Welcome back to my blog! Since I was accepted to the World Race, I’ve had people asking me a lot of questions so I decided to do a Q&A. If you have more questions that weren’t answered here, comment at the bottom of this blog and I will continue to update with more answers! Hope you enjoy!
What is the World Race?
The World Race is an 11 month Christian mission trip through Adventures in Missions to 11 countries around the world. One of the unique things about the World Race is that it’s not only a mission trip but also an intensive discipleship program designed to launch my generation into our specific kingdom calling.
How will you choose what to pack if everything has to fit in a backpack and how much will it weigh after you’re packed and ready to go?
Adventures in Missions has made a packing list for us with the essentials we will need such as: tent, sleeping pad, sleeping bag, travel pillow, what clothes are appropriate for ministry plus all toiletries and electronics; camera, computer, plug adapters, etc. Other than that, it is up to us what we will bring but I am going to try to pack as minimally as possible. Once I am ready to go, my pack will hopefully weigh 40-45 lbs and has to be under 50 lbs to check on the plane.
Will you be able to communicate with home while your gone?
Yes! I will be able to call home, video chat, and check Facebook and Instagram periodically. I will also be updating my blog as much as possible and vlogging my journey! How often I can call/upload any news to social media depends on the country I will be in and whether or not I have access to WiFi. If you go days or weeks without hearing from me, just remember, NO NEWS IS GOOD NEWS!
Is your employer giving you this time off or are you planning something else when you come home?
I work for incredible people and they are graciously placing my job on hold for me! When I return, I will still have a management position..God had this all planned out!
Which country are you most looking forward to visiting?
This is so hard! I’ve been doing some research on the countries I will be visiting and I’m looking forward to quite a few for different reasons. I can’t wait to see the incredible beauty of Vietnam, Thailand’s beautiful beaches and national parks, Botswana because it has the highest population of elephants, and Cambodia to see the famous Angkor Wat.
Which are you most apprehensive about visiting?
I’m most apprehensive about visiting Indonesia. It is the largest Muslim nation in the world and Christians are still persecuted to this day.
Will you know the people you are traveling with?
Aside from talking to a few of my squad mates on Facebook, I don’t personally know anyone on my squad but I will get to meet everyone at training camp this October!
What type of immunizations do you have to get?
Yellow Fever vaccine for sure because I will have to have a YF card to enter some of the countries I’m going to. I will also be taking Malaria pills for the majority of the time that I’m gone and praying that they work! (Those pesky mosquitoes love my blood) I researched each country on the the CDC website and it looks like I will definitely have to get Hep A and Typhoid vaccinations and possibly Hep B and Rabies. I will be discussing this with a travel doctor to make sure I’m good to go!
Will you be able to shower?
Yes, but it won’t always be the shower that I’m used to. Most of our showers will consist of bucket showers, which is basically choosing to take the Ice bucket challenge over and over again. From what I’ve read, this is why so many people go a few days without “showering”. I got pretty use to taking cold showers in Nicaragua and it was always refreshing, so I’m up for the challenge!
How many people are you traveling with?
We will have a squad of up to 40 or 50 people that we travel with from country to country!
Will you all stay together?
Once we get to our destinations, we will be splitting into teams of 5-8 people (this will be assigned at training camp) and this team will be the one’s we live and do life with! The only time our entire squad will stay together is during debriefs (this will only happen every few months) and if we happen to have an all squad month.
What type of work/ministry will you be doing in each country?
Ministry will look different in each country that we are in. My team and I will partner with churches and ministries in local communities to preach the Gospel, plant churches, street evangelism, prayer walks, work in orphanages, minister to women and children trapped in prostitution as a result of human trafficking, and bring the restorative hope of the Father’s love to many tribes and nations.
Can you feel God stirring your heart with boldness and courage?
Yes! When I think of all the things I will be doing next year, I’d be lying if I told you I wasn’t nervous and didn’t doubt myself. The Lord has been showing me that I need to get out of my own way. I get so wrapped up in wondering if I look weird or what other people think of me that I take away from what God is trying to do in me and through me. This year, I am making it my mission to “just do it”, whatever “it” may be. Actually, I just said yes to my first terrifying task today. Mother’s Day 2018 here I come!
It costs a great deal of money to go, are you concerned about raising it?
I’ll be honest, I spent about 2 weeks freaking out about fundraisers and how I was going to raise this crazy amount of money and God had to remind me to “Be still”.. since then, I’ve had so many people commit to donating and unless someone asks me this question, I really don’t think about it! God is working behind the scenes and He will provide the funds I need to get to this journey He has called me to!
Do you know what your living conditions will be like in the places you are going?
No, I won’t know our living conditions until we actually get to each country. Some months we may be sleeping in our tents, sleeping on a concrete floor, in a hut, in a house, and if we are really lucky, we will get a bed!
What would you specifically like others to pray for?
For protection from spiritual warfare that is already happening and for what is to come. That my team would be bold and fearless, live in unity, and be covered in protection. That God will provide the funds we need o complete our mission, and that the Lord will use us to bring glory to His name!
Can you have your cell phone and will you have cell service in all the countries you will be in?
Yes, I will have my phone but I won’t always have cell service or wifi. In some countries, we will have to walk to cafe’s to use wifi and may even need to pay for it. Like I said above, if you go any length of time without hearing from me, no news is good news!
Will you be handing out bibles?
I’m not sure what type of supplies Adventures in Missions will have for us but I have read of other teams handing out bibles so that is a possibility. All ministry work will depend on what country we are in and what is needed most.
What kind of things are you allowed to take with you?
I have things that I will need to take such as tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, and computer and the rest is up to me. They encourage us to bring pictures of friends and family and anything that we use everyday in the states. Aside from what I need to bring, toiletries, clothes, and shoes, I will be taking lots of photos of friends and family, letters written from my loved ones to get me through the year, and access to books (I will buy them and read them on my phone or laptop)!
What safety measures will you be taking if you are staying in the middle of nowhere?
I won’t know what type of living conditions I will be in until I reach each country but Adventures in Missions will give us plenty of training and rules prior to getting there. Thanks to my dad, I’m pretty aware of any kind of danger around me at all times and will be using common sense!
Can anyone come visit you while you are gone and help with missions?
No, but there is something called PVT or parent vision trip that will happen during month 6, 7, or 8 where my parents will be able to fly out to where I am and do ministry with me for an entire week and I’m so excited!
How will you get from country to country?
We will be traveling by planes, trains, boats, and buses depending on where we are and how far we need to go. I’m most excited about traveling by trains and boats! Our travel days could be anywhere from 24-72 hours long!
What happens if you get sick?
We will have international health insurance that is included in the funds that we have to raise and if I get sick (which is pretty common on the race) I will get the medicine or professional medical help that is needed. This will be my last resort..I will be taking colloidal silver every day while I’m gone as well as using essential oils and taking Malaria pills. Colloidal silver will kill any parasite, infection, fungus, or virus it comes in contact with and I’ve read other racers who used it and stayed pretty healthy on the race!
Thank you so much for your questions and I’m so glad to be able to answer them for you! If I receive any more questions, I will update this blog as they come in!
