HELLO!!! In my first blog post, I wanted to share a bit about myself and why I’ve decided to go on World Race Gap Year!
My name is Rylee! I am 18 years old and I am from Commerce, Georgia. This is my first year out of high school and I am currently going to Athens Technical College to become a nurse… one day.
I have always been a planner, I like to know what is next, I like to have my future laid out in a clear plan that I can follow step by step. In my senior year of high school, I did full-time dual enrollment because that would mean I could be ahead in all of my school, and because of that, I was going to be able to apply to nursing school this upcoming January. I had a plan and I was going to stick to it. The problem with being a planner is that I am also someone that wants to follow Jesus passionately. I have big dreams to travel the world and share the love of Jesus without borders. Doing something like this has always been in the back of my mind but… I had a plan. I was going to get through school. I was going to get a job. And then, maybe I would go after my dreams of missions. But I have recently realized that when they say, “God laughs when we make plans…” they weren’t lying.
When I was at a concert recently, I met some girls that randomly asked me if I had ever heard of the race, I had, and was talking about how I would love to do it but I need to get through college right now. My friend said the words that changed my way of thinking, “Rylee, there is always going to be something in the way, but those things will still be here when you get back.” And from that moment forward the only thing I could think about was going. And going now.
I started to realize that the Lord has had this plan for me for a long time, and it has just recently become very evident. I have always been very sensible. Like I said, I did all I could to get ahead in school, I stayed home for college, and I have always done what makes the most sense. I struggled at the beginning of this semester when I watched all of my friends move away, find new communities, and be in completely different spaces. But I felt like I was still in the same season I had been in for the past year. But now, more than ever, I am grateful that I am ahead, I am grateful that I stayed home because it has opened my heart to something much greater than myself. I see that God made me the sensible person I am so I would have the opportunity to do something that people may see as not sensible at all. I am ahead in school now, so I won’t be behind when I return. I stayed home from college, so I wouldn’t have to worry about the next living situation and all that comes with that. The Lord has taken care of everything before I even knew this was His plan for me.
The Lord has made it so clear that this is what is next. I am blown away by His goodness, and His everlasting love. Seeing His plan unfold, and seeing the path become clear makes evident His faithfulness. I am doing this because I want others to know the joy and love that comes with knowing my Jesus. Because there is absolutely nothing on earth that matches it. So we must go to the ends of the earth to share it.
Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. Ephesians 6:19-20.
