seasons

Hi everyone! I am SO excited to finally announce that God has called me to a season of service starting next year after my high school graduation with the World Race: Gap Year program! September of 2019-May of 2020, I will be doing full-time missions work, first in Costa Rica for three months, then in Cambodia for three months, and finally in Swaziland (Africa) for three months! While I am nervous to spend so much time away from my family, friends, and everything that’s familiar for nine months of my life, I am incredibly excited to see what the Lord has in store for me!

I will be sharing this incredible journey with a team of around thirteen other 18-20 year olds, all of whom I will get the chance to meet at an 11-day training camp in Georgia this coming July! (I can’t wait!) We will have to condense all of our possessions that we will need for nine WHOLE months into a backpack, work/do ministry six days out of the week, take showers out of buckets, and possibly sleep in tents for a portion of our time abroad. On our personal day every week, we can either take the opportunity to rest or use it as an “adventure day” to get out and explore our community!

Our ministry will consist of things like leading camps for at-risk youth in Costa Rica, teaching English in Cambodia (I am actually considering majoring in Teaching English as a Second Language, so this is an incredible way for me to get hands-on experience and see if it’s something I would want to do for the rest of my life!), and working in an orphanage in Swaziland. I am so excited for the opportunity to show the people in these countries the love of Jesus and share the Gospel with them! I also plan on taking advantage of an opportunity offered by the World Race: Gap Year in partnership with a college in Georgia to earn nine college credits while I am on this trip!

So, what do I need from YOU? First of all, I ask that you stay in prayer for myself and my team as we prepare for such a huge undertaking! Prayer is THE most important way that you can support myself and my team, both in the next 10 months of preparation and after our launch next September. Secondly, I need to raise a total of $16,600, which will cover all air, land, and sea travel for nine months, vaccinations, and a daily food allowance while I am out of the country. This may seem like an overwhelming amount, but I trust that where God has called me, He will be faithful in providing everything that I need.

I have been blessed with a job that I believe will provide me with the majority of the funds that I need, but I will be sending out fundraising letters in case any of you feel led to donate and help me reach my goal! If you’re interested in receiving a copy of my fundraising letter in the mail, please text me or message me on Facebook with your address and I will make sure that you receive one!

Until my next update!

-Nicole