I figured it was about time that I write my first blog post. For those of you that may not know me, I’m Jenna. I grew up in Alpharetta, GA with my two amazing parents, sister, and a dog named Charlie. I’m now 22, set to graduate Florida State University this December, and I have a heartbeat for people, laughter, good coffee and most importantly, Jesus and mission work. So I’ll start with a little context..how did this World Race thing come to be?  

My parents provided me the opportunity to take mission trips to Swaziland, Jamaica, Costa Rica, and domestic locations including New Orleans, all before graduating high school. When I first got to college, I spent a lot of time lost trying to figure out what I wanted to do, where God wanted me in His Kingdom, and what was next for all the life ahead of me. After my sophomore year, I felt a call on my life to missions in Athens, Greece. I followed this passion the next two summers in the Navajo Reservation in Arizona. I’ve learned about construction, people experiencing homelessness, the ongoing refugee crisis, sex trafficking, women and children’s experiences in poverty, local agriculture, addiction, oppression, and more in my short time. 

This next calling to share the love of Jesus in unreached places, live out of a backpack among worldly brokenness, and leave all my comforts behind in the U.S. is starting THIS January. I’m stepping into this next unknown chapter with a peace that passes understanding. 11 months, 11 countries, 11 wildly different cultures to embrace, but the same God that has carried me through everything to date, the good, the bad, and the ugly, is going before me. If you’re wondering if I feel equipped, prepared, or qualified... that answer would be NO. Am I often met with anxiety, insecurity, and doubts? Absolutely. But I don’t have to be qualified, and I don’t have to be 100% percent sure all of the time. I just have to choose joy with open arms, and say YES to Him. 

Today is the start of an 11 day intensive training camp. My team and I are headed to Gainesville, GA to camp in the wilderness, train for real life experiences we may encounter, and learn a lot more about what ministry will look like next year. I'm anxious for all new faces, leaving my family, friends, and puppy behind; but I'm so excited to get started and meet the stranger faces that will soon be like family. To those who have supported me in prayer, good conversations, or financially, I am eternally grateful. It feels so incredible to receive support from all of you, and it's helping my dream come true. Please continue to pray as my team and I enter training camp. 

~Many more updates to come~

Jenna