When I was thinking of coming on the World Race, I had to consider that this mission trip would require a lot of moving around. I wouldn’t stay in one location where I could build relationships for a solid year and become completely accustomed to the ministry contacts and the culture.
I immediately responded to that thought with another,
“Sign me up.”
I love consistency and stability. Sometimes. At home on the weekend I love spending hours in the morning [after I’ve woken up at 8:30am] laying in bed and gradually making my way to the kitchen for a cup of coffee while I sit and read with my feet propped up on a chair. Every Saturday.
But other times I just need something different. [I changed my major three times before settling]. Sometimes I just need to get out. Get in my car with the windows rolled down and blast music, worship or non-worship, and drive to Super Target. Mainly because I need fresh air to smack me in the face, reminding me that I’m still alive. And that I want to live like it.
I’ve loved every single time I’ve traveled to a foreign place, a new culture, to share God’s love with the people there. I feel alive when I do that. But the thought of staying in one of those places for one whole year [New York City being the exception] almost brought on the feelings of suffocation or confinement. The feelings I have when I do too much of the same thing over and over again.
That’s why The World Race seemed like the perfect fit for me. It would be like a bunch of short term mission trips in one giant one [and one month in each country is really a longer short-term mission trip].
Here are just a few reasons you should think about coming on the World Race, a long-term mission trip with a twist:
- If you like CHANGE every so often, apply already. After a few months you might have to be reminded what country you’re in and what currency they use. And that you shouldn’t be saying “thank you” in Romanian when you’re actually in India.
- You get to build relationships with people all over the World and keep connected with them.. maybe even go back to them if God calls you to one of the specific ministries/countries on your Race!
- one month in each place is still long enough to make an impact. We’ve remodeled classrooms in a month, broken ground for evangelism in unreached neighborhoods/villages, built on the foundations that previous teams have already layed (with the gospel, relationships, and manual labor), and I’ve been changed personally in one way or another each month.
- if you’re still uncertain about what God may be calling you to do or where to go, the World Race is a good way to explore options. I can certainly tell you what parts of the world I’m not called to permanently and what types of ministry I probably won’t be doing full time [that could always change I guess]. But I can also tell you that I’ve narrowed down the direction I’m heading even if I’m still not totally sure what my thing is. And that’s all you really need! With God, especially on the Race, it’s ‘one day at a time’ [Matt. 6:34].
- The way the World Race dynamics run, you will have an opportunity to lead at some point. Even if you aren’t in the position of squad leader or team leader or logisitics for your Race, that truth still stands. In fact you may not want it when the opportunity presents itself to you! There will be countless occasions that will require you to take initiative in the form of giving a sermon, a testimony, putting on a kids club, teaching English, etc. The ministry opportunities are endless and they always need someone [you] to do it.
- It will be impossible to leave from the World Race unchanged. If you let your guard down and open your heart to give and receive positive and constructive feedback each day, it will be impossible to stay who you were when you came on the Race. Annnnd, it’s too tight-knit of a community for you to hold on to your baggage [as in emotional, not your obnoxious pack. But you may want to drop that too]. Clinging to your baggage could drag you down as well as the rest of your team.
- You get to see the World! This may sound selfish, but seeing the world in 11 months not only allows you to open yourself up to new experiences all the time, but it has truly been an amazing reminder of how big my God is. It has challenged me to see God in everything: a new people, a new landscape, an Albanian child, an Indian child who has special needs, a waterfall. The landscapes and people change as you travel, but God’s presence and love in all of it is still wildly strong.
- Its an eye opener to this truth: I’ve often talked about changing the world for God’s kingdom. Well, on the Race I’ve literally gone all over the world and brought change with me! Because of the change God has done in my life and the way He uses me now. God can use a single person [or 45 people on R squad] to impact the world for His kingdom. We’re doing it.
So the World Race might make you crazy at times. No, it will. But you had to be kind of crazy when you first showed interest in it.
And speaking of going all over the world, we will soon be traveling to another part of the world [Africa baby!!] really soon. Please keep us in your prayers for safe travels and pray that we would finish our Race strong! I still have 2 months left on the Race, and a little over $2,000 left to raise. Please pray about helping me get fully funded by clicking on the “Support Me” tab. If you cannot support me financially at this time, I would LOVE it if you would join with me by praying in faith for God’s provision.
With love,
E
