Here’s where it gets a little tricky. I have NO idea where I will be going on the Jan 2011 race, or the Oct 2010 race for that matter! they haven’t even announced my race yet and I can’t really predict where we will be going based on other trips or anything. So, I’ll just give you a race route I would like to go on!
**** warning: this is not a real race route! the real one will be coming sometime in late spring/early summer*****
1-Haiti/the DR: I’m sure that after a year long recovery, the country will be better than the position it is right now, but I know that there are lots of things that will probably need to be done to continue the relief efforts. I am impressed by everyone’s response to Haiti, from telethons to bake sales to actually going over to help. My home church also has a relationship with a ministry there– a group went down this past summer to help out, love on the orphans, and spread the Word. I think it would be awesome to show up a year after the tragedy to show them that we still care once all the rubble is cleaned and things are being rebuilt. To show them that we will keep coming, even when all their physical structures seem strong, to love them and care for them because of the love that Christ showed us.
2- Jamaica- okay, okay, i know what you’re thinking– I’m praying
and supporting you so that you can go to one of the top honeymoon
destinations? True, it is a beautiful island and bases much of it’s
economy on tourism. BUT. there is a but. It is one of the most
overlooked poor and broken countries. I remember going there in high
school on a cruise with the fam and being shocked by the level of
poverty, begging, and need as soon as we crossed from “tourist” to
“real” Jamaica. I have no idea if there are currently any mission
groups there, but I would love to be a part of building up the country
where their existence is to service other people– how cool would it be
to serve them!
and supporting you so that you can go to one of the top honeymoon
destinations? True, it is a beautiful island and bases much of it’s
economy on tourism. BUT. there is a but. It is one of the most
overlooked poor and broken countries. I remember going there in high
school on a cruise with the fam and being shocked by the level of
poverty, begging, and need as soon as we crossed from “tourist” to
“real” Jamaica. I have no idea if there are currently any mission
groups there, but I would love to be a part of building up the country
where their existence is to service other people– how cool would it be
to serve them!
3-Pioneer Latin America- Throughout the race routes, there are a couple of months where you “Pioneer” an area; this means you and your team will pray about where you are led to go and then make it happen. When brainstorming about where I’d like to go, i couldn’t decide on one country but I know I want to use some of my Spanish skills somehow! My top choices would be: Nicaragua, Honduras, Chile, and Argentina.
4- Andrha Pradesh, India- This is where I went during my sophomore year with Bear Valley; It was my first “real” mission trip and the place where I realized the extent of poverty, brokenness, and darkness in the world. We only spent a little more than a week there, but i saw and learned SO much! I already know how to maneuver around the busy. crazy streets of Hyderabad, and would have some neat connections if we ended up visiting the AIDS home, the church where we helped put on a Christmas Cantata (where I sang Christmas carols in front of lots of people…weird!), or running into S.V. David. AND I already have a saree and a salwar! Perfect! except the saree will probably put too much weight in my pack, what with the 5 meters of fabric and all. I sincerely hope we stop somewhere in India, even for a little while. Hopefully my digestive system will be able to handle it for a whole month!
5- Kathmandu, Nepal- SO, I was joking with my friends about how I feel like I know the Sherpa people and semi-understand who they are as a people, but i think it’s true! Since this past summer, I’ve had some weird fascination of Everest (i read Into Thin Air) and have subsequently read about 5 books on the subject. A lot of the journey takes place in Kathmandu and Base Camp, where the Sherpas are a normal part of life– guiding, rope fixing, cooking, and the general protection of Sagarmatha (aka Everest). Even though not a bone in my body wants to climb Everest, or any other huge mountain (too cold!), it would be really fulfilling to me to help out the Sherpa people and show them the love of Christ. Most of the Westerners they come in contact with are very wordly and prideful– climbing Everest, Lhotse, and K2 aren’t really a to further anyone else except for your own self and pride. What a neat place to shed light into, especially in a place where death is very prevalent and they know loss firsthand.
6-CHINA!- I already know Ni hao! but that’s the extent of it… Although very intimidating and probably very frustrating to do ministry, what a great place to further the underground and persecuted Body of Christ. Living in America, it is very easy to forget about those who risk their lives for the Lord on a daily basis– what passion they must have! I only recently began to have an interest in China after meeting my former roommate’s family, in which the younger 2 daughters are the result of Chinese adoption. Her family has such love for these girls (they love bows, dresses, and trips to Sweet and Sassy…so much girlier than I was!) and it would be great to love on and help those who took care of them, are related to them, or are in similar situations.
7-Tokyo, Japan- I don’t think that the WR has ever traveled to Japan at all, but i would LOVE to go; though I would probably have space issues by the end of a month’s time! I lived with a Japanese exchange student named Kana for half of my freshman year and I was fascinated by her breaking my stereotypes. I thought everyone in Japan was really hardcore and smart and technological but everyone that she knew only had a part time job and dropped out of college! Total opposite of what I was expecting. I’m pretty sure Japan is a dark place, and the spoils of the world are held in high regard. I know that Kana and her family didn’t believe in anything, and i had the opportunity to invite her home with me for Easter. What a cool holiday to be a part of! On the way home, I remember being surprised as she told me all that she knew about Jesus, Christians, and the church in general– a whole lot more than I expected! It makes me think about how many other people out there know the story of Christ yet don’t believe. I know that situation is true for the Bible Belt, but a lost country like Japan? I haven’t talked to Kana much since she went home but if we go to Tokyo I hope to see her!
8-Thailand- The WR makes many stops to Thailand, and the majority of the reason is to work with the sex trafficking problems and the Red Light District. Many of the teams will split up male & female, with the males doing “manly” things like digging wells and building things while the ladies will go in and minister to the girls that are affected by the sex industry. My heart has always been heavy for those trapped in these situations with no way out, and I would love to be a part of a rescue from such darkness.
9-Pioneer Europe- Again, I have no idea what country I would choose! Highest on my list are Germany, Ireland, and the UK. The Summer Olympics will be coming soon to London, so it would be cool to see all the new facilities and things. I know that there is a great need for Christ in all of the EU, so I would love to be apart of any area.
10-Uganda- This one is still fresh on my mind! This past week, my church helped to host the Mwangaza Children’s choir for their performance in College Station. I got to watch their rehearsal, brought food for dinner, and helped set up a bit before their big performance. They are so talented! Just this past night I had the opportunity to help at a Comgroup member’s house who hosted 3 of the girls plus 2 of their chaperones. We played with them outside before dinner (and they taught us some of their traditional dance!), prepped and ate dinner with them (the usually verbal girls got suddenly shy around the dinner table…just like I used to do!), and then got to sit in on their devotion time. WHAT A BLESSING! These girls, 8-10 years old, were called on by Irene to pick a verse out of the Bible, read it, tell what it means, and then how it can apply to their lives ALL BY THEMSELVES!! They have such a sweet, strong, child-like faith that I admire and are so thankful for everything they are given. There are a few members of my church who are involved with the Bethany Village ministry that they are semi-connected to, and it would be AWESOME to visit those girls next year.
11- Israel- to conclude my epic voyage, I thought it would be fitting to go to the place where everything started in Jerusalem. I remember learning about the holy lands from elementary school with the wailing wall and the dome of the rock and I was captivated by all that history and religion concentrated in one place. How absolutely amazing would it be to walk the same steps Jesus did and do his work? I’m pretty sure I would just be full of excitement 24/7 and I wouldn’t even think about missing home.
There you have it ladies and gents, my dream race! I hope to go to at least half of these countries, but I know I will be used wherever I end up.
