Nine Countries
A teenage girl gives up her dream college to serve the kingdom of God

Have you ever looked up the definition of passion? You probably have but maybe you’ve forgotten it. Passion is as a powerful or compelling emotion or feeling. This definition illustrates the power that such feeling could have on an individual. Uncontrollable and inevitable to give up.

This is the face of passion I would like to introduce you to.
Realizing that an acceptance from Georgia Tech was not what she wanted, Annie chose to give up her after high school plans and decided she to serve those in need. A couple of weeks ago, Annie launched for the World Race in which she will be traveling to nine different countries serving “the least of these.” “I think there’s more to life than the traditional desire to achieve the American Dream,” was Annie’s response after being asked for clarification on her decision. Annie’s family was completely against her decision to deny her opportunity of getting an education and a stable career in the future.
Her parent’s response was very surprising to all of the people who knew them as they have always been known for their desires to help the community and have adopted two young teenage girls from Ethiopia in the past. Her mother warned her that all economic help would be taken away from her and that they would not help her pay for her mission trip which would cost an approximate of $14,951. Despite the disagreement of her parents, Annie’s decision remained the same. Annie deferred her acceptance to college and she began to search for fundraisers that would help her pay for her trip. From selling brownies at her church to asking for donations, Annie began to feel discouraged as it seemed impossible for her to raise all the money she needed in the time she needed it by. One of her biggest fears was also that she would become homesick as she would have extremely limited contact with her family and friends.
Days went by and the time she was scheduled to launch was approaching soon. Her first stop was Mexico. After her first week there, she was able to connect to the Internet and she sent me a text message describing her first few experiences. In her text, Annie states that she has never felt so relieved than how she felt now. She explains the joy that the kids bring her through their smiles of gratitude towards the Word Racers. “Sometimes, we knock on doors but some people are afraid and won’t answer, other nights we have to sleep on the streets.”

One of the hardest things Annie is having to face right now is the disappointment that her parents claim she has put on them. She says that they tell her that that’s not what they expected from her. Annie’s mother always wanted her to become a doctor or a lawyer or something culturally related with having prestige, not a World Racer.

Do you see how powerful passion can be? The definition did say it was a barely uncontrollable emotion right? Well, for Annie it was not controllable.
She went against the will of her parents and she admits to be feeling weak without their support but she knows that she has made the right choice. She says she feels it inside. Annie’s text message of the week read, “I left as a girl but I can’t wait to come back as a woman with a new level of spiritual authority, this is one of the most difficult but best experiences of my life. ” She’s only been there for about 2 months and she has nearly 7 months left of her mission. Throughout her journey, Annie is keeping track of her experiences and she promises to share them with her community on her return. She states to be feeling renewed already and she can not wait to see what the rest of her journey does to her. Annie, however, is not the only person who has faced passion. Individuals around the world experience disapproval from their community, and even in the case of Annie, from their parents, regarding their passions.
Over the years, the definition of passion has changed over time. Originally, the term meant, “to suffer,” whereas the modern significance refers to an intense desire. In the phrase, the “passion of Christ,” for example, Jesus Christ died and suffered in his attempt to save the world. Even though, there seems to be no correlation between the term’s modern and the original significance, one can infer that the passion that an individual has towards something or someone may be so strong and vivid to the point in which it causes suffer and pain upon the individual.
In the same way, Annie has suffered from the disapproval of her parents but she says that it is important to put one’s passions in front of social norms and to take action in the things that will not only help yourself but the world.
So… where will passion take you?

