As I sat across the table from Kaylin Starbuck today, I felt inspired. I saw a lady with a heart that above all else desires to serve the Lord and bring him glory. A lady willing to give up everything to follow him as He has called her to join the World Race; a mission trip that involves traveling to 11 countries in 11 months. Greater than witnessing her answering the call to obedience, I saw her passion and fire for the Lord. When the gentle beckoning and whisper came from the Lord that said “Go,” she decided to push past her questions and say, “Yes!”
Before meeting with Kaylin, I had heard about the World Race and as I consider where God is calling me, I wanted to hear her story and her journey of how God brought her to this life changing decision. Her story started in college as she developed a desire to go to India and Peru. A spark began to stir into a roaring flame as she began looking up Bible verses, videos, and different mission organizations. As her search continued, she happened onto finding the World Race. There was an instant draw as she saw the ministry being grounded and solid in their presentation of the Gospel and encouraging an intimate and personal relationship with Jesus.
The call became stronger while at a youth camp in Delaware and leading worship. She shared with her mom over the phone this call to go and she felt in her heart that the time to go was drawing near. She didn’t know the where, but the World Race and India and Peru continued to be on her heart. She continued to be encouraged as she talked with her friend’s sister that had just returned from the World Race. As God directed Kaylin’s path, she applied for the World Race in August. Discouragment set in when the routes came up and the one with Peru and India weren’t there. It was a trying season, but it grew Kaylin and helped her learn to trust in the Lord and that the call he placed on her heart had a purpose. And so it was in October, that a route was revealed that had both India and Peru. As she remained faithful and learned to be patient even if it meant laying aside this dream, the results were even greater than what she had hoped. The route had five Spanish speaking countries and her minor was in Spanish (her major is in psychology) .
It is Kaylin’s desire to see God’s Kingdom expanded and the desire to see him glorified that has led her to where she is now. She shared how she felt the Lord revealing to her that he didn’t need her to do this, it was rather a privilege and opportunity to magnify his name. Her excitement in pursuing this trip is to experience what it is to be a coleader with Christ and gain a deeper understanding of what God is calling her to in a missional sense and discover missionaries she can partner with in the short-term or long-term.
Kaylin shared her heart as she said, “This trip in not just me going, for I may be the one physically going, but the people that are supporting be are colaboring with me.” This trip is about trust and purely relying on the Lord to supply what she needs. She encouraged me as she told me to not focus on the “What ifs,” but to step out in faith to follow the calls God has placed on my heart and all of our hearts. To listen and pay attention to the desire placed on our hearts and offer open hands to the Lord where we can full heartedly say, “Where you go I’ll go, and wherever you call me to stay I’ll stay.” She explained that it is easy to say yes to going, but harder to say yes to staying. There is also great value in serving where we are now. She has seen this in her own work place, as she builds relationships with her coworkers and shares her testimony. Kaylin said, “Bloom where you are. Don’t waste time dreaming, but do work now.”
There will always be questions and doubts, but something beautiful happens when we see someone that has given desires, dreams, and need for control over to God. God wants to use us where we are. Some of us are called to stay here while others of us are called to go overseas. Whereever God calls you, do it wholeheartedly for the Lord and be encouraged that your faithfulness and dedication will be blessed.
Check out Kaylin’s blog and follow her journey: http://kaylinstarbuck.theworldrace.org/
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