Hello! My name is Emma Price and I will be embarking on the World Race Expedition in 2024!
Currently, I am finishing up obtaining my degree in occupational therapy assistance in Michigan. Originally, I had thought that after graduation I was immediately jump into work and serve God in that way–but God obviously had a different plan. Missions, the World Race specifically, is something that has been on my mind for years, since the moment I heard about it. However, for a while all I could think is “well I can’t do that because ___.” However, this past fall I found myself in a situation where I could no longer fill in that blank. Suddenly, I found myself face to face with an opportunity I had dreamed about for years– to tell the nations about Jesus, and to love and serve God’s people. Now, I would love to say that in that instant I signed up and everything was perfect, however this is not reality. I then spent the next month going back and forth with myself on whether or not this is what I was being called too. However, when this mental battle was raging in my head, the campus ministry I am a part of “just happen” to have a group called the Traveling Team come. This is a group who empowers and connects people to serve around the world. When the main speaker was speaking he said something that immediately caught my attention. He said “if you are looking for God to give you permission to go, He has already given it (the Great Commission).” In that moment I turned to my friend and we locked eyes and I said “how could I not go?” You see, I had been searching for an answer, maybe even more so for God to say no because that would be the more comfortable answer. However, I can JOYFULLY say that since I had made the commitment to go on the race I have been full of joy and comfort from the Lord. In fact the moment I signed up I danced around in my room to worship music because I was just so caught up in how good God is, and that He had led my story to this point. And that right there is why I am going– so people can know the joy and freedom through Jesus. This is something that I have been lucky enough to know about all my life, but as the years have gone on the more I have realized that others do not even know His name. Which then begs the question, how can one receive freedom and forgiveness, if they do not know it exists? Then, I also want to go for the people who have heard Jesus’ name, but do not actually KNOW Him. Our amazing, mighty, God desires intimate relationship with each of us, not our religious ways, and I desire for people to know this, and to allow God to use me in people’s lives. When I think about it we are called to do two things in this life: love God and love His people, and the World Race is one way we can live this out.
Even though there were many thoughts, conversations, and questions, in my mind (and still are), one overpowers them: “what is on the other side of my yes?” I heard a preacher once say “my story is just a bunch of other people who said yes” and that is a thought that has stuck with me for years. Not only in situations such as the race, but in everyday life, what is waiting on the other side of my yes? What does God want to do with my yes? What does God want to do with a whole group of people who say yes to Him, even in the midst of confusion? I believe there is movement that the Lord wants to make, not only on the other side of my yes, but on the other side of my whole squads yes! Through our yes, we get to serve and love God, and through that love and serve His people! Which then allows for God to move in their hearts, and bring them to know Him.
“When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simeon Peter, ‘Simeon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?’
‘Yes Lord,’ he said, ‘you know I love you.’ Jesus said, ‘Feed my lambs.’
Again Jesus said ‘Simeon son of John, do you truly love me?’ He answered, ‘yes Lord, you know I love you.’ Jesus said, ‘take care of my sheep.’
The third time he said to him, ‘Simeon son of John, do you love me?’ Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, ‘do you love me?’ he said Lord, you know all things; you know I love you.’ Jesus said, ‘Feed my sheep.” (John 21:15-17).
With all joy,
Emma
