“God, what steps of obedience are you inviting me into after the Race?” With only three months until returning to America, Turkey was a time of seeking guidance from the Lord on what he wants me to do post-race. I was asked by our leadership team to go back onto the mission field in September to lead a race. I spent a lot of time praying and fasting, asking God if that is what he wanted me to do. I received a clear no from the Lord on it, and he began to flood my mind with vision for coming back to America. He showed me that it was a time to pour into the friendships and family relationships that I had spent a year away from. And to carry what he has taught me on the international mission field to the American church.

Honestly, I spent a while wrestling with the Lord on it. I love that my entire day is ministry. I love living internationally. I love the idea of teaching the next group of racers how to run in the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. But God kept meeting me with a promise that he would continue to provide opportunities for those things. Going back to America would not mean putting a pause on international missions, but it would simply take on a new form. As I submitted to the leadership of the Lord, he began handing me opportunities to walk in the passions he has so deeply instilled in my heart.

I was asked to be a part of a vision trip to South Africa led by a South African who has been living in America but has a burning heart to bring the love of Jesus to her nation. Her heart for the trip is to carry the gospel into elementary and high schools and seek out opportunities for future long-term sustainable missions. We will be doing a lot of praying and asking the Lord to highlight where he wants to establish long-term ministry. We will also be sharing the gospel and the hope of Jesus in schools and villages. This trip could not be more of an answer to prayer. Three years ago, I spent a summer in Ghana, Africa. I saw the desperate need for support that was willing to deeply root and make long-term commitments to the people living there. I began praying for the exact things we would be doing in South Africa, but had no idea at the time. In South Africa, we will be boots on the ground, cultivating relationships and finding areas in need of that long-term support. Thank you, Jesus, for this opportunity to walk in something you’ve so greatly burdened my heart for!

With that being said, I am support raising! We will be in South Africa from October 20th-31st. I am in need of $2,500 to buy flights and ministry materials. I will be purchasing flights and materials on my own so you can send contributions to my Venmo which is grace__mcallister (there are two underscores) and title payments as “South Africa”.

In addition to financial support, I want to invite you all along for this process. Through prayer and intercession, and also through ideas. If you have any experience sharing the gospel in schools, whether in America or in an African village, please share with me all of your wisdom. My heart yearns to be back in an African classroom in a way I didn’t even realize until I started praying through the idea of being back. We are asking the Holy Spirit for help on how he wants this trip to look and I would love to hear all of your stories and ideas as well! I can’t wait to spend time with each of you this fall while I am back in America, sharing how God has moved this past year on the Race! God is so good. Have all the glory Jesus. 

Grace