During training camp for the World Race, we had to partake in a "surrender walk." We each had to find something in the wilderness that would represent what we would be surrendering to God. I chose a turning leaf that reminded me of seasons changing, which represented the World Race. I needed to surrender the race to God and whether or not He wanted me to go. On my surrender walk, I saw a web in a tree.

It wasn't a spider web, but a web full of caterpillars in cocoons. I immediately thought of a novel I recently read (Ocean's Apart by Karen Kingsbury) where in it a mother tells her son that caterpillars spend all their lives scooting along on the ground, barely making it. One day the caterpillar gets very tired and builds a room and goes to sleep, thinking that maybe his life is over. Then God does an amazing work and gives the caterpillar a second chance at life and freedom, and the dirty little caterpillar is a beautiful butterfly that can now fly—no longer scooting around in the dirt. I was touched when I actually saw the caterpillars and I really didn't even know why, just the thought of second chances and the beauty that God does with caterpillars transforming into butterflies.

The day I told my fellow teammates that I wasn't going to be doing the World Race, they encouraged me and prayed for me. After the prayer, my friend Gretchen came up to me and said that during the prayer she saw a hand open and butterflies coming out. It was as if God had come and stood before my very eyes. I couldn't believe it. Butterflies?! After I had just seen the caterpillars and had been so touched. I was the butterfly that was given a second chance at life and freedom.

I recently realized, however, that it wasn't just one butterfly. It was multiple butterflies. God showed me that He was going to use me to help other caterpillars find Him and their way to becoming a butterfly, their way to second chances. Many young women are going to be given second chances by God to have a life of freedom and love, through Christ.

And whose hand are these butterflies coming out of? None other than my Savior's.

God is good. And He is alive. If you don't believe it—go out and look at some butterflies.

This doesn't relate directly to the World Race, but really it does, because this is God preparing me for what lies ahead.

I've been reading The Art of Being, by Constance Rhodes, the founder of Finding Balance. I'm now interning at Finding Balance, so she gave me this book to read. It has different stories of different Christians, mostly (if not all) are Christian musicians. I was reading the story that Sara Groves wrote, and she talked about asking God how much He loves you, right now. Just asking Him. So I thought, ok, I'll ask Him. So I closed my eyes and asked Him. I got an image of the cross. I was like, wow, yes that is a lot. I went about reading other stories and was touched by each one in different ways. I especially related to Jill Phillips and her desire for stability and the common bond we share in disliking change. I put the book down and checked my grades, to see if they had been posted yet. I have taken Statistics in Psychology twice now, and both times have gotten a D. This second time I was 4 points from a C and just absolutely fed up. I prayed a lot about it and felt a peace about it, but I thought I would have to take it-AGAIN so that I could graduate (this is my last class). My grade had a C on it, instead of the D I deserved. My professor, who is not the warmest person in the world, gave me the four points. She gave me something that I didn't deserve. God tried answering my question again, in a way I would understand.

Alissa, I love you enough to give you beautiful things you don't deserve. Freedom. Love. Peace. Joy. Experiences. This grade, so you can graduate. And so much more. In case you didn't hear Me, let Me say it again, I love you.

I remained speechless.

So I guess all I can really say about that is, ask God how much He loves you. Right now. He really will amaze you.

A few weeks ago my three-year old nephew was staying with me and found his way in my bed before falling asleep. I asked him if he wanted to pray with me and he smiled and said, "Yes." This is unusual for him. When we pray before eating dinner, he never wants to, but I guess if you put temptation in front of someone, they'd rather devour it than pray (ooh double meaning!).

Anyhow, so we prayed and after the Amen came all the questions. "Where is God?" "How can He get in my heart?" "Why is He up in Heaven?" My precious nephew, Jordan (whom we lovingly call Jordy) decided that he wanted to ask Jesus into his heart, and he was absolutely serious. So he prayed to accept Jesus in his heart and he was ready to go to sleep. I was stunned and filled with joy and confusion all at the same time at what this little toddler had just done.

We started falling asleep when all of a sudden I heard him ask a question, "We all have to die, don't we?" At that point I thought he was sleeping, so I wasn't sure if he was dreaming.
"What, Jordy?"
"Aunt Liss, we all have to die, don't we?" He said clearer this time.
I stopped for a moment, trying to figure out what to say. "Yes, baby, everybody has to die when their life is over. And if they know Jesus, love Him, and accept Him in their hearts, then they go to Heaven." I didn't want to scare him with the alternative when we were about to go to sleep. No need for nightmares about Hell because Aunt Liss is a bad aunt.
He was satisfied with my answer, told me he loved me, and he passed out snoring moments later, while I lay there, absolutely stunned.

When I figured out that God was gently yet firmly urging me to do the World Race, Jordy's face came to mind. I realized all I would miss out on His little life. I'll miss his fifth birthday, his entrace into Kindergarten, bigger t-shirt sizes, the beach, and so many precious moments. I also realized that he might not understand why I'm leaving and why I'll be gone for so long. I spent an entire day in grief over all I'll miss with my sweet guy. Then I remembered the story I just recalled, and knew what I could tell him. I will tell him that I'm going to tell other kids, just like him, about Jesus. Kids who don't have mommies and daddies or aunts to tell them about Jesus. While it might not sound like much, I pray that he will understand. Maybe that is why God allowed me to see Jordy's interest in God and to pray with him. God is most certainly good. And I'm pretty sure my nephew is the cutest and the biggest ham ever.

June 27, 2007

Dear Family and Friends,

As many of you know I'm graduating and had planned on going straight into graduate school to get my Master's in counseling. Funny thing is, you can make a plan, but you never know what can happen! Over a very short period of time, God has revealed to me that He wants me to do something incredibly different and incredibly rewarding. He has called me to travel the nations!

This has definitely been an overwhelming and frightening calling. I have asked God for confirmation that this is really what He wants me to do over and over, and He is so good to continue showing me, Yes, He does really want me to do this. As frightening as it was at first, He has begun to prepare my heart and help me to grow in excitement for what the World Race holds for me. It is an 11 month trip to 11 countries! I'll be traveling with a team of people, who are also giving their lives up for a year.

Well, simplicity and servanthood are the keys. When we travel, we'll do so cheaply, and in many places, we'll stay in tents or wherever people invite us to stay. As we go, we seek to serve partner ministries that are caring for the poorest of the poor.

As you know, I love people. I had been working toward going to graduate school to help young women to find hope and healing, in the midst of pain and despair. There are many hurting people here in the United States, but there are also many hurting people in other countries who have a hard time just surviving. I feel so blessed to even be able to be a part of such a ministry!

" Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." -James 1:27. That is exactly what I want to live in my life for the year that I'm gone and for the rest of my life. I see 2008 as a year for me to be able to live just as Jesus did, serving the poor, loving what our world calls the "unlovable." Personally, I have in my life had a lot of fears. I've had fears of bugs and snakes, but I've also had fears of change and of not meeting up to who I am supposed to be. This next year I am expecting to be broken of these fears- and to be taken farther than I've ever gone before. What separates this from many of the other mission trips that are offered is that this is for 20-somethings like me who are serious about committing to a lifetime of radically following Jesus. And, in each country that we go to, we will partner with local churches to establish long-term kingdom works that will last long after we leave.

This will be a challenging year, as I begin to raise money and trust that it will all come in for me to go and as I submit myself to what God is calling me to do-I am asking for fifteen of you to commit to pray for me each day until I return. I will need support both prayerfully and financially. While the cost of an average college might be $2000/month, the World Race costs just over half that - $1150/month. My entire World Race experience is $13,800. If 20 people pledge 35 dollars a month for 10 months, that would meet more than half my goal! Will you prayerfully consider supporting me for whatever amount you can, monthly or one-time?

I have enclosed a response card and pre-addressed envelope, which invites you to share in this ministry. Please make checks payable to Adventures In Missions. You may write "appealed by" and my name in the memo section of the check if you wish. Including the enclosed card will provide AIM with all necessary information. In turn, they will send you a receipt. All gifts are tax-deductible. You can find more info about the World Race at www.theworldrace.org . I will be posting a log on the web at www.alissasawyer.theworldrace.org throughout my trip and you'll be able to read about and see photos of our adventure during the trip. I am very excited about how God will use me and what He will teach me through this experience! I hope not only to be a blessing to those I serve, but also to you. My desire is to go as your representative of Jesus Christ. I hope you will prayerfully consider being part of my ministry.

Blessings,

Alissa Sawyer