So, this is my first foray into the world of blogging, and if you know me, let’s just say that you are very familiar with the fact that writing and I are not exactly the best of friends…BUT, *deep breath* here’s to stepping out of comfort zones! I have some exciting news I would like to share with you:
It’s official…I’m doing something crazy (sorry Mom!) with the next year or so of my life! Beginning in August 2016, I will be taking off on the World Race South America Expedition route. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the World Race, check out this short video!
As the video says, the World Race typically covers 11 countries across different continents…but that’s not what my teammates and I will be doing. Instead, the South America Expedition route will take us to all 13 countries (well, technically 12 countries and one territory) on the South American continent as we traverse over 10,000 miles, including 6 countries where the World Race has never been before this trip! Here is a rough map that lays out the general route we will take during our 11 month expedition:
“But wait a minute, Eric, I thought you were in the Air Force…how are you going to be able to do the World Race?”
I’m so glad you asked, I would love to share my story with you! =) First, a little back story about how I got here. In the summer of 2010, I went on my first mission trip, a two-week excursion to India where we had the privilege of leading a weeklong VBS for kids in two different areas of the country. God did a number of amazing things during that trip, but one of the most significant was the passion & desire He instilled in me for overseas missions. After that trip, I was also able to go on a one-week trip to Guatemala, and finally a one-month trip to Nepal before I entered the active duty Air Force full-time. I heard about the World Race for the first time in the spring of 2011 when one of my good friends told me she would be leaving on the WR in the summer. I was immediately intrigued by the prospect of spending 11 months venturing to 11 different countries to share the love of Christ with the nations, but I didn’t think I would ever have the opportunity to participate due to the whole “being in the military full-time” thing, so I shelved the idea and didn’t think any further about it. As a quick aside, God has made it abundantly clear to me time and time again that the military is where my “mission field” is, and will likely be for quite a while, so any thoughts I had of getting out of the AF when my five-year commitment was done quickly vanished.
Fast-forward four years and some change, here I was, just sitting in my office over here in South Korea when an intriguing email popped up in my inbox. It was an information packet about this new program the Air Force just came out with which would allow some AF members to take 1-3 years off from the military – essentially a sabbatical – before returning to the same job they previously held right where they left off. Immediately, the first thought that popped into my head was: “Holy cow, I might actually be able to do the World Race!!” As I continued to read through the document, my joy turned to discouragement when I discovered they were only selecting 20 officers and 20 enlisted members to participate this year, and that was out of the entire pool of active duty, Reserves, and Air National Guard personnel (nearly 500,000 people). “Well, God, this sure looks like quite a long shot, but if the World Race is where you want me to go during this next season of my life, I trust that You will open the doors to make it possible. If not, please close this door so I can continue to focus on my AF career field.”
To make a long story a little bit shorter…I submitted my application for the Air Force program, found out a couple months later that I was (somehow!) one of the 40 people who were chosen; then I applied for the World Race, and a short while later was accepted on the route I felt God leading me toward! So if the start of this journey toward the WR is any indication, it would seem that this next season is going to be quite an adventure. I can’t wait to see what He has in store for our team and the people we will encounter during this journey…it’s going to be an amazing 11 months! =D
For more information about the route my team and I will likely take, as well as some information about each country we will visit, check out this link!
Love you guys, and I am so darn thankful for all your support and prayers as I begin my journey down this new and exciting path!!
