignited this fire inside of me to tell others about Jesus boldly and loudly. Starting my first year of college, not even 2 weeks in, I realized that God was calling me to pursue missionary work, to one day be a missionary teacher and reach people who don’t know Jesus. This is not something I take lightly, because it means leaving all I’ve ever known and venturing into places I’ve never experienced, with languages I don’t speak, cultures I don’t understand, and religions I don’t know everything about. But as I said, what I do know is that when God calls, you obey. This was not an easy obedience either. I have never experienced spiritual warfare in this way before since saying yes, and I have never doubted my entire life and myself so much before, but I have also never had a faith so rooted in Jesus and a trust in Him that exceeds any lie the enemy tells me.

It says to us in His Word, “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” (Romans 10:14-15). This verse speaks volumes, because it's true. How? How will anyone know if no one goes? If the ones who are called don't say yes?

So often, we prioritize comfort, security, and normalcy over our obedience to God and find ways to justify it, but I can't do that anymore. I have to step out of my comfort zone, I have to go out to the nations, I have to share the best news of Jesus, and I have to keep saying yes to God. I know that this is how I am to serve the Lord, that I am to be one of many mouthpieces for sharing the gospel so that people may hear and believe - and this opportunity is so perfect for that.

So, calling to what? Answering what? Well, as I've stated, I know my calling is missionary work and missionary teaching, and I know that this is one of many ways I am to glorify God and serve Him. But this is my "dipping my toes" in the waters of what my future will look like, and preparing my heart, my mind, my strength, my willpower, and more for all my future will hold. What seems like a crazy decision to pack up and leave is a well-thought-out, prayed-over answer to God's calling on my life.

I couldn’t be more thankful that God has blessed me with an opportunity such as this, as this is just one of many steps of dedicating my whole life to going where He sends me and reaching the unreached through His strength for His glory! God has been good to me my whole life, and God has called, so I'm saying "yes". This is why I am going on the World Race.

May God bless, you and keep you, may His face shine upon you,

Jenna :)

Prayer requests:

• As I fundraise and prepare, that I would not lose heart, that I would be able to put on the full Armor of God and withstand every attack of the enemy.

• That I would be a diligent worker this summer and not become complacent in my faith or in my work ethic.

• That God would continue to prepare my heart, as well as prepare my team and I, for this incredible opportunity, and that He would already begin to soften the hearts of those we will encounter.

• That I would get to experience God in a new way every week.