2008 has been an exciting year! I’ve spent this past year working in the AIM office for The World Race. It’s so interesting to watch this program grow. I mean…. I was at the beginning of this crazy thing.
I remember walking into the Christian book store to get a copy of Relevant Magazine back in March. The World Race had a featured article in that issue. I grabbed a copy, picked it up, looked at the cover, and this weight just kind of settled in my gut.
There it was…on the bottom corner of the cover, “The World Race.”
Wow. 
I did that. I did that with the first group of crazy people to go out. This huge thing that is now in Relevant Magazine… yeah… I’m a part of that. It’s almost too big to grasp, and yet we sit around the office and seriously discuss getting 1,000 racers out in a year. Now that would be big, and the more we tweak this thing, and seek the Father’s heart, the more I believe it’s going to happen.
I love being a part of The World Race. It’s bigger than me. It’s about the Kingdom of God. People’s lives are getting changed as they seek to change the lives of people all around the world. I get to interview people and hear what makes their heart beat and why they would want to abandon everything to go around the world for a year, sleeping in the dirt, eating rice every day, and seeing firsthand the poverty and pain of humankind.
After talking with folks in their interviews, they come to training camp and I start building relationships with them. Pretty soon they are off on the World Race. I’ve had the opportunity to go to 2 Launches, the first week of the World Race. This year I went with the July 2008 team to Palenque Mexico and the October 2008 team to Manila Philippines.
When I’ve been out there with these I’ve gotten to do a wide assortment of “training.” I took a bunch of girls down to the shower area in Mexico and showed them how to wash their clothes in a bucket. They later posted a video of their laundry experience… I don’t think they were listening. : ) One afternoon I took a group of girls upstairs and led them in an intense prayer time over one another where we intentionally listened to the Lord to encourage each other. Afterwards, we went into town and I showed them what it looked like to prayer walk and listen to the Holy Spirit’s leadings as you ministered in town without a specific plan of action. I absolutely loved it.
For me, nothing beats the feeling of watching somebody else realize what all they are cabable of and equipp
ed to do through the power of God. We all want to do “good things” and serve and love and make a difference. God’s blessed me with the opportunity to watch these World Racers understand that they are more than able to do what is in their heart to do. I love my life!
So I tell you what I love about my job and what I love about where God is leading me because I’m doing something else a little wild and crazy. I’m going to be the squad leader for the January 2009 World Race team. I’m co-leading with Jenny Brown, another alumnus who went on the June 2007 trip. We’re going to take 8 teams, 53 people, around the world to fully realize who they are in Christ, what the Kingdom of God is really about, and their role in the Kingdom.
It’s heavy at times. Taking that kind of responsibility for people just in dealing with details and safety is huge, let alone taking on the spiritual responsibility and stewardship. It’s heavy at times but God reminds me that the racers are already equipped to make a difference in the world and I’m already equipped for this role as a Squad Lead
er. Praise God for His Spirit inside of me! Phew!
Wow… The World Race again. I’m going to travel with the team for the first three months of their journey and then meet up with them a few times during the year for debriefs. So while I won’t be sleeping on the floor for another 11 months, I’m fully embracing this squad as my family for the next year. These are my peeps. We are on a journey.
I’m going to need people to support me in this endeavor. I need people to pray for me like crazy as I lead this team and travel to places I’ve never been before. I need people to support me financially. For the first part of this journey I need to raise $4,000. This will cover all my travel and living expenses for 3 months. Please pray about joining me in this ministry both with prayer and financial gifts. With your financial support I can go out and lead 53 people to feed orphans and widows, clear up the devastation of hurricanes in Haiti, rescue and bring hop
e to girls trapped in the sex industry in Southeast Asia. You aren’t just investing in a travel experience… you are investing in the lives of 53 people who are going to change the world with the love and hope of Christ. It’s incredible that God uses us to do this stuff. He can use you even if you can’t leave the country by praying and giving.
To partner with me financially you can donate through this blog. Just look to the left and click on “Support Me.” You can even set up the donation to automatically happen every month for a specific amount. If 50 people could give $20 a month from December to March, I would be fully funded. Can you be one of those 50 people?
If you aren’t comfortable giving online, you can mail a check. Just put “Appealed By – Ashley Musick” in the memo line and send it to Adventures in Missions P.O. Box 534470 Atlanta, GA 30353-4470. To donate online with debit or credit card, click here. SUPPORT ME!
This is exciting. Being a part of this is incredible. Thanks so much for joining me. Expect to hear some pretty awesome stories from the next few months of God’s provision and some radical World Racers coming alive in their identity in Christ. I LOVE IT! The H-Squad is ready to bring heaven to earth!
