The countdown has officially begun, as the days to hours get fewer, each moment feels a little different now, closer to the moment when I step onto a plane and my 9-month journey begins. I've been waiting for this day to come for so long, expecting that it never will, and now that it has I feel a little in denial.

When I first got accepted to go on the World Race, I was nervous at first. Like any young person would be, leaving home to explore the world on your own is a little frightening. however, after taking lots of time to pray about it, He has brought me peace. It's different now however, thinking about how in just a few hours, I'll be meeting my fellow racers to spend 3-9 months with some of them (don't get me wrong I'm super excited to meet you guys), but I have hesitations.

What about my friends back home, will they meet new people and forget about me? If I'm different when I come back, will they still like me? How sad will my family be? What will holidays be like without them? Will I make new friends on this trip? Do I have everything I need? What if I packed too much, or too little? How will my life change when I get back? But what I figured out is, the answer to all these questions is simple:

He's got me.

"If God is for us, who can be against us?" Romans 8:28-33

No matter what situation I'm in, where I am, who I'm with, or what happens when I get back, He has got a plan for me, so I must trust that His plan for me will come to fruition. The Lord has provided this opportunity for me and He will not leave me unprepared. Yes it's going to be hard, and there will be many changes, but this is a sacrifice I'm willing to make.

I know all my "what if's" will resolve themselves. Thinking about the communities I'm going to serve, the people I'll meet and the conversations I'll have, the good days and straining days, It's all worth it.

It's not about what I'm leaving behind, but how I can step into God's calling for me.