Hi everyone!
Wowsers. I launch in exactly 42 days. I cannot believe how fast time has been flying!
With our official launch date being released last week, I have been feeling a variety of emotions from excitement to anticipation and some sadness. While I am without a doubt excited for what these eleven months will bring, it’s still a bit difficult thinking of leaving my family, friends, and the comfort of my day-to-day life for so long. However, though it is such a bittersweet time, I am so happy and ready to meet and do life with my squad mates!
My team and I learned a few weeks ago that our route actually changed a bit, and last week our official launch date was released. So, I wanted to take a moment to let everyone know where and when my team and I will be headed!
For starters, we will leave in 6 weeks (!!) from Ft. Lauderdale on January 8th and head to our first stop—Cusco, Peru.
The updated list for our route is:
Peru, Chile, Argentina, South Africa, Ethiopia, Spain, Montenegro/Macedonia, Greece, India, Nepal, Malaysia
Looking back, I found it completely reassuring and comforting when I learned we would be going to Peru. Peru actually wasn’t on our original list of 11 countries when the January unscripted route was released. This was something that I was sad and torn about as I felt a calling to Peru. When I originally committed to the World Race I was on an October route; as I prayed over which route to commit to, I remember seeing the names of the countries Peru, India, Nepal, and Malaysia and immediately feeling like that was where I needed to go. When I switched over to unscripted, I was excited that India and Nepal were still on the list, but I felt torn and a little sad that I would no longer be going to Peru or Malaysia. However, I didn’t let that dissuade me from the calling I felt to Unscripted.
Then, about a week ago, I learned that Peru was actually added as our first stop! Being a part of the unscripted route means that we didn’t attend training camp in Atlanta like the other World Race routes, so Peru was added as our first stop and training camp location.
In addition, I learned that we would also be ending our route with Malaysia! When I read the email containing this information I was filled with an indescribable sense of joy and excitement. How incredible is it that I will now be starting and ending with 2 countries I felt such an immediate calling to?! This reminded me that God is the one in control and I was completely comforted and reassured me that He has a plan and a purpose for me.
Along with the addition of Peru and Malaysia, we learned that we will also be going to South Africa. I was both excited and a little sad when I learned this. While South Africa was added, Kenya was removed from the list. I was sad both that I wouldn’t be going to Kenya and also that I would be going to another country I have already spent a lot of time in. I did an internship last summer in Cape Town, South Africa where I lived for about 2 months. However, to be going there for a completely different reason is something I’m looking forward to. Also, it’s kind of reassuring to know I’ll be going back to where I learned about the World Race to begin with! I have a feeling that there are some great things in store for this country and I can’t wait to be a part of it.
And finally, our time in Africa was switched with Europe. So, instead of visiting Spain after leaving South America, we will now be going to South Africa after leaving Argentina.
While that’s a lot of changes, I think they are all for the best and I am fueled with excitement and anticipation for what lies ahead!
I will continue to keep y’all posted with any further changes! Thank you for reading, and please feel free to contact me with any questions, thoughts, prayers, or whatever might be on your mind!
Love,
Kalee
