I believe the world is hungry. Not only physically hungry, but hungry for so much more. The world is hungry for love. The world is hungry for compassion. Hungry for security and safety. Hungry for a hope beyond this life. Hungry for acceptance and guidance. I believe the world is not only hungry, but starving for a Savior. 

Hi :) I am Mary Grace. This is my first blog post! 9 months, 3 countries and a mission to love people so much that all they can see in me is Jesus. 

Why are you going on the World Race Gap Year?

This has been a hard question for me. It isn't that I don't know why, it is that there are so many answers I haven't even known where to start. Over the past few days, the Lord has been showing me really and truly WHY and I didn't even notice until now. I mean right now. Seconds before I opened up my computer screen to finally write this blog post. 

We live in a world where we are obsessed with ourselves. We live this "all about me" lifestyle without even realizing it, even if we are kind people who follow Jesus we can fall into this trap. I did. I have found that for me it is not because I was trying to be this way. It was because I was not intentional with my actions. I was not intentional with my words, posts, how I spent my time, who I spent time with, etc. I was not intentional with the way I was loving people. 

So why am I going on the World Race?

Yes, I love traveling and I love community. I also cannot wait to see where my heart posture is leaving for Guatemala versus coming home from Swaziland. But here is my answer to the question. I am going on the World Race to love people with as much intention as I possibly can. Think about Jesus in His daily life. He had so much compassion for people, He spent every single day intentionally loving them not for human praise, but because He saw the hunger in their hearts for a Savior. He had so much compassion and empathy for these souls. I am going on the World Race to give that compassion and empathy to people. Whether it's family and friends before I leave, my squadmates, my leaders, the people I am in ministry with, some sweet kiddos, strangers on the streets, or whoever else the Father places in my life on this journey.

I cannot do this for human praise or for selfish gain. I am doing this for my Father, my best friend, my Savior. And that is the ultimate gain. I see the hunger in the world. I see the ache in so many hearts, beautiful people longing for reunion with their Savior and longing to just come home. I feel called. Do I feel unqualified? Yes! But He has shown me many many times in the Bible how He uses the unqualified. It isn't that I am ever going to become qualified, it is that my actions are through the One who is. 

So here I am. Hi! Just here to love intentionally. I am here to love BIG! Here to love you and all people of the nations with compassion and empathy. What a journey am I right?! He gives us this invitation every single day. He gave it to me and He gives it INTENTIONALLY to you specifically for your unique calling as well. I am so excited for this journey! This journey of loving His people with as much intentionality as possible.

I love you!

Mary Grace :)