If you haven’t yet heard….
I’M GOING ON THE WORLD RACE!!
You’re either sitting their very confused as to what this “World Race” is or you are feeling really excited, sad, terrified, questionable, or maybe all of the above. These seem to be the common reactions, though excited seems to be winning thus far…which is so cool! I have some pretty legit people in my life!
If you don’t know what it is, in a nutshell th World Race is an 11 month trip where I will be traveling to 11 different countries (11n11) with a bunch of people I don’t know (though that won’t last long), getting the opportunity to do all kinds of ministry work, while sharing the love of Jesus with people all over the world. Literally.
Now let me just say that it is unbelievable to me that I have my very own World Race blog. It’s so surreal.
I have known about the World Race for almost 5 years now and in those 5 years I have read a number of Racers blogs. I have looked at countless pictures and videos. I’ve read numerous stories of how the Lord is using these Racers to touch the lives of people around them in ways that only He could ever do. I have been encouraged and inspired by them. I have prayed for Racers whom I have never even met and most likely never will.
I’ve read these blogs dreaming about the day that I might have my very own World Race blog to share my own stories with my family and friends and whoever else happens across my blog. I’ve wondered what my posts will be about. What stories will I have to share. What places I will get to see. What people I might get the opportunity to encourage and inspire along the way. What beautiful children will I get to hold in my own arms. Who will be the faces in the pictures that I take. Who will my squad mates and teammates be. What kind of ministry will I get to do. In what ways will my relationship with the Lord be stretched and strengthened.
And now it begins. It’s my turn to share those stories. It’s my turn to share with you the many ways in which God is going to provide for me during this trip, starting now as I begin preparing for it – and I’m not just talking about finances here. I will get to share with you the places God is going to take me, my team mates, the different types of ministry I will be doing, what God is doing in my life, and the list goes on…
So if you are reading this blog, thank you. I am thrilled to share this story with you as it unfolds. The ending is just as much a mystery to me as it is to you.
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With that being said, I wanted to share with you where I will be traveling to during my 11 months on the World Race. And know that any of these countries could change at any time.
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.
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 reach out to the people on the fringes of society through hard work, relationships, 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.
Nicaragua: This location is always a World Race favorite. It’s a country full of wonderfully warm and caring people, and participants always leave having had a powerful experience. However, hopelessness, addictions, destitution, and poverty still plague the many lives of Nicaragua. There are orphans who have grown up without knowing the love of a parent and families who get by each day by scrounging scraps from the city dump where they have made their homes. In Nicaragua, you’ll have the opportunity to bring God’s love through slum ministry, door-to-door outreach, outreach to children, and more.
Malawi: Known as “the warm heart of Africa,” Malawi is a place you visit to ignite your passion for God’s love. This country has a beautiful landscape and an even more beautiful culture and population. This month, you’ll fall in love with the people of Malawi and bless them with the love of God. Chances are you won’t want to leave.f
Zimbabwe: Formerly a British colony known as Rhodesia, Zimbabwe boasts intriguing ruins and shares the majestic Victoria Falls with Zambia. According to Amnesty International, the current regime is allowing human rights violations to escalate. Zimbabwe also has one of the lowest life expectancies in the world. The majority of the people identify themselves as Christians but very much need people like you to advance the kingdom with love and hope.
Mozambique: One of the most beautiful countries in the African continent, Mozambique is a favorite location of World Racers for a variety of reasons: the people, the landscape, the ministry partnerships, the miracles that this country has seen, and more. The former Portuguese colony is seeing signs of redemption and economic recovery; because of, or in spite of, the extreme poverty gripping the nation, the church grows. You will teach, preach, and practice “true religion” with widows and orphans while you grow in your identity in Christ. One of your most interesting travel “days” may happen here.
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.
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.
Laos: Following a brutal civil war, Laos came under communist rule in 1975. Therevada Buddhism and spirit worship dominate Laos with Christian missionary work monitored by the government. This ruggedly beautiful nation is home to some of the most unreached hill tribes in the world. The need is great for people to bring God’s love to the isolated places in Laos.
Cambodia: Cambodia houses one of the Seven Wonders of the World, AngkorWat, 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.
