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UPDATE!! Our route has been altered slightly. The last leg of our European tour replaced Bosnia with Greece. While I’m bummed to not get the chance to see what ministry in Bosnia would look like, I gotta say I’m pretty stoked
about ministry in Greece. Check it out!
Route alterations are far from unusual. Since being accepted to the Fusion 2016 route, there have been 4 route changes.
Two things you can count on when becoming a racer:
1) Plans changing [frequently]
2) Your comfort zone playing this fun game called the Vanishing Act
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By this point in the race, we will have trekked through 4 countries, and will be foraging on to Europe. Here’s a look into the next 4 countries!
Latvia
Sandwiched between Estonia to the north and Lithuania to the south, Latvia is home to the largest medieval church in Europe. Like Estonia, Latvia is a hidden gem for tourism. But it’s not all cathedrals and beautiful architecture – Latvia has a dark side. Often called the “fatherless nation,” Latvia is home to thousands of young people whose families suffer brokenness due to the high unemployment, depression, and substance abuse that run rampant there. We are called to love the Latvian people and introduce them to the love of God as the father they don’t have.
Ukraine
This Eastern European country is caught between its past oppression under the Soviet Union and the desire to be accepted by the West. People in the West tend to be more nationalistic than those in the East, where Russian is more commonly spoken. There’s a substantial orphan population and looming human trafficking. Most people claim to belong to the Ukrainian Orthodox church. We will work to bring hope, peace, and unity to this nation, and help to build authentic relationships with our Lord.
Romania
The northern regions of Romania are home to the gypsy community. Though strangers in their homeland and forgotten by society, the gypsies are a strong and vibrant people who embrace the light of Christ in an inspirational way. Here we will teach English, lead sports camps, live life with the gypsies and more.
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Greece
Often called the birthplace of civilization, Greece is known for its deep cultural history. Ranking high on the list of tourist destinations, Greece is also ranked third in the world for highest unemployment rate. Over the past few years, the financial crisis has topped the news highlights. Together we will follow in the steps of Apostle Paul ad bring hope to this country that was once a hub of Christianity.
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Bosnia
Technically called Bosnia and Herzegovina, this country is found on the Balkan peninsula. It encompasses beautiful turquoise rivers and lakes making it a popular destination for tourists seeking outdoor sports. Still recovering from a war that caused immense damage, loss of life, and displacement of millions, Bosnia is still essentially ruled by NATO. This country is in need of God’s kingdom, and we have one month to bring it!
In other news, this week I created an REI registry list. Shout out to Monica and her husband who purchased the item I needed the soonest. I actually had plans to buy it this weekend, now I can continue to chip away at the rest of my list! Thank you thank you thank you. And since this is technically a Christmas gift in honor of your parents, please share my appreciation with them!! My registry is #GR121458896 and can be found here. It’s not complete, but is a work in progress. Keep checking back to see what’s been added :]
*All country specific information retrieved from Adventures in Missions route descriptions*
