God is Awesome! Adventures in Missions, the organization that runs the World Race, decided to try an experimental program this past month. Recent college graduates were given the opportunity to go on a short term mission trip by tagging along with an existing World Race team. For one month, the graduate would be treated as a member of the team and experience the same community, ministry and challenges the 11 month missionaries experience. A total of 8 graduates were dispersed among 8 of the 15 World Race teams (M and N Squad). We lovingly called them our “mascots.”
At the start of our month in Kenya, Jeanne, Amy, Emily and I were given the task of creating an orientation for the WR Exposure participants prior to them joining their respective teams. We briefed them on culture, community, vulnerability, expectations and spirituality. Then at the end of the month, Jeanne and I came back to have a debrief in which we discussed our experiences on the field and talked about each mascot’s future.
We also had the opportunity to go on a safari, Whoo hoo. Here’s a picture of us jumping on the top of a giant cliff overlooking Lake Nakuru.
Team Ridiculous, my team, enjoyed the company of Hunter Bittle, a 22 year old Texan finishing up his undergrad and planning on going to med school. Hunter told us at the outset that he had no desire to go on the World Race but was just looking for a 1 month mission trip until his summer school classes start. After 1 week with our team, Hunter petitioned the WR authorities to join our team for the rest of the year! Unfortunately, they wouldn’t allow it, but Hunter does plan to go on a different World Race trip as soon as he graduates. He was a really great guy and I was really sorry to see him go.
To Hunter’s chagrin, I will share one short story that happened right before he left. Prior to our safari, we encountered a group of really cute monkeys playing outside the front gate. Now, let me preface the story with the fact that Hunter is a rugby player and is extremely buff. So the two of us are standing amidst a group of these cute little monkeys when I decide to take out a gum wrapper and start crinkling it. The monkeys are very interested and begin surrounding us to find the source of the noise, hoping there is some food in it for them. Once I have their attention, I had the wrapper to Hunter. The monkeys approach him and he throws the wrapper to the ground. After picking up the wrapper, the monkeys must have concluded he might have more and they started getting closer to him. Hunter turns and runs full speed away from the little fellas and loses his balance in the process. He falls to the ground, bloodies his arm, and begins heaving gravel in the direction of the monkeys. The monkeys meanwhile, have stopped their pursuit and are just sitting there staring at this spectacle. Hunter needed to be bandaged heavily from his tumble. Don’t worry about it though, he was a good sport about the whole thing.
Thanks for the memories Hunter, you know we love you!
Here is a video Jeanne made for the mascots. The music might seem familiar : )
