Hi there! My name is Sophie, and it excites me to be officially writing my first Blog post in preparation for The World Race. As I prepare for this incredible journey, I hope to use this blog as an outlet to share updates and ways God continues to use me during this time, not only on the field but beforehand. What I personally hope to gain from this trip is to live a life loving and serving others like Jesus did and to grow in my confidence by sharing my faith with others. What led me to get involved with the World Race was one of my best friends, Alicia. I had first heard of the organization through hearing how her life was changed through her experiences and time on the World Race. This led me to begin researching and growing my interest in this trip and what they had to offer. Additionally, this past summer, I had the opportunity to go and serve on a week-long mission trip in the Dominican Republic and although I have been doing short mission trips ever since the 7th grade, this trip really opened my eyes and showed me the passion and heart I had for missions and serving others. I knew I wanted to continue serving and after a lot of prayer, I know that this trip is what God has for me and my future. I know that there is no better time in my life than the present and I could not be more excited to see what He has in store for me!

Many Thanks,

Sophie DeGraaf