So, you know the movie that just came out (or is about to come out? I'm not sure…) called The Five Year Engagement? It is about a couple that gets engaged, but things keep happening that force them to extend their engagement, which eventually ends up being 5 years. Sometimes I feel like that is what Josh and I are experiencing with our preparations to go on the World Race.
We originally applied for the Race in May of last year. We were planning on leaving in January of 2012, but as it got closer, we realized that the timing wasn't right for us, so we decided that postponing until July would be a better idea. As soon as the July routes opened up, we were switched. The last several months, we have been preparing to leave in July, and up until about a week or two ago, that was still the plan.
Since we have to raise double the amount that most Racers do, we have double the amount to meet for our deadlines. So it has been more of a struggle for us to fundraise. You would think that since there are two of us, that we know twice as many people, which is sort of true, but we pretty much have the same group of friends. Fundraisers still make about the same amount, but the money doesn't make as much of a dent as it does for single Racers.
We had a deadline on May 5th, which we did not meet, but AIM graciously gave us an extension on the deadline. We needed to have the rest of the money that was needed for the deadline ($3,200) by Training Camp. Which was 2 weeks away. In the meantime, we had another fundraiser, which did not bring in much, but we were able to hand out lots of our cards and sort of talk to lots of people (more like yell at them, because there was a DJ booth right next to us, haha). We had several mind-blowing donations from friends and family (shout out! Thank you from the bottom of my heart!), which helped boost us closer to our goal. We made it to $400 from our goal, which is amazing, but it was still $400 away.
We also have this terrible thing called credit card debt. I never wanted to be someone with credit card debt, but when my car broke down (I think it was like 2 years ago), and the repair bill was over $1,000, we had no choice but to get one. We also had to put groceries and gas on it for a few months, after Josh got laid off from one of his jobs. So, the balance grew until it was I think $2,600 or $2,700 (I'm not sure…Josh takes care of the bills). We have been working hard to pay it off, but once the balance gets that high, the interest is killer, and we just weren't making much progress on it. I was really starting to stress about how we were going to pay it off before we left, with only about one month of working left. I don't think credit card companies take the "I'm not going to be in the country or have a paying job for a year" excuse. I was also worried about how we were going to save enough money to have as emergency money, enough to buy my contacts for the year, our plane tickets to the airport we would be launching with our squad from, etc, etc.
The rational side of me said postpone to September. The emotional side of me said no way. We have waited SO long, I love my F Squad family too much, it's not fair, yada, yada. Especially days from going to Training Camp.
Josh and I talked and prayed about it, and we decided, with heavy hearts, that it was best for us to change to September. The only thing holding me back was sadness to leave my squad that I now regarded as family.
I love making lists, and talking, writing, and blogging help me process things, so I decided to make a pros and cons list to sort out my feelings about everything. The pros list definitely outnumbered the cons list, but I noticed something interesting about both sides. The pros list definitely had a theme of time. More time to pay off the credit card. More time with family. More time to fundraise. And the cons list? Everything on it had to do with expectations that I had that all of a sudden I had to let go of. I had to let go of my dream (for now) of going to India. I had to let go of my expectation of traveling with my F Squad family. I had to face the fact that I will not be going to Training Camp next week.
The good folks at Adventures in Missions constantly tell you to let go of any and all expectations that you have for the Race, and missions in general. I was always like, I've totally got that down. I'm flexible. I don't have expectations.
Oops. Totally did.
But you know what I have found? Which each step of faith that we have taken, it has been terrifying from the point of the unknown, and sometimes I felt like a toddler stomping my feet, clenching my fists, and saying, "I don't want to do it! I don't want to!" But God has been, every time, the patient Parent that waits for the tantrum to subside, and then gently nudges us to move, all the while whispering words of reassurance in our ears. All we have to do is lift our feet to take that step. Once we do, we are excited, happy, proud. Um, ok, so I guess He really does know best.
So, all of that to say, we are postponing our Race until September, and we now have a new squad and Race route. Here is our new route, which is always subject to change, but we are really excited about:
Guatemala
A country rich in history and natural resources – fertile soil from the volcanoes help yield excellent coffee – Guatemala is the perfect place to initiate your World Race experience. Outside of its aesthetic appeal, Guatemala needs God’s touch. Gripped by poverty and bound to a spirit of religion, the people of Guatemala hunger for the kingdom of God to pervade their lives. You’ll have the opportunity to usher in the kingdom to this land and to these people in the form of relationships through incarnational ministry (read: living just as they do), reaching out to the people in the fringes of society, hard work, and maybe even a miracle or two.
El Salvador
El Salvador is the third largest economy in the region after Costa Rica and Panama and the smallest country (in land mass) in the Americas. A coup d’etat in 1979 led to civil war from 1980-1992 in this country. Oscar Romero, a Catholic bishop well-known known for supporting liberation theology, advocating for social justice in El Salvador, and protesting the government’s persecution of the church was assassinated in 1980 while conducting mass. Much of the country’s revenue comes from remittances. In a land whose name translates to "The Savior", you’ll be the signs that point to the one true Savior – not a better political system or economy – Jesus Christ.
Honduras
"Hondo" comes from the Spanish word for depth and there's lots of depth to Honduras. It's home to the Aztec and Mayan civilizations, whose ruins are still stand. Honduras is mostly mountainous and the weather's as tropical as it gets. What really runs deep in Honduras are its needs. Honduras is the third poorest in the region, after Haiti and Nicaragua. Like her neighbors, Honduras has had her of share political/military troubles, e.g., the six-month constitutional crisis in 2009. There's a need to reach out to the youth, not just to keep them out of trouble (e.g., gangs) but for them to know their worth and that they're loved.
Philippines
This Asian island nation, former Spanish colony then American protectorate, is a country in tension, trying to cross the threshold between the third and first world. It offers a variety of landscapes – beaches, mountains, volcanic lakes – and languages, with Tagalog as the national tongue. The Catholic Church is a substantial piece of the religious pie, however, and Islam is growing in the island of Mindinao. The Filipino people and culture love music, dance and community. While there, you may find yourself living with and giving hope to the destitute, caring for orphans, and challenging the growing number of Christ-followers to rise up.
Australia
From the Sydney Opera House to the aboriginal tribes of the Australian Outback, Australia is as exotic as you imagined it. World Racers will partner with ministries, churches and missionaries who are spreading the hope of Christ to the rich and poor alike. While Australia boasts a more westernized culture, the marginalized, impoverished, destitute and lost still exist and live each moment for the hope of hearing the good news. Here, you may minister to people, much like you would back home.
Malaysia
Enter a world entrenched in Islam. A people within the thriving metropolis of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysians still live in ignorance of the Good News of Jesus Christ. As you delve into this culture of works-based religion, strong self-discipline, and uncanny faith, you will have the unique opportunity to deliver hope and point the people to their Redeemer.
Thailand
According to the CIA, the kingdom of Thailand, known as Siam until 1939, is the only country in the region not colonized by Europe. Their 2000 census showed that 94.6% of the population is Buddhist, 4.6% are Muslim, and 0.7% are Christian. Approximately 600,000 people live with HIV/AIDS in Thailand. With nearly two million people estimated to be forced into prostitution, it has become one of the most popular places for sex tourism. Change lives in the city-where you, like Jesus, might befriend prostitutes-or in the countryside-where you may serve youth, care for orphans, and encourage a remnant of believers.
Cambodia
Cambodia houses one of the Seven Wonders of the World, Angkor Wat, a Hindu temple and monastery built during the Khmer empire in the 12th century. It later became a Buddhist complex a century later, and today, just over 96% of Cambodia is Buddhist. Almost 30 years ago, 1.5 million Cambodians died at the hands of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge regime. Today, Cambodia is a source, transit point, and destination of human trafficking. Unfortunately, the government is struggling to stop it. The people of Cambodia are thirsty for the hope you can bring.
Kenya
Who hasn't heard of Kenya in their lifetime? The Kenyan people are colorful, musical, artistic and hungry for the love of Christ. The Maasai bush, the Nairobi metropolis, and the Kibera slums comprise a country diverse yet unified in history. As a new era dawns in Kenya, so does the gospel of truth and faith. By meeting felt needs in the bush and the city, participants help bear lasting fruit with current ministry partnerships (ministries like evangelism, orphan care, and community development), and build foundations of future partnerships.
Uganda
Once a kingdom and British protectorate, for most of the later half of the 20th century, Uganda was under military rule, first under Idi Amin, the subject of the film The Last King of Scotland. Much of northern Uganda was also troubled by the Lord's Resistance Army, which heavily recruited child soldiers. Referred to as the Pearl of Africa, Uganda is diverse in topography and wildlife. You may find yourself in the north partnering with ministries that are bringing still-needed healing and reconciliation or in the south working with churches to evangelize and disciple the next generation of Kingdom workers.
Rwanda
Many who hear "Rwanda" immediately think, "genocide" – it was 16 years ago when 800,000 people were killed over the course of about three months. According to the U.S. State Department, Rwanda (once colonized by France) has the highest population density in sub-Saharan Africa; and like much of sub-Saharan Africa, this nation also is fighting hard against HIV/AIDS. This nation played a part of the genesis of this human rights organization and inspired this song; as you help bring healing to a country still recovering from this deep wound, God may birth a dream or vision in you…
I have said before, that even if we do not end up going on the Race, my life will forever have been changed by the spiritual journey that I have experienced during the preparation, and that on its own will have been well worth it. My faith, trust in God, reliance on my husband, appreciation for my family and friends, and love for my brothers and sisters in Christ have all grown exponentially.
Our next financial deadline is July 1st, which we only have $400ish until that is met! After that, our next deadline will be two weeks before we launch, so it will be around the end of August or early September, we will need to have $13,000 total, or $6,000 more. It feels good to be on track, or maybe even kind of ahead! We have already received so much love and support from family and friends, and we are so appreciative and humbled by the sacrifices that have been made to help send us to the mission field.
We update a lot on fundraising not just to ask for support, but to keep everyone informed. We get asked so much how we are doing on fundraising, and it is just as much to keep everyone updated as it is to ask for more support. It isn't easy asking for money, definitely not my favorite thing to do. It isn't our intention at all to make anyone feel like they have to donate, or that if they don't that they are somehow lesser, or that they should feel bad. Honestly, if the roles were reversed, I'm not sure if Josh and I could provide much, if any financial support to a friend or family member. So trust me, I completely and totally understand if you are not able to. Although the financial support is obviously crucial, the emotional and prayer support means more to us!
Thank you for sticking with this rambling blog for so long, and I'll leave you with something that a fellow Racer (Miranda Celestino) wrote in her blog:
'ENJOY, ENJOY, ENJOY and enjoy some more because the longer the wait, the sweeter the kiss.
In most cases God does make us wait for MANY THINGS and in my case almost everything(lol)
BUT in that process is where we find ourselves, where we find Gods love and mercy, where we find contentment and ease and where we find our growth in character.
Didn’t Ruth have to wait for Boaz?
Didn’t Joseph have to wait for justice?
Didn’t Jacob have to wait 14 years to marry the one he loved?
Waiting on the Lord can be painful and often enough frustrating and completely frightening
But think of a pearl and its beauty..
“A precious tiny jewel conceived from irritation, born of adversity and nursed by adjustments. Had there been no irritation there could have been no pearl.” –Chuck Swindoll'
