World Race Instagram

 

I know that if you have instagram or Facebook then you’re sure to have seen at least some of the photos I’ve posted. You probably have noticed then too that there is always the hashtags: #11n11 #worldrace 

 

This is because it’s something we’re told to do by Adventures and Missions (AIM). It’s a advertising tool that they don’t have to pay for, but allows other people to hear about AIM and the World Race and potentially either support or go on one of the mission trips they offer. 

 

We as Racers love sharing what we have been experiencing with all of you. It’s something we definitely want to bring you in to, but I want to share with you that our Race and our experiences are no where close to the instagram photos we’ve shared. 

 

This happens for many reasons. One of the main ones is that most of our ministries we are not able to take photos at, or we’re not able to post them to social media. It’s out of respect for our ministry host as well as those we are witnessing too. How would it come across if we went up to someone, shared the gospel with them and then just pulled out our phone or camera to get a picture of it? Though that’s done at times, I don’t perceive that to be the right way to go about things. 

 

So instead, we post photos about our adventures and random other things, and you only get tiny glimpses into our ministry for the month. Ultimately, if you want to know what ministry is like you have to read our blogs. 

 

Another reason our instagram photos are not our actual experience is because Racer’s are trying to get re-grammed by the World Race. It’s something shared with us at Training Camp. “Hashtag these things and you may get regrammed by the World Race or Adventures in Missions.” Who wouldn’t want their photo regrammed? I know I have wanted this my entire race. 

 

But in doing so, we start writing cool phrases or quoting things that we think will get noticed. We take pictures and post them if they’re ones we think will get re-grammed. It’s not that it’s fake, because it isn’t, it’s just not the full experience. 

 

I don’t think words will ever be able to describe the experiences I have had throughout this trip. I have witnessed a lot of things, things that I don’t care to repeat, that are incredibly hard to look back on. And I have experienced some AMAZING joys.

 

Tip for future Racers or those thinking about doing the Race: The Race is portrayed on Instagram as an AMAZING and EXCITING and ADVENTURE Filled experience. It looks like it’s always a GO GO GO thing. It’s not and if you come on the Race with those expectations you’re going to be greatly disappointed. If you’re thinking about coming on the Race just because you’ll get to have adventures in so many countries, know that you do, but it’s not as often as you might think and most of the time it may not even be something you’d really wanted to do. Do not base your expectations for the Race off of other people’s instagram photos. 

 

Till Next Time,

Kara Faber