I am so glad that you made it to my blog! I will take a minute to introduce myself and then I will jump into why I decided to go on the World Race.
My name is Grace Yoder and I am a 17 year old senior in high school. I was raised in a Christian home just outside of a small town called Warsaw, Missouri. I love baking, playing my guitar and mandolin, being outside and spending time digging deeper into God’s Word. I have two wonderful parents, Sheila and Phillip, and an ornery little brother named Hylo (who isn’t so little anymore).
Now, what you’ve all been wating for: Why I Am Going On The World Race Gap Year. Why? Well, first of all, I love God and I am very passionate about telling others about Him!! After all, Why wouldn’t you want to tell people about the best thing that ever happened to you? Secondly, I have always loved stories about people who were committed to telling everybody tongue, tribe and nation about the Good News of Jesus Christ: Missionaries. But somehow, I never put two and two together: I never thought that I could be a missionary. Of course, I love the Lord and I can shine the light of Jesus, and I can volunteer and bake for all the good causes I want, but me?? A missionary?? In my mind missionaries were those people that loved the Lord immensely, and would follow Him anywhere-They were REALLY GOOD CHRISTIANS. And I was not a “really good Christian”.
In the past few years, I have really grown in my faith in the Lord, and while I am still daily growing (as all of us should be), I have realized 3 really big things about being a Christian: 1) There is no such thing as a “really good Christian”. I know that most of you are probably shaking your head going, “Of course I knew that, why are you even saying this?”. Because even I still daily need a reminder about this. We are all sinners who have fallen short of the glory of God, (Romans 3:23), “but God being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ-by grace you have been saved-” (Ephesians 2:4-5 ESV). NONE OF US ARE PERFECT. Sure, we have the hope of an eternal life with God in heaven and can live boldly as Christians on earth sharing our faith with those who have not yet tasted the richness of God’s Word, but we will still daily fall short. But because of God’s love, I know now that no matter what happens and no matter how I fail as a “really good Christian” in the world, that we are all the same in God’s eyes and that if we commit our life to Him, He will love us no matter what. 2) God truly wants to have a relationship with us. I have really begun to realize this very deeply in the past several years. I have went to church, and read the Bible cover to cover, I have watched all the VeggieTales movies possible, but until the the beginning of my teen years, I really didn’t realize that 1) God really wanted to know me (Ephesians 1:4-6) and 2) that prayer is one of the most powerful tools a Christian can have (James 5:16a). 3) Missions are for any follower of Christ. Yes, I think the whole world is a mission field and that God can use us anywhere at anytime, not just overseas, but like I said at the beginning, I never though that He could use me to further His work in another country. But now, as I am growing more in my relationship with Christ, I have realized that, although overseas missions are not for everybody, God wants everybody to share His Word and the hope He has given us anywhere He calls us.
Sorry for being so long and windy, but this is really important to me. So, why am I going? Because God has put a calling on my heart to follow Him anywhere-so that’s exactly what I’m going to do.
Make sure to keep in touch with me and read my blog regularly throughout my trip! Blessings in Christ, Gracie Yoder
WOW!! Congratulations on your opportunity to serve God around the world. What a blessing you will be to others and how you will be blessed by those you meet.
Looking forward to following your steps as you go forth boldly.
I’m so happy for you. I’m also glad that you will be an example to young people around the world. I would have loved to do something like this at your age, but I wasn’t brave enough! Looking forward to your blog.
Oh my goodness Gracie! I knew you were a special young lady when I met you last week! I praise God that you are listening to the Holy Spirit and willing to be his vessel!
I am so thankful that I had the opportunity to meet you and so excited for you and to be able to hear how God will use you in the coming days, weeks and years! Thank You for allowing me to be able to see this!! I will be praying for you on this new journey you will be on! I hope I will be able to see you again before you leave and please keep me posted if there is anything that I can do to help you out with this venture! God Bless you Sweet Girl! I wished I could of had more time on our trip to visit with you!
Dawn Squires
Gracccciiiieeeee, I am so proud of you!!! I can hear the love for Christ in your words and it makes me so happy! I love that God called us both to missions! I’m so proud of you for going for it!! You’re gonna do such dope things in this world! I love you boo 🤘🏼🫶🏽
Love this so much Gracie! I will be praying for you as you make your way and grow more and more into the wonderful young lady that you are! I’m so excited to read more about your trip along the way and pray that the anointing on your life overflows to everyone you see!
I knew you were a special soul
the moment I met you. I’m looking forward to following your journey.