Hi everyone! If you don’t know me personally, I’m greta and decided back in August to go on a mission with World Race! It didn’t feel super real until recently, when I hit the 50% fundraised mark…. So it’s official. I’M GOING TO THE NATIONS!!!!!! I am now 75% fundraised and feeling so blessed and provided for. It’s probably a good time to explain my heart behind these BIG decisions! 

I committed to the race on august 12th, 2025 while sitting in my bed thinking this thought: “sounds fun, why not?”. Looking back, I can see The Lord’s hand over my circumstances and the way He guided me to make this decision. However, at the time, it seemed pretty thoughtless. I figured it would lead to a senior year full of ease and assurance if I had decided what a wanted to do early on…. it did not. 

See, God does this crazy thing when you’re about to travel the world teaching His Word … you could call it refining, pruning, preparing… I called it ABSOLUTE. MISERY. Yet, He made it so beautiful. This year I experienced immense closeness to my Savior while, also feeling the most attacked by the enemy that I have ever felt. Many times this year I felt completely overcome by countless things, but Jesus is victorious. I’ve adopted this little motto from Romans 8, “We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us”. This year, I (through Christ of course) conquered many things.

My commitment to the race was just the beginning of a very challenging year for me. I tried many new things, one of them being running. Running and racing has taught me countless lessons about the Lord and He used it as a way to quietly speak to me as things felt so chaotic in life. Running helped me discover how to do hard things which was necessary considering the hard things that I was walking through in life. I spent a lot of this year ruled by fear. I  struggled heavily with believing the lies of the enemy. I felt really debilitated and incapable most of the time. I struggled with friends and with being at school and even church. I had deep anxieties whenever I was alone and battled some heavy thoughts. I was often angry or sad and struggled with feeling hopeless. Satan had a big foothold in my life for a long time. I did not feel like myself at all.  But, God takes what the enemy meant for evil and He turns it for good. 

I could go on for hours about the countless lessons God has taught me in the midst of all this. He taught me how to do hard things and overcome obstacles. He taught me the importance and power of prayer and abiding in The Father. He’s taught me of His truths and promises and how to cling to them every day. I’ve learned that The Lord is the greatest friend I will ever have. He will never leave nor forsake me. The Lord taught me how to escape the enemy’s grip on my life. He taught me how to rest. He taught me how to serve and love others well. I learned of Christ’s nature. His willingness to provide. His lowliness of heart. His quiet, guiding voice. The depths of His grace. The riches of His mercy. He taught me (and this one He’s teaching me everyday) how to live in FULL surrender to Him. To have joy despite circumstances. He completely changed my heart this year. He has humbled me and shown me the communion that can be found in vulnerability and brokenness. All so I could look to Him and KNOW HIM. Know Him by ALL of His names. Father, Brother, Friend, Provider, Redeemer, Shepherd, Protector, Intercessor, Advocate, Healer, Savior (the list goes on). The Lamb that was slain for US. 

How wonderful it is to truly know Him. And that I never have to stop growing in that.

All this to say: I feel very compelled and passionate about this trip. I found deep purpose in it, and that is simply: I LONG FOR OTHERS TO KNOW JESUS SO DEEPLY!!! I want them to learn all I have and wayyy more!!!! I love Jesus, and knowing Him deeply has absolutely wrecked me in the best ways. How could I ever keep that to myself. 

I want to love well and be filled with compassion. I want to grow deeper by knowing the Lord’s people in different parts of the world and seeing how He works in those countries. I want to live for something way bigger than myself. I want to be in complete submission and obedience to The Father and where He has called me. He has such GOOD plans.

So, while there is a LOT that’s going to happen on this trip (in my heart and the hearts of others)…. I want people to know Christ. And that is why I am going.