Friends and family, welcome back to my blog, a place that has honestly brought me nothing short of anxiety since I returned from Training Camp. Don’t get me wrong, I love writing, but there’s a shift that happens in my passion behind it when it becomes an assignment [insert traumatic high school flash back here]. While we’re gone, my squad mates and I are required to blog weekly. WEEKLY. That’s about 44 blog posts. Again, I love writing, and the further along the race I get, I’m sure it’ll be second nature, but for now it is a major discipline.
I have now been back from Training Camp for a total of 13 days and have yet to reflect on what I experienced there in writing. I’m here to tell you that unfortunately, today is still not that day. I’m currently working on a video (a medium much more in the realm of my comfort zone) that sums up the excitement that was those 10 days in the backwoods of Georgia. As far as a blog post goes, I can promise there will be one. Once thing I need you to understand is that I’m a slow processor, and that’s okay. But what that means is even after 13 days of being away from Training Camp, I still haven’t processed everything that happened during my time there. I can guarantee I still won’t have it completely processed by the time I write about it, but I would like to have a little more of a level head before I reveal the amazing things that happened over those ten days.
Since I’ve been back, I’ve had tons of people ask questions about the World Race. So, I thought I’d take the time to address them here, somewhat conversationally, so that it’s collected in one place and I can refer back to it down the road when I’ve been packing for 5 days straight, my brain is mush, and I can’t even remember my team name. So here it is: all you need to know, and all you’ve been wondering about the World Race.
What is the World Race?
The World Race is an 11 month mission trip through Adventures In Missions (AIM) to 11 countries across the world. AIM has partnered with churches and organizations in these countries and provides volunteers (i.e. me and my squad) to fill their needs.
Still want to know more? Click the orange logo in the top left of this screen to be taken to the World Race homepage.
Where are you going?
My squad-mates and I will be traveling to Serbia, Albania, Montenegro, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, and the Philippines (yes I did just go back and count to make sure I had listed all 11 countries).
As of right now, I am most excited for South Africa. Cape Town has been on my bucket list for nearly 2 years now, and even if I’m not placed at the base of Table Mountain, I am beyond excited to step foot in this beautiful country.
What will you be doing?
The short answer to this question is “I’m not really sure.” To expand, we aren’t given details of our full 11 months up front, but rather we gather information along the way. (Don’t worry moms of the world, there’s a logistics guy back in Georgia who knows more details than I do and will make sure we’re in the right place at the right time).
Can you at least tell me what you’ll be doing first?
YES! We were split into our teams at training camp and given our first ministry assignment. I’m excited to share that my team and I will be going to northern Serbia to help out at a local youth sports camp.
That’s right, a month full of loving on Serbian children and kicking around a soccer ball. Of course there will be much more to it than that, but that’s enough to get my heart racing with excitement. Past that, I won’t know my next ten ministries until days before we go there. AIM does this so that we will be fully focused on our tasks at hand.
Wait. Split into teams? I thought you already knew your team?
Ah, yes, World Race jargon. You sure you’re ready for this? Let me break it down as simply as possible…
Squad vs. Team:
My squad consists of 45 people who are all on the same route as me (September route 4). Our squad is made up of seven teams, each with 6-8 people on them. While our entire squad will be in the same country at the same time (for the most part), we won’t all be in the same city. My team is who I will be working with directly at our ministry site. You can click on “meet my team” to the left of this page to see who those beautiful individuals are.
Squad Leaders vs. Team Leaders:
Our squad was given 3 squad leaders who have all done the race before. They will bounce back and forth between teams over the first 5 months before returning home to Georgia. After that, new squad leaders will be chosen from my 45 squad-mates.
Each team has a leader, pretty self explanatory. My team leader is Austin Draughn. He’s a Baylor Bear and he’s awesome.
Coaches, Logistics, and Squad Mentor:
Our team was lucky enough to receive two sets of coaches. These are couples who will fly out every three months to wherever we are and host a debrief session. They pour into us as we pour into who we’re ministering. Balance is key, right? Our logistics leader takes care of all the stuff that gives me headaches. Flights, budgets, travel times…he’s got it covered. On the flip side of that, we have our squad mentor Carly. She handles emotional support while we’re on the race and basically anything that wouldn’t fall under the category of “logistics.”
Still confused? So am I. Let’s chat over coffee if you’re seriously losing sleep over this.
So, what’s YOUR role?
I’m so glad you asked! The World Race started a new role this year called Story Leaders. As one of my squad’s Story Leaders, I will be partnered with a member of AIM’s marketing department (more specifically, one of the videographers) and will check in with them once or twice a month. They will be mentoring and developing me in my storytelling skills. While everyone is required to blog, I will be producing more photo and video content and having it looked over by my coach. I am SUPER stoked for this role and can’t wait to share my content with you.
It’s at this point in the conversation where I get the infamous question “So you just graduated. Shouldn’t you be getting like a real job?” Let me tell you, this is every racer’s favorite question (sense the sarcasm, I beg you).
I have grown to answer this question with minimal cringe and more patience than I ever thought possible. I understand that what I’m about to say may be difficult for a traditionalist to wrap their head around, so please bear with me.
I like to take this opportunity to remind people that I graduated from UT with a Religious Studies degree and a minor in Communications. If being a Story Leader for the World Race doesn’t fit right into that, then I don’t know what does. While I’m not getting paid to do the World Race, I will be learning a lot and using my degree every step of the way and in ways I never could imagine.
So why not get a paying job? Part of it is even after four years of college, I’m still not sure what I want to do with my life (shocking, I know). The larger, and much more important part of it is I truly believe this is where God wants me right now. Time and time again, He has reassured me that I am walking along the right path.
I am confident that he is going to use these 11 months to shape and mold me into the person He has planned for me to be for whatever comes next. Which leads me to another fun question…
So what will you do when you get back?
I don’t know.
And honestly, I have no desire to know right now. My focus is on the race, and to make any sort of plans for a year from now would bring nothing but distraction. I have no idea what this next year will bring, but I know it’s going to open my eyes to things unseen and life changing. And through that, the next phase of my life will unfold – I say that with the utmost confidence.
I can find comfort in that, and I challenge you to do the same.
Whether that means you find peace in my unknown, or your own. Embrace the now. Don’t miss today while you plan for the future. God will provide and believing that comes from placing full trust in His hands.
God bless.
Still have more questions? Comment below or we can set up a time to chat over coffee. Coffee is my love language and I have no problem going on 16 coffee dates in one day. Love y’all!
