So here I am 2 weeks before I leave for the adventure of a lifetime, going over all the blogs I’ve bookmarked and all the little notes that I’ve written down for myself this past year as I have been preparing to go on the World Race. I’ve learned a lot from talking to racers in the field and Alumni racers and reading numerous WR Blogs. A lot of this stuff I have shared with my Squad and others. Now I want to pass some of this information on to you! I know I’ve been blessed by the past WR’ers that have posted blogs for future racers, and this is my contribution to future racers 🙂
First, I cannot tell you how valuable all those “Future World Racer” blogs have been for me. From packing tips, to tips for training camp and for tips on the field itself. They have been so helpful. So here is a list of blogs that really helped me when getting ready for the race. Most are on packing and such, but they are all really helpful.
My Next couple tips deal with fundraising. First of all, send out support letters! And after they are sent, follow them up with a phone call. It is so easy for someone to get a piece of mail and just throw it out, or forget about it. A phone call makes things personal and allows interaction to happen with your potential supporters.
Second, whenever you host a fundraiser or tell anyone about your missions trip, GET THEIR EMAIL ADDRESS! Whenever I had a speaking engagement I would hand out support letters or little business cards with information about my trip and my blog on it and tell people to go to my blog and sign up. I must have handed out hundreds of cards and letters and yet not have many people subscribed to my blog. Honestly it just takes to much work for some people. They have to make sure they don’t lose your card/letter, go to your blog then figure out how to subscribe. And for older people who aren’t as tech savvy, this can just be frustrating. I found it SO much easier to just have a sign up sheet that people can write down their email address. Then you can sign them up for your blog yoruself. It makes it SO much easier for them and you.
Now, why is getting as many people signed up for your blog important? Many reasons! First, blogging is one of your ministries while you are on the World Race. While you are out traveling the world, doing God’s work, people who are following your blogs are being touched back home! By reading your stories they get to experience a little of what you are experiencing and can be blessed through the impact that you are having in the world and can see how supporting you(financially and prayerfully) is furthering the Kingdom of God!
Secondly, If you are not fully funded before you leave on your World Race, your blog is one of the best ways to reach out to people back home to ask for support! Some people may or may not support you at first, but when they see the impact you are having in the world and the amazing things that God does through you and your squad, it makes supporting you that much easier because they can see the impact their prayers and financial support are having!
The more people you have signed up for your blog, the more people who are being reached to pray for you, to support you, and to be blessed by you!
Lastly, I found while fundraising that while some people would love to give you a cash donation, or a tax deductible donation to AIM on your behalf. Some people prefer “tangible” gifts(or don’t trust donating to organization they don’t know). I would strongly recommend that you set up a Wishlist of some sort online.
A Wishlist is just a list of items on a website(REI, AMAZON etc…) that you want/need for your trip. And people can go to your Wishlist on the website and buy items and have them shipped to you! You can use a specific website like REI’s to set up your wishlist or you can setup a Wishlist on a website like Wishpot, where you can link several sites to it instead of having multiple wishlists on many sites. This is how I got a bunch of my gear for the race and I Highly Recommend it !
So that’s about it. I hope this has been/will be helpful to you future racers. Hopefully I’ll learn even more tips to write about as I go on my own race in 2 WEEKS!!!
