why am I going?

HEY BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE!!!!!

First i thought i would introduce myself– i’m Madeline Honea and I’m from a small town in Mississippi called Brookhaven. I’m going on World Race Gap Year 2022 and launch next September! I will be traveling to Guatemala, South Africa, Cambodia, and Thailand!! I’m so excited for the journey God has put me on and can’t wait to see how he uses me and the amazing people I’m traveling with to glorify Him! 

So I know you’re probably wondering why I’m doing this, you might even be against me doing it. I didn’t realize how many people wouldn’t be supportive of my decision. I’ve heard it all: “you don’t have to leave to serve the Lord”, “why would you throw your life away for a mission trip”, “you need to go to college next year”, “its selfish to leave everyone for a year”, and “you’re probably going for the wrong reasons.” And while yes, you don’t have to leave America to serve the Lord, this is what God has called me to do. I’m not throwing my life away and I don’t NEED to go to college next year. I can go in fall 2023 and be completely fine. I’ve had to learn over the last few days, it’s hard to follow what God wants you to do when other people don’t agree with it. But I am listening to Him, and I am going.

Now don’t get me wrong, this isn’t what I thought I would be doing either. In early August I was applying to colleges and getting in and making a pinterest board for my dorm room. I was talking to people that went to my dream school about life there and envisioning myself on bid day getting into a sorority and being surrounded by the sisters I never had growing up—- but that’s not what God had planned for me in this stage of my life. And it took me longer than I’d like to admit to surrender to his plan and apply to the World Race Gap Year. If you know me, you know me bringing 8 shirts is a huge change, and not being able to curl or color my hair, even more of a change, but I’m giving all of that up because God has a plan and I have to trust Him and follow my calling. 

So yeah, I’m just as surprised as you are, trust me, but it’s going to be amazing and I can’t wait to watch God move through this experience. But my favorite Bible verse, John 13:7, of course makes it all make sense, as it always does, “you do not understand what I am doing now but someday you will.”

And to the team I will be serving with— you are all amazing and I can’t wait to meet you and see how God uses you!!!!!

Your Sister in Christ,

Madeline