FAQ’s of The World Race
***blog inspired by my lovely squad-mate Paige Harris***
If you are reading this, thank you. I am not a reader myself and it means so much to me that you would take the time to learn more about The World Race.
Any World Race specific LINGO will be big & bold for reference.
Q: What is The World Race?
A: The World Race is a program through ADVENTURES IN MISSIONS. It is an 11 month missions adventure to 11 countries. Participants go through an application and interview process for a specific ROUTE. My route trains in August and launches in October 2016. I will return to the United States around September 2017 (likely a few days before my 24th birthday, so old!!!!!!).
My route is October Route 2:
Asia (India, Nepal, Vietnam, Cambodia)
Africa (South Africa, Botswana, Swaziland)
South America (Bolivia, Peru, Chile, Argentina)
Q: Why are you raising $16,961? Why so much? Where does the money go?
A: The cost of my program is $16,961. This will cover all costs of travel and living abroad for 11 months. This includes:
- land, air and sea travel
- visas
- ministry supplies
- lodging
- food
- missionary heath insurance
- training camp
This money goes directly to Adventures in Missions. I do not handle any of the money raised (praise God). It processes through AIM headquarters in Georgia. Any additional money raised over my assigned amount, does not go to me, but a general fund for AIM. Therefore, I will notify all supporters when I am FULLY FUNDED.
I am encouraged to fundraise the entire amount, rather than contribute my own funds. I like to call this SUPPORT RAISING… this process is more than funds. I consider my senders to be ministry partners. I am your representative of our community, the Church, and JESUS. Besides financial support I also need your prayers. Seriously. The preparation alone for this trip is exhausting and I really need encouragement now and on the field. Below is the breakdown for my fundraising deadlines by date. If I do not reach these deadlines, I will not be able to launch in October.
What will you do about money on the race?
At this time I am saving personal money for emergency situations on the race, extra food, gifts and small adventures during down time on the race. This money DOES NOT come from any donations received. Other personal expenses include my gear (backpacks, sleeping bag and pad, tent, compression sacks, headlamp…), vaccinations, and prescription medications that are necessary for the World Race. If you have any advice on gear or REI coupons you want to send my way that would be greatly appreciated. My out-of-pocket expenses spent are part of my own financial contribution to the race. I am so grateful to have the ability to provide for my race in this way as it has prepared my heart for living simply during the next year.
Q: Who are you going with?
A: My route consists of approximately 40+ young persons (young professionals, recent graduates, students, non-students)… this is my SQUAD. As a squad, we will travel together to the same countries and meet-up for occasional debrief and leadership weekends. However, our ministry locations and work will differ. Upon arrival of a country, we will split into TEAMS. Teams are 5-7 individuals who DO LIFE together. We are with each other 24/7. We give each other genuine FEEDBACK everyday to help sharpen each other (this is a real thing… every single day!) and we submit weekly CELEBRATIONS & CHALLENGES to leadership for accountability and encouragement. Each person in a team has a team role, decided by leadership during TRAINING CAMP. These roles include a team leader, treasurer, communications point-person, and more. Teams will likely change 1-2 times, while abroad. Training camp will be held for ten days in the middle of August in Georgia, USA. Training camp is all about team building and preparing physically, mentally, and spiritually. This is six weeks before LAUNCH. Launch takes place a few days in October in Georgia, USA before we travel to our first country. This is the final training and preparation. Loose itineraries will be assigned. Our parents have the option of attending parent sessions and a final, tearful, commissioning service.
While abroad, the squad is backed by a squad-specific leadership team. This includes SQUAD LEADERS, alumni Racers who travel some with us and identify/raise up new squad leaders within our squad to lead. We also have a marvelous crew of SQUAD MOBILIZERS, MENTORS, COACHES, TRAINERS, COORDINATORS… and more! We are well cared for!
Q: Who are you staying with?
A: We will stay with local ministry hosts, called CONTACTS. We join the work of the local church through these contacts. If our contact does not speak English, we will have access to an interpreter. Our contact teaches us about their country and cultural expectations. Most times, we will pay our contacts upon arrival for boarding arrangements. (However, there are times when we stay in our tents for the month and do our own grocery shopping via team budget!)
We will not know much about our contacts until launch, and even then, we are given limited information. This information is subject-to-change (AND OFTEN DOES!), so leadership prepares Racers to not maintain ANY expectations.
Many of ya’ll have inquired specifics about province/state/city/village… I do not know. I will likely not know until I arrive in that country. If you would like to keep up with what I am doing while away SUBSCRIBE FOR UPDATES. I will not have access to internet or social media often but when I do, this blog will be my primary way to communicate with all of you.
Q: What are you doing in each country?
A: We will join in God’s work, often through our contacts. Some months we may be charged to choose-your-own-adventure and make new contacts for future Racers.
We will participate in many service-oriented projects (manual labor, construction, farming, cutting grass with machetes…), build relationships with contacts and locals through encouragement and love, teach English, and even preach.
We will have some “time-off” to engage, explore, reflect, and refresh. I’m not sure how often this will be yet. But I trust the time will come when it is needed.
Q: Are you nervous?
A: Yay and nay. I feel so certain that the World Race is what I am called to do for the next year. I know the lifestyle will be challenging and much different than I am used to. However, I have never had more confidence that God will provide for me. I am horribly nervous for the next three months of life before the race. I feel out of place and somewhat disconnected from friends and family. I think that is my natural way of preparing to say goodbye for 11 months.
Q: The world is a dangerous place, do you think with today’s international dangers that it may not be the best time?
A: haha THIS PUMPS ME UP. A wise lady once told me “the safest place you can be is in the will of God”. All I can say is the only place I ever want to be is where God wants me to be.
Q: How do you pack for a trip like that?
A: I have a 65L backpack and an 18L daypack for the year. I will attempt to make a video that explains all that I am taking along soon. It will not be much.
