Hello, I’m Hannah!
I am not sure exactly what I should put in this post, but I’ll do my best to share a little bit about my life! Here it goes!
I am currently eighteen years old and live right at the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. I live in the small town of Seymour; my family and I always say we are “Near nothing but close to everything” because we live about twenty-five minutes away from Sevierville, Maryville, and Knoxville.
I am currently finishing up my last year of high school at Maryville High. I moved here my freshman year and I have made some of the most incredible, life-long friendships within these walls. If you know me, you know how I try to do it all. I have often seen the damage of saying “yes” to too many things, but yet I still continue to struggle with the word “no.” I played volleyball from sixth through eleventh grade, and although I loved it (and still do), I decided to take a step back in order to focus on other commitments. I serve on our school’s Student Council, am a member of Spanish Honor Society, and fulfill the role of Co-Senior Yearbook Editor. See… I can’t say no. I have loved having these opportunities to serve my school, however, and have grown so much through these opportunities!
I love my church. Most people who know me know where I go to church. Sevier Heights has had such an impact on my life throughout high school, and I have found my people here. My small group gals are some of my best friends. I love leading (I lead our youth group’s host team and love it) and serving, and am so thankful to have found a place that pushes me to do so all for His glory.
I love to travel. I went on my first international trip when I was only seven years old. My dad and I visited Germany and Austria and then returned a year later to visit Spain, Portugal, Gibraltar, and England. My dad used to work in International Business, and travel the world for a living (pretty cool right?!). He has been everywhere, and desires for me to do the same. (He’s never been to Romania or South Asia though, so I am pumped to one-up him on that haha :)) He is definitely my best friend and biggest supporter. He has taught me to love America, but also have a passion for learning about the world outside my country. There is so much to learn and see and I want to travel for as long as I am able.
My family rocks. They are so supportive in all that I do, and love me during every season. I have a little brother who is currently seven, and he keeps us on our toes constantly. My extended family is just the sweetest, and any time spent with them (which is a lot lol) is a blast. I am so thankful to have them, and look up to each of them in so many different ways.
I love coffee. Every morning, you can most likely find me with a cup in my hand. I would probably say that I spend most of my money on coffee (lol exposed). Iced lattes, hot lattes, black coffee, mochas, macchiatos– I love it all (I get this love from mi padre too, he is a Class A coffee connoisseur). If I could survive on coffee, I totally would.
Alrighty, that’s enough random facts about me, let’s get to the good stuff.
So why the World Race? Why not college first? Good question… let me just tell you.
The Lord wrecked my life towards the end of my sophomore year of high school. I so desperately needed community, and began to plug in to my church. He so graciously gave me an incredible community that loves and encourages me in every season. He also began revealing to me (and still is) that I have a deep love for leading, serving, and loving others. I got baptized during the summer of 2018 and although that was only a symbol of life change, the Lord has drastically changed my life since this point.
I had been feeling a call to some form of ministry for a while and took my first international mission trip to Brazil in July of 2019. To say that the Lord changed my heart here would be an understatement. He is so good, and His mercies are never ending. Brazil changed my life. My heart ached as I left a community so desperate for the love of Jesus. We partnered with an incredible pastor and church who are no doubt leading that community in a Christ-centered way. But I left forever changed and forever broken over loving and serving the Father and His people. The Great Commission was illuminated inside my soul, and I began to desire to go; no matter if that was to another country or to my neighbor down the street, Brazil showed me the beauty of going. I left knowing that the Lord was calling me to something bigger than myself. Something that only He could pull off!
And evidently, that was World Race Gap Year.
Long story short, I feel called to the race because of how I have seen the Lord’s love over the course of the past few years. I am learning everyday what it looks like to be a bond servant of Christ. Broken, failing, and often not trusting His plan- but yet still loved by a perfect and beautiful Father. He has continued shaping me and changing me in ways I never imagined possible.
I am unsure what the Lord is calling me to after the race, but I am sure that whatever it might be, it will blow any of my plans right out of the water. He has wrecked my plans in the most beautiful ways throughout my journey with Him. I mean, I was stressing about colleges this time last year, and here I am going on a nine month gap year straight out of high school! Oh what He can do.
So here’s me. I am crazy, definitely weird, struggle everyday, but I love Jesus and I know He is so good- and I am so excited to witness His goodness throughout this next season. I have so much faith that the Lord is going to work for His glory in this season and for many seasons to come.
“Each one of these people of faith died not yet having in hand what was promised, but still believing. How did they do it? They saw it way off in the distance, waved their greeting, and accepted the fact that they were transients in this world. People who live this way make it plain that they are longing for their true home. If they were homesick for the old country, they could have gone back any time they wanted. But they were after a far better country than that- Heaven country. You can see why God is so proud of them, and has a City waiting for them.” Hebrews 11:13-16 MSG
I am praying to have this bold faith until the day He calls me to Heaven country. Getting to serve, love and be loved by Christ is the greatest adventure I could ever choose. I am just grateful to be along for the ride.
With Love,
Hannah
*PS: I’d love it if you stuck around with me throughout this journey! Subscribe to my blog to stay up to date on everything God is doing during my time on and off the field!
