So, I really haven’t known what to talk about since my last blog and have really struggled with writer’s block since my last post. I have sat down many times to write something and the words just haven’t come. So, since it has been over a month (so sorry) since I wrote something, I figured I would cover some of the recent questions I have received from different people since I have a bit more information now than when I first started this amazing journey 🙂
Also, if you have a question that is not on my list, please leave a comment and I would be more than happy to answer it (if I know the answer)!
1. What is Adventure in Missions? World Race?
Adventure in Missions is a non-profit organization based out of Georgia. Adventure in Missions (AIM for short) was established in 1989 and has sent out over 100,000 people on various mission trips. World Race is one such mission trip. World Race lasts for 11 months and the participants will be spending about a month in each country. AIM believes in meeting people where they are at not expecting them to come to the church. AIM reaches out to those that society has shunned, reaching into the darkest most hopeless places in any given city.
Interested? For more information:
http://www.adventures.org/about/?iname=about#welcome
2. How did you hear about World Race?
I actually read about it in the Grand Rapids Press one Sunday afternoon. It was a story about consumerism and it caught my eye. The idea of living out of a backpack, seeing the world and most importantly helping others in the name of Jesus really caught my attention and I spent the next few months researching AIM and the World Race. I put in my application and two days before Christmas I received a call from AIM letting my know I had been accepted into the program (best Christmas present ever, let me tell you!)
The articles if you want to see what inspired me.
http://www.mlive.com/living/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2014/06/tom_rademacher_on_millennial_b.html
http://www.mlive.com/living/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2013/09/tom_rademacher_rockfords_world.html
3. How much does this trip cost?
Well, the amount I have to raise is $16,257. This covers airfare, lodgings, food and transportation. This also includes the insurance cost. While this is a lot of money, I have already raised over $4,200!! I have reached my first fundraising goal of $3,500, which is due in June. This is such a huge praise and I have been so overwhelmed by the support people have given thus far! My next goal is $10,000 by August and I am hoping to have all $16,257 by September!
What this price does not cover is: all the gear I will need, thank you cards and stamps, clothes and meds (Malaria is very expensive), plus travel costs to get down to GA for a mandatory 10 day training and again to join my team in September.
4. How can I help?
Well, prayer is a great way to start. Pray for me as I prepare for this journey, my team as we serve together and the people we are going to be serving.
If you feel led to give financially, wonderful. Scroll to the top of the page and click on the orange “support me” box. This will take you to a secure site where you can give a one-time gift or a monthly gift. No gift is too small 
5. What are you doing to help raise support?
I sent out letters during February and March to friends and family. I have also been talking about whenever someone asks me what my plans are. If you would like to receive one of my partnership letters please let me know either by leaving a comment, emailing/facebooking me or contacting me through the “contact” link on my the bar to the left.
This month (May), I started selling homemade magnets, which I just love making.
Next month (June), the small group I am apart of is helping me host a fundraising spaghetti dinner at my home church!
6. What is training camp? What is Launch?
Training camp is a mandatory 10 day camp down in Gainesville, GA. I will be meeting my squad for the first time (which I am so very excited about!) and living out of my tent with everything I need in my backpack. During thes 10 days AIM/World Race will be teaching, training and stretching us in many different ways. What they hope to accomplish is to show racers some of the worst possible situations that could happen while on the World Race. This is also a time for the leadership to meet us and if needs be switch people around to balance out the routes (as 5 different groups are all leaving in September).
Launch takes place in September in GA and happens before we leave the US. It is a 3-4 day conference for racers, parents and AIM/World Race leadership. (Beyond this I don’t know a whole lot about Launch)
7. Do you know anyone else on this trip?
The simple answer, no. Whenever someone that knows me well hears this, they give me a funny look as they know I am an introvert who does not do large groups of people, parties or the like. I just smile at them and go on to explain that I feel like I already know many of my squad mates. I was added to a closed facebook group, which everyone is a part of, where we discuss everything from gear for the trip to personality types to fundraiser ideas. Then a couple of months ago someone on the squad created a GroupMe account (it is an app kind of like messenger, but also uses phone numbers). We are in constant communication with each other. We have covered everything from serious, tragic events that are happening in our lives to praises when something amazing happens to just being there for each other through encouragement, prayer or advice. I already feel like I know so many of my squad mates and I feel so blessed to be a part of this squad for the next 11 months. They are a truly amazing group of people.
Well I hope that this helped answer some of your questions and like I stated earlier, if you have any questions for my do not hesitate to ask! I am willing to answer any question you might have and if I don’t have the answer I am more than willing to find out the answer 
A quick THANK YOU to everyone who has supported me thus far! I feel truly blessed!
Also, I am almost 30% funded. (Just in case you wanted to know)
Love Rebecca
