I wanted to do a question and answer blog to give you all a chance to ask questions! If there’s a question I didn’t answer or one you didn’t get to ask, ask it in the comments!
What exactly is the world race gap year?
The world race gap year is a 9 month mission trip to 4 different countries. It’s meant for people who are 18-20 and there are about 50 people on my squad. Within those 50 people you have a team of about 7, those are the people you do ministry with. We stay in each continent for about 3 months and partner with different ministries. I’ve been to Costa Rica, South Africa, Thailand, and Myanmar and served at 2 daycares, a school, a home for kids with HIV, an after school program, a bible college, and done manual labor. There is also a bunch of other things that go into the race, like team times, debriefs, discipleship days, etc. That’s just a brief summary.
What do I bring?
haha good question. I searched packing blogs for hours before I came on the race trying to figure out what to bring. I think the best advice is to bring what you use at home. But I will tell you some of my favorite things & some tips:
- My sleeping bag! all of my countries have been fairly hot, but I still really like having my sleeping bag because it’s so cozy!! https://www.marmot.com/womens-trestles-30-sleeping-bag-23600.html
- Linen pants from old navy. These babies saved my life. I brought a green and lavender pair and I wear them all the time. They are perfect because they are in dress code, comfy, and lighter than normal pants (for hot weather). https://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?pid=381878052
- Packing cubes!! the best purchase. I have all my clothes, towels, jackets in two medium size ones. I got the ones in the link but honestly you can get any style https://www.eaglecreek.com/shop/packing-cubes/pack-it-specter-tech-clean-dirty-cube-m-ec0a3cxd?variationId=231
- Get an airporter- But DO NOT get an osprey… do not even let that thought cross your mind… get literally any other brand
- a hard drive full of movies!!! this has saved us at the depths of our boredom
- you really don’t need a tent… or at least share with someone
- a portable charger- really great for travel days
- get a Charles schwab debit card because it pays you back for atm fees
- get venmo and uber before you leave (you can’t sign up for them in other counties and you will use those apps)
- they are really strict about dress code so I would say don’t even pack a pair of nike shorts or leggings (I did and haven’t worn them once)
- You really don’t need as much clothes or shoes as you think… I probably wear the same outfit three days in a row… I know that sounds gross but its very normal here. But please still shower everyday. and you will share clothes with everyone on your squad.
- If you get lice (you will get lice) go to the store and buy gold listerine at the store. thats the best treatment we’ve found. Also bring a headlamp for when you have to pick the lice out of your friends hair.
- bring snacks to training camp and bring enough to share so that you can make friends. also bring unicorn hand sanitizer and offer it to everyone.
Hopefully that’s helpful… I can probably think of more good things to bring so if you want more tips, let me know!
How much tourism is involved in the world race?
I guess the best way to answer that is tourism on the race is what you make of it. We get the weekends off, but if I want to go out and do something I have to organize and pay for it myself.
How is the food? What is the craziest/grossest food I’ve eaten? Do I have a new favorite food?
The grossest thing I’ve eaten was a “large water bug” dipped in soy sauce… It was so hard and slimy that I could hardly bite into it. But, the food is really good. In Costa Rica we had an awesome cook who made us Costa Rican food every night. In South Africa we had more americanized food, so that felt pretty normal. In Thailand we eat out for all our meals (we get $1.50 for each meal) so I hop between a hot ham and cheese from 7/11, Pad se ew from the food court at the mall across the street, and fried rice from a market across the street! We’ve really been blessed by AIM providing cooks and easy access to food. In Myanmar we will be cooking all of our meals by ourselves! Wish us luck… Oh and I don’t think I have a new favorite food (chick-fil-a will always hold my heart).
How many times have you had lice? Is having lice really that bad? Do you eventually become friends with the lice? Do you eat lice as a midday snack?
I could not get rid of my lice for 5 months but those babies are finally gone! Now we are dealing with bed bugs 🙂 But lice really isn’t bad at all… I kinda miss them. You do become friends with them. Unfortunately, I never ate them. But pro tip: treat your hair with gold listerine if you get lice!!!
Favorite thing about each country I’ve been to?
Costa Rica- Being with the whole squad! I didn’t realize it was going to be like this at the time, but Costa Rica is only country where my whole squad was together. It was so fun to live with 53 people (even though it was so crowded). There was always something fun going on! Costa Rica is also very green and beautiful, so I loved that.
South Africa- The town I lived in! I lived in Jeffreys, Bay which is a small beach town. The community there was AMAZING. The beach was AMAZING. and my ministry was AMAZING. Jeffrey’s Bay is just my favorite place in the world. I loved everything about it.
Thailand- my ministry. I helped in a home for kids with HIV. I taught English to teenagers who lived there. That was my favorite because I created such cool relationships with them and hadn’t gotten to be around that age very much.
Myanmar- I go there tonight! I’ll keep you updated on my favorite thing there 🙂
How’s been being apart of a different culture for so long?
It is tiring but, I don’t feel like it’s effecting me very much… it will probably all hit me when I go home in a month. It is really cool though. I’ve learned and experienced so much about other countries that I never would have if I hadn’t been in them for so long.
What is something that I discovered about myself on the race?
good question! I’ve learned so much about myself just by leaving home. I think the biggest thing I’ve learned about myself is that my identity truly is in Christ. Once I began to understand that I feel like I really became myself.
If you had to sum up this race experience/season of life this far in one single world what would it be? no further explanation just the word
refinement
what is my favorite type of ministry?
Working with kids! God has really given me a heart that loves kids. So anytime I was in a ministry involved with kids I thrived.
Has time on the race gone faster or slower than I thought it would?
The days are long but the weeks are SO short… I can’t believe I only have one month left. I don’t know where the time went.
What is the most surprising thing I learned about missions?
For me, it was that the World Race is just like normal life… but in a different country. Missions is apart of everyday life no matter where you are.
Rather than determine how messed up America is (which it is) how do you think you can encourage and disciple people toward what you believe God wants us to be in reaching the world for Christ?
I would say just love everyone, all the time. No matter what denomination, age, race, etc. None of that matters! John 13:35 “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
What did you learn about God?
I’ve learned SOO much about God. Throughout the race I’ve been going through the old testament which has taught me a lot about His character. One of the biggest things I’ve learned about through that is His grace. The amount of times Israel turned their back on Him and He kept chasing them down is crazy. It gets me every time. That’s a short answer. I really have learned so much more and am excited to keep learning for the rest of my life.
What did you learn about the people, the church and the Christian community in the countries of your mission trip? How does culture impact the ways people understand the gospel?
When I got to Thailand they told as that the fact that you find your identity in God doesn’t really translate here. Which I thought was so weird because that’s such a big part of so many American-christians’ testimonies. For Thai’s God’s grace is what really draws them in because they live in a Buddhist Culture. Also, in Jeffrey’s Bay I learned a lot about the Christian community. All of the ministries in the town somehow work together/help each other out. None of the ministries or churches are competing against each other to get more people. They are all just loving and helping their brothers and sisters out where it is needed. They even all meet on Sunday nights to worship together! It was beautiful to see so many christians working together.
As a follower of Christ, what did you learn that can help you to be a more fully devoted disciple?
I learned that life is meaningless without Christ. Solomon goes on and on about it in Ecclesiastes, and he is right! Life doesn’t make sense outside of God.
What was your motivation to share the gospel with the people of each nation you went to?
My motivation is to show people the hope they can have. Before I really understood christianity, I was hopeless. So, I want people to understand they have purpose, they have someone who thinks they are the most precious jewel, and someone who made all the mountains and still thought they (the person) were better!
How are you standing the heat?
I’m not. It’s the worst haha.
