Hey future racer,
Before you begin reading I’d like to clarify a couple of things. For those who’ve already signed up to a route, my intentions are not to make you switch…. but if it happens then it happens, right? Secondly, I haven’t been on a regular route so I have no idea how they do things lol. Everything I talk about is based on the UNSCRIPTED route. Finally, these are only 7 reasons out of probably a hundred. The problem is that the average human would stop reading after reason #7 so let’s keep it at 7.
Quick run. My name is Ronny and I’m from Atlanta baby! I quit my job (which is what you’ll probably be doing as well) and decided to go on this mission trip. I chose the UNSCRIPTED route and I’m currently on month 6! I had no idea what “unscripted” meant (can you relate?) but it sounded different! If you’re here it’s because you’re either considering this route or because someone sent you this link in hopes to convince you to join the UNSCRIPTED gang. Anyways, without further ado, here are my 7 reasons why you should choose this route.
1. Challenge Is Your Middle Name
Do you consider yourself an overcomer or a wimp? Cause if you’re a wimp then you might as well stop reading now. This route isn’t easy but it sure is FUN! Every day you wake up will be a new challenge so you need to be ready for that. You’ll also experience a lot of tension at the beginning. No worries! Just start adding that term to your vocabulary. You’ll be okay. The tension comes from everyone trying to understand what UNSCRIPTED is about. How is it possible that we don’t have someone telling us what to do on this trip? What will we be doing then? See where the tension comes in? Many times I got upset cause I didn’t understand the heart behind UNSCRIPTED. If you feel the same way don’t worry I promise you’ll eventually understand. Just be patient and ready to accept the challenge.
2. Missions with Different Journeys
Aghh mission trips… Let see. You’ve probably been to Guatemala or El Salvador or Haiti? Maybe somewhere in Africa? Did you take pictures with the kids and post it on facebook? Congrats you are now an official missionary! No worries you’ll get to do that on the race as well (including this route). Over the years I’ve learned that Americans tend to classify “mission trips” with feeding the poor, construction work, healing the sick and preaching to crowds. Now don’t get me wrong those are beautiful things but this route is MORE than that. I’ll explain how. Can we agree that we all have different journeys in life? Ok cool. Well, the same goes for this route. Don’t expect this route to look like the World Race videos you’ve seen over a hundred times lol. If you do then just know you’ll be disappointed. Yeah at some point, you might do those things from the videos but don’t hold your expectations so high. This route will open your eyes to a different way of doing missions.
3. Ministry is Life, Life is Ministry
You’ll quickly learn this phrase. When I first started this route I was desperate in trying to find ministries or organizations our team could partner with. That desperation was to calm the tension I was feeling. I came in with that American “missionary mindset”. We would arrive at a place and begin trying to find Christian churches, Christian organizations, and Christian people. It took me a while but I realized that God hasn’t placed me on this journey to find other believers! He sent me on this journey to find those who are right in front of me. Those who are doing everyday life in the villages and cities we go to. The heartbeat of UNSCRIPTED is to interact with people that existing ministries don’t cater to. The people in our dorms. The baristas at the coffee shop. The lady selling smoothies at the street market. The man begging under the bridge. The man sitting next to me on the 13+ hour bus ride from Chiang Mai to Bangkok. Our Grab/Uber drivers. Our Airbnb hosts. The kids playing on the street. See “MINISTRY” isn’t just a nursing home, orphanage, YWAM, Young Life and soup kitchens. It’s MORE than just that! When you start viewing your life as a ministry your heart will start growing for those in front of you.
4. Routines Are Overrated and You’ve Had Enough
The regular routes are known for having a set host and ministry in every country you go to (I’ve been told). Every day you’ll wake up with a schedule on the things that need to be completed for that day. For many people, this works and hooray to them! But seriously if you set a year apart from the buzz of life back home don’t you want something different? Something fresh? How about no set routines? No prepared schedules? That’s UNSCRIPTED and it’s beautiful!! Your team prays and decides what cities of the country the Lord wants you to go. Your team gets to find the place you’ll be staying at through Hostelworld, Booking.com or Airbnb. Your team decides how your day will look like. Now you’re probably asking yourself… Dang so what do you do if you’re on Unscripted? Good question. Just remember that every day will be an adventure!
5. God’s Voice = Your Road Map
Okay so I lied, there is a schedule. Your new schedule will be the voice of God. We call this ATL (Ask The Lord). Yes, the regular routes also listen to the voice of God but as they say in Cambodia, “same, same but different”. Every morning when your team wakes up at some point you’ll have a moment for ATL. During that time you Ask The Lord who’s on His heart for that day. You can also ask the Lord what ministries He wants you to partner with. Then your team will share and from there you plan your day! Still a bit confused? It’s okay I would be too so here’s an example. PLEASE keep in mind that every day looks different.
9 AM – 3 minutes of ATL
HANNAH: Saw kids running and playing
RONNY: Got the word “worship”
HUNTER: Nothing (and that is OKAY!)
LINDSAY: Felt the Lord say “Pray over this country”
SAM: Saw an older woman with a hat
Once everyone in our team shared we went out to buy balloons and candies. Then we walked to the village and found kids on the street. We spent time talking and playing with them. Grabbed lunch as a team. At 4 pm we headed to the park for prayer, worship and sunset vibes. Throughout the day everyone kept an eye out for an older woman with a hat. Then we headed back to our hostel for Bible study and dinner. That was one of our days. Please note that ATL isn’t just a morning thing. It’s going to be part of your walk. While you’re making a decision, during feedback, when you’re struggling with your inner self and any other time you need to hear God’s voice.
6. Headspace
Are you the type of person who needs headspace? Although most of your activities will be done together as a team this route gives you the freedom to express what you’re feeling. When you feel exhausted and need time alone with God you can pull away. I’ve heard that regular routes are go, go, go so I don’t know if they have as much freedom as UNSCRIPTED does. Just saying. I’ve had some of the most incredible relationships when I’m walking alone, getting coffee, or buying snacks at the 7-Eleven. If you’re an introvert you’ll love these moments by yourself but just know that by the end of the trip you will be a little more extroverted.
7. A New Lifestyle
This route will equip and prepare you for when you get back home. I think that with the regular routes many people go back home feeling like something is missing. I mean how could you not?? You just had a full year of getting told where to go and what to do. Many people see UNSCRIPTED as the “other” route maybe because they’re terrified of the word UNSCRIPTED lol? Fear of not knowing what it really is? I personally think it has been the best route I could have chosen! Aghh with UNSCRIPTED you get a full year of meeting the most incredible people all around the world! You make friends everywhere you go! You get to spend time with these people and share JESUS! You’ll join the millions of travelers seeking answers but the difference is that you have the answer! You become a traveler with a mission! The beauty of this is that you get to continue your race when you get back home because it becomes a LIFESTYLE! You don’t even think about it twice. You’ll be aware of the person in front of you at your job, grocery store, coffee shop, or even the mall. Over the next couple of months, you’ll receive spiritual gifts you never thought you had. You’ll gain the courage to just walk up to a random person and give them a hug. You’ll be praying for strangers at Chick-Fil-A. Sounds crazy right now but trust me it will change the way you do life.
That’s what UNSCRIPTED will do for you! So sign up before the deadline. Drop some love and let me know if you have any more questions. Would love to know if this helped you understand the vision and heart behind UNSCRIPTED a bit more.
Ronny Sison
