I cannot believe in less than a year I will be leaving home for 11 months to embark on this amazing, crazy journey to the countries of Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Morocco, Ethiopia, Djibouti, India, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, and Indonesia (phew! try saying that all in one breath…). There is a lot of uncertainty knowing that I will be leaving my loved ones and the familiar comforts of home and so much to prepare for prior to my departure, but I am mostly just so, so excited to see what God has in store for me in this new season! I am eagerly anticipating the new people God will put into my life, of all cultures and backgrounds; in what ways might He use me to impact their hearts and how will they impact mine? What diversity will I see in the people, the cultures, the landscapes, and how do they each exemplify the beauty of all of God’s creation? What lessons will I learn and how will they direct my path in life after the Race? My experience thus far in committing to go on the Race and submitting to God’s plan for me has already been life-changing in and of itself; I can only imagine the goodness and growth that is going to come forth when I am actually out on the field.
My last post explained my journey in applying to the World Race, and this new passion that the Lord has ignited in my heart to go out and serve others. But ‘Why the World Race?’, you might ask. Adventures in Missions (the organization heading the World Race) has done some AMAZING work for those less fortunate across the world: the sick, the hungry, the orphaned, the broken, many of whom have never heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I am so excited to share with you some of the ways I will get to be a part of this! You also might be wondering how I will be living away from home this time, the places I will be staying, eating, my safety, and HOW just how I am going to fit a years worth of clothes and gear into something I can carry on my back. I’ll try to touch on all these questions, but if you have any other questions please feel free to post them in the comments section!
What exactly will I be doing?
Though I will have the opportunity to travel to different areas of the world, the World Race is not an 11 month vacation. My team and will share the love of God daily by serving others. Matthew 25:40 says, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me,’ and giving to the least of us is exactly what we will have the opportunity to do! We will travel to some of the poorest regions of the world, feeding the hungry, praying for the sick, showing love to orphans and broken people, and brining hope to those who really need it by pointing them to our faithful creator. We will be serving the ‘least of us’, and in the process will be transforming our own lives and hearts.
Every month on the Race is a little bit different, and I will not know the specific details about the mission work we will be doing in each country until I am out on the field. Adventures in Missions has partnered with missionaries all across the world who are doing some really incredible service for people who really need it! My team and I may be doing anything from reading bible stories to children in an orphanage, teaching students how to speak English, working in a kitchen to provide food for the hungry, building up the broken spirits of women who have been victims of sex-trafficking, or praying over the sick in a local hospital.
Where will my team and I be staying?
I don’t know any specifics about where we will be staying each month. I do know that every country is a little bit different. Sometimes we will all be staying together in a big open room (in which case we can set up our tents for more privacy) and our host will provide meals for us or other times we might have the space to ourselves with bunk beds and our own kitchen. There is also the possibility that we would have to camp outside, though I have heard that this is rare. Since I don’t know the specifics about the accommodation we will be living in, I am planning to be prepared as best as I can for any living situation.
How will I pack a years worth of things for an almost one-year-long excursion?
When I studied abroad in Switzerland for a semester in college, I took three huge suitcases and a backpack that was so full I’m pretty sure it weighed more than me. I was a site to behold lugging around all my luggage like the hunched back of Notre Dame because if I stood up straight I would probably have fallen flat on my back. I really don’t know how I managed to get all of my luggage from the airport to my apartment across town by myself. I now know and firmly believe in the phrase that ‘Less is more’. I will be gone for the World Race for almost a year, and I plan to pack not even a quarter of the clothes that I brought with me for my three months abroad. Since I will have to carry all of my own gear while travelling, I am going to have to pack very modestly, using one large pack that will hold my sleeping bag, sleeping, mat, clothes, tent, ect. and a smaller day pack that I can carry with me for everyday items. The good news is that I’ve already been shopping for a pack, and I think I finally found the perfect one that should be big enough to take Molly with me (my four-legged baby). 🙂
It is tempting to find something large enough to pack up my whole life and take with me while I’m away. But if I took everything I needed, then I wouldn’t really be giving up anything, would I? Matthew 10:39 says ‘If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.’ If I am going to grow in the spirit with Jesus, I’ve got to make some room for Him, and part of this will come from giving up some of reliance on ‘things’. Some of my motivation for applying to the Race came from a want towards abandonment, of giving up the things in the world that just aren’t enough to satisfy our souls and giving my life to Him who can and does satisfy our souls. I’m not saying I’m not going to pack extra underwear or a toothbrush because (ewww) and God is NOT asking me to do that, but there will be some sacrifices made when it comes to the possessions I will have on this journey with Him.
What about safety?
Many of my friends and family are excited for me to go on the Race, but are very concerned for my safety. This is the statement on the Adventures in Mission’s website FAQ page that addresses the concern of safety:
“We recognize travel brings risk. We have worked hard to put extensive safety protocols in place. That said, the World Race is not for everyone. In particular, all Racers need to consider things happen we can’t predict. People get sick and accidents happen. Because we minister to “the least of these” it is likely you will meet people suffering from a variety of diseases.
To address the issues we face, we have a top flight risk management team. They monitor political, health, weather and other risks in the regions that we minister. This information includes the U.S. State Department travel warnings. With our program, you are covered by a strong travel insurance policy and the insurance company works closely with us to ensure you will receive the care you need. For more information about the insurance policy, click here.
We have external consultants who assist us in designing and managing our training and field implementation for safety protocols. Our internal risk management team creates contingency plans as needed so we are ready to move teams quickly if the need arises. We also have an extensive network of ministry partners and ministry connections worldwide who provide us with “eyes on the ground” as we assess situations.” (URL: https://www.worldrace.org/?tab=about&subtab=faqs)
What is the cost associated with my trip and how can you help support me journey?
The financial quota that I will need to meet for my trip is $19,200. This cost covers all travel, including ground, sea, and airfare, lodging, food, travel and medical insurance, as well as any required training. I realize that this is not a small amount, and I’d be lying if I said this wasn’t a bit daunting to me. I don’t know exactly how I will raise all of this money, but I do believe that God has called me to go on the World Race, and I believe he will provide everything I need to make this possible. If it is in your heart to help support me financially, I would be truly grateful. Every little bit helps and will help me get one step closer to my goal. There is no amount too small. In the next week, I will be starting my first fundraiser so stay tuned for updates! In the meantime, if you would like to donate to my trip, you can do this by clicking on the donate button at the top of this page. I have been overwhelmed by the encouragement I have received from others after revealing my commitment to go on the Race. Please pray for me and my team that our financial needs will be met and that the Lord will prepare our hearts for the journey ahead!
Thanks for reading and please comment any questions you might have!
SaVanna
