Hi! My name is Ella McMahon and I am so sooo excited to be going on The World Race: Gap Year Activation Route! 

Graduating in less than 3 weeks, I am ready to dive into the plans the Lord has for my next stage of life. I will say He was so patient waiting on me to say yes to them. I had my own plans ready for my first year of college: they were all so easy and all according to my own comfortable desires. But the past few weeks I found myself continuously feeling the urge to apply to Gap Year. I decided that I would start the process “just for fun”, but it did not take long for me to feel completely overwhelmed by an understanding that I was being led to join the race for real. The fact the Lord was calling me to go was so amazing, but my heart instantly began to ache for all the people I knew I would miss at home. In the midst of wondering what  the right decision was, He laid a question on my heart that made it obvious: who do you love the most? I said it was Him, and that I truly did want my life to be a living sacrifice above all else. I realized how easy it was to say, but to act in true, full surrender was not as simple. During this moment with God I knew it was time to start living out my words, to step out in bold faith and follow Him above all else. So here I am, confident in all that He is and ready to find my life by laying it down. 

I cannot wait to serve, grow, learn, evangelize, and fall deeper in love with my Savior throughout this experience. 

“The one who loves a father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; the one who loves a son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever doesn’t take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Anyone who finds his life will lose it, and anyone who loses his life because of me will find it.”

Matthew 10:37-39 CSB

I am so grateful to everyone who feels led to support me(prayerfully and financially) and be a vessel for the Lord to advance His Kingdom. 

- Ella :)