I’ve been asked so many questions while spreading the word about my journey leading up to the World Race, so I’ve decided to take the 11 most frequent questions and give you 11 answers (#11n11) 
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the World Race?
2. Where are you going?
3. Who are you going with?
4. What will you be doing?
5. Where will you be staying?
6. Where is my money going?
7. What are you doing to prepare and raise funds?
8. What is Training Camp?
9. What is Launch?
10. When do you launch?
11. How Can I Help?
1. What is the World Race?
The World Race is a mission trip and discipleship program that will take me on a journey through 11 countries in 11 months. I will partner with local communities in need of our help as I live out Matthew 10: “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.” It births partnerships with ministries around the world. It requires Luke 10-like faith. This unique mission trip is a challenging adventure for young adults to abandon worldly possessions and a traditional lifestyle in exchange for an understanding that it’s not about you; it’s about the Kingdom.
2. Where are you going?
Recently, my route (January Route 4) was merged with another group (January Route 1) to form an Uber Route!!! We all voted and chose to combine our original routes and will now be going through Columbia, Equador, Peru, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Montenegro, Romania, Cambodia, Thailand and Malaysia. 11 countries, 4 continents, all in 11 months.
3. Who are you going with?
Adventures in Missions organizes the World Race. I will be traveling with my sQuad (the other young adults that have signed up and been accepted to the same route I chose). My sQuad is currently at about 51 racers. We will travel together to the countries and then split up into smaller groups of 7-8 people and work together on different projects.
4. What will you be doing?
The World Race is not only a mission trip, but also an intensive discipleship program. Through the WR, my sQuad and I will serve in partnership with churches and ministries in local communities to preach the Gospel, plant churches, work in orphanages, minister to women and children trapped in prostitution as a result of human trafficking, and bring restorative hope of the Father’s love to many tribes and nations.
Through the 11 months, something cool about the trip is that we will constantly be learning new forms of ministry. In each country we will meet with locals and learn what our jobs will be during our stay. Somedays will look different than anything we’ve encountered before, and really, at this point in my World Race Journey, I am not 100% sure what those jobs will be in each of our stops. I do know that God will be working and changing me in ways I never imagined.
An overall idea of what we can expect is some days will be packed full of construction, VBS, building relationships with orphans, or praying for the sick at a hospital. In many countries we could be teaching english and Bible in schools, door to door evangelism and relationship building and much more. Some days could be slower – shopping for groceries at the market, cooking for our team, and spending time praying for the community we walk through. Regardless of the pace or the activity, every day will be focused on being a part of God’s kingdom work.
5. Where will you be staying?
For 11 months I expect to be sleeping on the ground and in my own tent. There is the possibility of staying in hostels or other ‘indoor’ locations. We have been given a packing list and I have been asked to bring a tent, sleeping pad, sleeping bag, and pillow.
6. Where is my money going?
Please know, this is not a vacation. I will have days off through out each month with chances to site see, but this will be the most difficult year of my life. I will be living out of a backpack, sleeping on the ground in a tent, bathing in bug repellent because Malaria and the Zika virus are real, and working through God’s greatest challenges in life. I’m stepping so far out of my comfort zone I can’t even see it anymore. And I literally have nothing to complain about in the grand scheme of it all. I have been given a blessed life and an opportunity to share God’s love with the world.
Below is a graphic that will accurately explain where your tax deductable donations are going:
Of the $16,617 I need to raise to continue of the World Race, 2% ($332.34) goes to training camp. I leave for camp in exactly one month from today. I will spend 10 days in Georgia with all 4 squads (225 people) that will be launching come January. They will put us through multiple scenarios that we will encounter on the race and provide guidance as we struggle to achieve one of God’s greatest plans for out lives. Field support ($664.68), WR Development Program ($1,994.04), and Administration Fees ($2,824.89) all go directly to the organization and the people that work with us in the field, get us safely from one country to the next, and those that help us through out this entire journey. I am not sure how many people that is, but I cannot wait to meet them.
65% ($10,801.05) goes to me, the World Racer, and below is a graphic that explains how that chunk of money is broken down.
7. What are you doing to prepare and raise funds?
To start off with, prayer. Currently I am in beautiful Jackson Hole Wyoming (aka middle of gorgeous nowhere) working on a ranch for the summer. I am living and working with wonderful people I just met 2 and half months ago. Prayer has been my main source of communication for that time period and I am closer to God than I have been in years.
I have currently sent out over 100 support letters to friends and family and that has been my greatest resource while raising funds. I still have many people to contact and connect with. It amazes me each day the amount of people that God has specifically put in my life, and I am not sure how I will ever be able to thank each and everyone of you for your support. Whether it be kind words, happy vibes, prayers, or donation of gear and money that you have sent my way, THANK YOU.
There are several fundraisers that I have put in place, i.e. t-shirts, bracelets, Adopt-A-Box, my novice photography, prayer journals, framed handmade inspirational quotes and verses, and Social Media contests. I am also in the process of planning speaking engagements through churches who have supported me through the years, rummage sales, and restaurant fundraisers.
There is also a physical aspect that I need to keep in mind during my preparation. I must be able to hike 3 miles in under 50 while carrying a 40+lbs backpack, guitar case, and daypack. I’m still working on that requirement.
To spiritually prepare, I have begun reading “Kingdom Journeys: Rediscovering a Lost Spiritual Discipline” by Seth Barnes. On my days off, I spend many hours driving and praying because I’ve never taken my personal time talking with God more seriously then I have as of late.
Please, if you have any book, music, video, or blog recommendations, I need all the advice I can gather.
8. What is Training Camp?
Training Camp is an intense 10-day experience where I will travel to Georgia and meet my sQuad-mates. Together we will connect deeply with the Lord and each other. Through teaching, prayer, scenarios, and relationship building, I will be forced to step out of fear and shame and into intimacy with the Father. I will also be given instruction on how to partner with God to establish His Kingdom on Earth. I can’t wait to meet everyone. Camp is from October 19th-29th and when I return, I will have even more answers for you.
9. What is Launch?
Launch is when we officially leave for the World Race. As of now, our first stop is Columbia. The routes are subject to change, so I will be given a front seat lesson on patience, flexibility, and understanding.
10. When do you launch?
We’ve been given two dates so far. January 7th or 8th 2017. I will update you when I am given the exact moment I leave.
11. How Can I Help?
There are many different ways to help, I am so glad that you asked 🙂
Firstly, prayer is my greatest need. We serve a God who can move mountains, all you need is faith the size of a mustard seed.
Donations make this mission trip possible. I literally couldn’t do this without you. The easiest way is to make either a one-time or monthly online donation here at my blog.
You can also mail checks directly to:
Adventures in Missions
P.O. Box 742570
Atlanta, GA 30374-2570
with my name printed on the memo line of the check.
I also have a list of vaccinations and gear that I will need for my trip. For these needs, I have set up a GoFundMe account.
However, Go Fund Me reserves some of your donation as a small fee. I encourage you to donate here on my support page first if this concerns you. Or if you know of a better way for me to gather these excess funds, I am all ears. Again, I’m in need of all the help I can get.
I also have several fundraisers: bracelets, camera straps, t-shirts, prayer journals, handmade inspirational quotes in frames, and my novice photography on my Facebook page.
That was a lot of information and I want to thank you for even taking the time to read it all. If you have any further questions, please comment below or email me at [email protected]
HUGS!!! 🙂
