As I drove past my old high school on my way to training camp a thought crossed my mind. I said to myself “I’m not going to drive past here for 9 months”. When this thought ran through my mind my heartbeat began to race and my eyes started to water. Had I just made one of the biggest mistakes of my life? Are my squadmates going to be weird or are we even going to have similar interests? Then I thought to myself “what am I even doing? How did I even end up going on this trip?” This thought just sat there in my mind and lingered on my mind for the rest of the ride to training camp. I had no idea at that moment the reason that God had called me to this trip. It doesn’t make any sense to go to college for a year and then abandon everything for 9 months and then try and come back.
9 months before this I was sitting in my room, quarantined because I had covid, reading a book called “Wild at Heart”. This book touched a part of me I didn’t even know existed. I had just been through my first semester of college and things were starting to go downhill in my faith and my relationship with God. But as I read this book it sparked something in me. There was this passion for something, something that I could not explain. I thought to myself, ” Wow, an adventure in life is really what I need, something to just spice it up a little.” Then an idea popped into my mind. I didn’t realize this back then but this idea was actually the voice of God. He whispered into my ear and told me “’ wouldn’t it be cool to go on the World Race?”. Being in quarantine I pondered this for the rest of the day. I always thought of it as something that was so cool but never really feasible or even an option. The longer I sat there the more I wanted to go. I called up one of my friends from high school and I talked to him about it and asked him what he thought I should do. He told me he believed that I would regret it for the rest of my life if I didn’t go. He told me I had one week to decide what I was going to do, but by the end of the phone call, I knew what I wanted to do.
This was my story about going on the World Race. As people kept asking throughout training camp I just told them I thought it was really cool and that God really just called me there and with those people. But the more I thought about it the more I wanted to know deep down why God wanted me there and why I wanted me to be there. This is when God showed me I honestly had reached a breaking point and I had realized that without taking an extended period of time completely dedicated to God I was going to keep getting further and further away from him. I think that my initial reasoning for going on the race was I needed a reset. A way to reset the way I was living, my relationship with God, and a reset for the relationship I had with my family. I also just wanted to travel and do something adventurous. But God’s plan was so much more than that. God wanted me on the race to show me his love for me through every possible example and to train me and disciple me to ultimately spread that same love wherever I go.
Every day I realize the importance of what God sent me here for. The plan God has for me gets more and more extravagant every day. I remember hiking up to this platform next to lake Atitlan in Guatemala realizing that the plan God has for my life is just so much more amazing than anything that I could have ever imagined or planned out for myself. I have never felt so loved in my entire life than the love that I have learned to accept from God. I have been given the confidence to approach people I don’t even know and try to start a conversation about Jesus. I have never been so equipped in my life. Sure I got to travel and I got to have the reset that I was wanting but as I look back on it the plan and reason that God put me here are so much more than I could have ever realized myself.
I loved reading all three of your blogs here. I have a friend from CA who will go on the Race in August and my granddaughter Kori is on her third right now. She knows Phil. Keep up that great “learning!”
Love, Ms. Barbara
Oh my goodness, Josiah!!! Thank you for sharing your heart, and what God is doing in you. Your story inspires me so much, and I count myself privileged to be a witness of his work in you. Praise God!!
Josiah- thanks so much for sharing your heart! Your obedience to God’s call is encouraging and it is so awesome to hear how he is blessing you and showing up in real, practical and life changing ways. Your post is really encouraging to me!!
Josiah, what an amazing race you have been on. Thank you for blessing me with sharing your story. I feel encouraged in my own journey- to listen and obey as blessing and adventure awaits! You are an amazing man.
Wow, I’m blown away by your strength of purpose and desire to serve our Lord. I love that your desire for adventure has become the understanding that serving God IS the adventure. We live each day totally committed to Him and allow Him to direct our path. As you complete this race, take time to ask Him how to prepare for your life of adventure with Him. Equip yourself with the tools you will need to follow Him. Another great book I recommend is Rebel With A Cause, written by Franklin Graham about himself.
Caleb and your parents have kept me up with your race but your blog shows me your heart. You will always be in my prayers. The race isn’t finished. Keep your focus. Stay strong.
Josiah,
I am blown away by the depths of your heart in writing this! I am reminded of you and Trey playing when u were probably about 5 and seeing something in you then that made me know that I know that God has marked you as a world changer. Then several years ago, out of the blue, I had a dream about you that I never shared w you. In the dream, you were about 20-25ish years old. You were in a large room w several other kids ur age and the room was lit up with the light of God. It was so bright and you were leading all the others in the room- lighting others up with the fire of the Lord. The dream was so simple but significant that I will never forget it. I believe we are seeing this fire beginning to spread through you everywhere u go.
I can’t wait to hear more stories —
Your journey is beautiful!!
Josiah, I am so glad that you stepped out and did it, and I am so glad to know you and hear of all the Lord is doing in your life!
Josiah, I love how you captured this important leg of the journey God has you on! He called you and you essentially said, “Yes, Lord. Here I am, send me!” And what an amazing race he started you on 🙂 Your story is inspiring ?? Thanks for sharing it!
Not sure why it printed “??” … I did not type that. Could not edit it. Imagine them as exclamation marks!!
Josiah, I loved reading this so much! It is so cool how you heard and responded to God’s voice (though you did not know it was God at first). I love how through this adventure you have experienced God’s love for you in such deep and profound ways. And how you have gained the courage, skills and desire to share the love of God others. This will be an experience you look back and draw from when you need to be reminded of God’s real and present relationship with you! I will pray for you as you continue on the World Race. May you finish strong!