Long ago, in a land far far away, an 18 year old Alexa first heard about the World Race. A mission trip that travels to 11 countries in 11 months, sharing the Gospel and loving God’s people, while carrying all your belongings in a backpack. SIGN ME UP! But then I learned the minimum age requirement was 21, so I would have to wait a few years… Here’s a little rundown of what occurred in the time that elapsed!
In the waiting, the Lord led me to be a short term missionary in Brazil for four months in 2016. I was a live-in cleaning lady for a missionary couple from my home church, and had the opportunity to be a part of children’s ministry in a nearby village. The following year the Lord moved me to Florida, working in a private school as a teacher’s aide with many hats. The year of 2018 I turned 21, so I applied for the World Race and got accepted! But the moment I answered the acceptance call, the Lord whispered “It’s not a no, just a not yet. You will go, I promise”. He wanted me to grow where I was planted a while longer, because He already had His perfect timing in motion.
So, every year I would revisit the World Race website and ask the Lord “How about now?” And the answer was the same, “Trust me and wait.” Due to COVID in 2020, my employment changed to be an Amazon delivery driver (so yes, the real Amazon Alexa). In early 2022, my boss offered me a change in scenery to work in his office as a sales administrator for the tableware company he was a representative for. At the same time, I felt the door opening to move forward with the World Race again. I moved back to Minnesota early 2023 in faith that God would give me the green light, and applied for the route leaving January 2024. Praise be to God that it was finally time, and I got accepted!
Since committing to the Race, I spent a lot of time working remotely as a sales administrator, babysitting, traveling the U.S., fundraising, and lots of much needed family time. I was so excited, but I will admit it didn’t feel real until I arrived on the Adventures in Missions base outside of Atlanta, Georgia January 14th. Every day of training camp I was overcome with gratitude for His faithfulness! And He reminded me of the verse a youth pastor wrote in the front of my Bible a few years back: “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:6. I struggled with frustration in the waiting, but the Lord was gracious while teaching me patience. And now there is so much freedom in trusting the Lord’s timing and knowing it is perfect. I am eager to experience what more He has planned for me over the next 10 months living out my dream!
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this testimony of God’s faithfulness in my life! I pray that He will use it to encourage and edify you.
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