What I’m Doing AFTER The World Race (Official Announcement)

What’s next? 

This is the question that’s been in my mind and in the minds of my squad mates for quite a while now. In fact, it’s the question that has permeated my soul for years. It seems as though I am always wondering what the future holds. Discontent with today and obsessed with tomorrow. The difference this time is I don’t believe I am discontent with today. Sure, sometimes I get carried away thinking/dreaming about the future, but for possibly the first time in my life I believe I have found contentment in the present. Huge win for Connor lol! 

It’s crazy to be in Romania with 55 days left on the World Race. At the beginning of this journey, I didn’t really think about the end, it seemed so far away. Now that it is so close, however, I find myself thankful for everything I have gained, while saddened that this particular chapter is coming to a close. I’m planning to write a blog about the things I gained through serving the Lord around the world for a year, for now, the treasure I want to tell you about is purpose. 

This year, I gained purpose. 

Seeking purpose has been my mission since graduating college in 2015. I was always wondering why I was plagued with discontent, why I felt disconnected, why I was obsessing about the future, and why I couldn’t seem to find fulfillment no matter what I tried. I was assuming purpose was found in what I did instead of resting in God. Something clicked in my understanding last year. I realized that I am God’s son and my purpose is to glorify Him… everything else is the icing on the cake. Wow! This was a huge step for me, and it was the first step towards a year of fulfillment. 

One of the craziest and most exciting parts about this year is that I wake up every day connected to my purpose! I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing! Don’t get me wrong, the reason I’m connected to purpose is that I believe I’m supposed to do mission work, yes, but also because I am more connected to the Lord than ever before. It has come at a price, but when you seek the Lord and are hungry for intimacy, I believe He will lead you into it. That has been my prayer, and God has answered! Finding purpose and being fulfilled is an incredible result of being intimately connected to the Lord – the icing on the cake. 

This brings me to THE BIG ANNOUNCEMENT! 

The World Race is no small thing, but for me, it was only the beginning. The beginning of spending more and more time on the mission field. At age 13, God placed missions on my heart in a big way and since then I have been eagerly anticipating what that is going to look like. This past year it has been connecting to my purpsoe traveling to 10 (soon to be 11) different countries in 10 (soon to be 11) months doing missions the whole time. Next year – starting in September –  it will be through being a GAP Year Squad Leader for W Squad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YEEEEAAAAHHHH!!!!

1. What is GAP Year Squad Leading?

GAP Year is another World Race program run through Adventures In Missions for 18-21-year-olds. It is focused on college students for the purpose of giving them an opportunity to take a gap year to serve the kingdom of God while seeing more of the world. 

As these young adults travel, squad leaders are assigned to their squad to lead spiritually, encourage the racers, give insight into life overseas, help with logistical operations, disciple these incredible individuals throughout their 9 months on the mission field, and more. I am going to be one of these Squad Leaders! WOOP! WOOP!

2. What are The Differences?

The differences between GAP Year and 11n11 (the program I am currently doing) are as follows: 

• GAP Year is for 9 months (two months less than 11n11)
• GAP Year is a little more structured than 11n11. Because GAP Year is for 18-21-year-olds, having older squad leaders to offer guidance, leadership, and wisdom is so important. Adventures In Missions wants to utilize racers who have field experience and who know AIM’s missionary culture to influence and lead these young people through their World Race journey. 
• GAP Year only goes to 3 different countries. Mine will be Guatemala, Ethiopia, and Thailand! This means that for 3 months we will be in Guatemala, then for the next three months we will be in Ethiopia, and for the final 3 months, we will be in Thailand. 
• My GAP Year fundraising goal will be significantly less! Because the position I have accepted is a difficult and taxing one, AIM has lowered the cost to help support us as squad leaders. In future posts, I will give you more information about my fundraising goals. 

3. When will You Leave?

The wild part of all this is that I will be departing for GAP Year right after I return home from my World Race. My GAP Year squad launches to the field in early September and I will arrive home from the World Race on August 28th. This means I will only have a few days to hug my family, enjoy Chick-fil-a once or twice, repack my things, and leave America again for just under another year. 

4. WHY?

I could easily write seven more paragraphs as to why God is leading me into this decision, but the simple answer is just that… God is leading me to this decision. I am absolutely blown away, humbled, and thankful that God would lead me into continuing to serve Him full time on the mission field. It’s literally the most amazing thing when you see your calling take shape right in front of your very eyes. This is how I feel. I am ecstatic to pour into the lives of young adults, I am amazed at the opportunity to learn from and serve more cultures, and I cannot wait to continue deepening my relationship with the Lord! 

Yes, there are some very tough sacrifices I will be making this time around. Saying goodbye for a year was easy enough for me… but then turning right around and saying goodbye again… wow, it’s going to be difficult. There will be tears, and there is already pain. I miss so many people so dearly, and I was looking forward to reconnecting with my loved ones thinking I would have nothing but time when I would return home. However, God’s kingdom work goes on and I am so blessed to be chosen for this task in this season. 

Thank you so much for following my journey, for celebrating what God is doing in my life, for offering prayers, for being an encouragement, and for reading yet another blog. 

I hope you will continue to follow along because we’re only just getting started! 

5. Prayer

• Please pray for W Squad! This is a squad made up of 43 incredible young missionaries who have sooooo much potential to do amazing things for the Lord! 
• Please pray for wisdom, wisdom, and more wisdom. I definitely want to take Solomon’s approach to leading in this capactity and say that I will need all of the wisdom I can get. 
• Please pray for the leadership team. Right now our leadership team is me, Madie, Kyndal, Matt, and Kendra. 
• Please pray for my family. Pray that God allows us to have some time together when I arrive home in just under two months and that they have grace to let me go for another year. 
• Finally, please pray for the countries we will be ministering in: Guatemala, Ethiopia, and Thailand. Pray for protection, prepared hearts, and the Holy Spirit to continue moving in mighty ways! 

Thank you so much and God bless.