The 5 countries that I will be going to next year are Swaziland, Lesotho, India, Nepal, and Nicaragua. It is amazing that God willing, I will be able to explore these countries and experience all the different cultures. But that is not why my team and I are going. While it might be easy to become a tourist, looking into the country from the outside, and treating this trip as a vacation, that is not our mission. Our mission is to engage in the community, and to be a light. Last night I heard a metaphor that has stuck with me. Yesterday (November 27th) was the beginning of the advent, a time where we celebrate the coming of Jesus.
John 1:4-5 says “In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it”
Jesus is the light. Think of the light as the sun and earth as a dark place. But at night, when it is dark, we are left with moonlight. I want to be the moon. Reflecting Jesus’s love, being a light in a place where it is dark. This image remains in my head, and I pray that my team and I will be a light in a world where there is darkness. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
When I signed up to do the World Race, I knew little to nothing about the countries I would be going to. After researching and learning more and more about them, I found that the people of these countries need help. The statistics provided by www.theworldrace.org are shocking.
Landlocked inside of South Africa, Swaziland has the highest HIV/AIDS rate in the entire world and 40% of Swazi children are orphaned. The majority of the population is under the age of 18. Despite this, the people of Swaziland are known to be welcoming, happy, and proud of their culture. We want to bring hope to the orphans, widowed mothers, and the hungry.
Its neighbor, Lesotho, has the 2nd highest AIDS rate in the world. Surprisingly, about 90% of Lesotho is Christian. Despite the prevalence of Christianity and the availability of education, access to quality healthcare, travel, and educational resources is limited. About 40% of the population live below the poverty line, and children are often forced to work instead of going to school. Our mission is to share the difference between cultural Christianity and a life changing relationship with Jesus.
India has nearly a sixth of the world’s population within its borders. With that comes many different languages and religions. Due to the ancient caste system, there are highly segregated rich and poor classes. Crimes of social injustice, discrimination, forced prostitution, and human trafficking occur daily. Lepers are seen as untouchables. The poor are forced to live in slums. Our mission in India is to share hope to the outcasts, the poor, and the abandoned people of India.
Nepal is home to the tallest mountain in the world, Mount Everest. Everyday 54 young girls and women are trafficked out of Nepal, most of them going to India. This statistic has only been rising for the past several years. Our prayer is for the people of Nepal to encounter our living God.
Nicaragua is home to stunning beaches, volcanoes, and dense rain forests. The country is beautiful. However, hopelessness, addiction, destitution, and poverty plague many in Nicaragua. They are the poorest nation in Central America. Almost 80% of Nicaraguans live on less than $2 a day. One in four Nicaraguans is either starving or suffering from malnutrition. Our prayer for the people of Nicaragua to know that they are loved and not forgotten by God.
If you would be interested in helping me go on this trip, please donate through this blog. I promise I’ll put it to good use. Also, tell your friends! And be praying for me. This trip is God willing. Thank you everyone who has already donated! Your support is greatly appreciated!
