It's really hard to believe that I'm actually writing my first blog right now. Not only is it the first blog I've ever done, but it's also one of the first steps into everything that the next several months will hold. I'll start with an introduction and some of my backstory, and then I'll do my best to explain how and why I willingly signed up to leave the country for nine months.

If you don't know me, My name is (Joshua) Carter Abney and I'm currently a student at south plains college in Lubbock, TX. I have the best job- a youth intern job at Indiana Avenue Baptist Church where I get to lead, serve, and just hang out with lots middle school and high school kids. I'm an education major with the hopes of being a high school basketball coach one day, or at least I think I want to. I probably won't be sure until I get there, but I trust that God will put me wherever He wants me.

I grew up heavily involved in Church, but didn't learn what it meant to really know God until much later into High School. To say Jesus rocked my world is an understatement. He showed  me so much about who He is and what it means to follow Him with everything I have. He also exposed a lot of the areas where sin had a hold of my life and other areas where I was living only for myself. Since then, I've been working to let go of what I want and to grow in my faith, letting Him refine the areas of my life that don't match up with His word. I'm nowhere near finished, but I'm working to take steps to be more of the man God wants me to be. Growing doesn't come easy, but I've learned that growing comes from being uncomfortable. So, that's exactly what I'm going to do, get uncomfortable. And what better way to get uncomfortable, than with other believers getting to spread the life-changing word of God all around the world? 

This desire and my co-worker Annie Kane are what led me to the World Race Gap Year mission trip. She took the trip herself back in 2015 and we've had countless conversations about how it changed her life and how she was able to honor God through it, which sparked my interest as well. After a few months of diligent prayer and lots of help from wise people around me, I decided to take the leap of faith and apply. Which led me here now, at the beginning of this long and exciting journey.

The Gap Year mission trip is a nine month mission that leaves September 2021, where my team and I will spend time in Costa Rica, Thailand, and Eswatini (Africa) until the end of May 2022. During this time we will be spreading the good news and love of Christ through manual labor projects, community outreach, children's ministry, sports ministry, and teaching English, as well as the many other ministry opportunities. 

Until our team leaves next September, I will be fundraising a lot and I would love your help. Any donation will go a long way! I would also ask for lots of prayers for my entire team- prayers for safety, prayers for the people that we will be ministering to, and ultimately prayers that in everything we do, we are able to glorify God and expand His kingdom. I would love to talk with you about any questions you may have, so please feel free to reach out! I'm super excited for what God is doing through this team and I can't wait to get started! Thank you for taking the time to visit my page and read about me! I will continue to post about my spiritual and financial progress on my page thoughout this journey, so check back anytime to see where I'm at. Thank you and have a blessed day!