As I entered the University of Minnesota, I knew that I was going to study abroad. I was excited to spend a semester traversing around European cities–eating rich chocolate and drinking wine with my newfound friends. What I didn’t know, however, was how much studying abroad was going to change my life. Before ending my senior year of college, I would have fallen in love with the world and all the diverse, beautiful people in it.
Falling in love with the world was easy. What wasn’t easy was realizing how broken the world was–how some people, even in reasonably well known places, had never even heard of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
I saw the lavish, fashionable lifestyle of Italians in Milan. I wandered the streets of Marrakech, Morocco, where women wore hijabs and where Islam was the guiding light. I’ve wandered around Southeast Asia, where I saw women exploited and sold for sex at a cost was often less than a glass of beer. I taught English in the Philippines, where children and their families made their homes in a trash dump. These children ran around the dump without shoes to wear, clean water to drink, or a guaranteed next meal. In incredible opulence and devastating poverty alike, I’ve encountered God’s infinite, unwavering Grace. In each of these situations, God has showed me how much the people of the world need to experience Him.
It was during my time abroad that I sensed God calling me to something more than the ordinary 9-5–He was throwing away my typical American dream and replacing it with the Kingdom dream. He has called me to travel the world, love on his people and bring them the Good News that is the Gospel. God willing, I’ll be leaving the United States in August 2016 with The World Race.
The World Race is an 11 month mission trip to 11 different countries around the world. The World Race is not only a mission trip, but an intense discipleship program that is intended to launch my generation into our specific Kingdom calling. Through the World Race, my team and I will partner with churches and ministries in local communities to preach the Gospel, work in orphanages, plant churches, minister to women and children trapped in prostitution as a result of human trafficking, and bring the restorative hope of the Father to many tribes and nations. The particular route that I will be going on with Adventures in Missions–The World Race’s parent organization–will be to every country in South America. There, we will pioneer ministry in six different countries, spend weeks pioneering the Amazon, and bring the love of Christ to men, women, and children who have never been introduced to their Father.
In preparing for The World Race, I will be facing many challenges–one of those challenges being the financial support that I need to raise. In order to leave fully funded on August 6th, 2016, I need to raise $10,000. I will be paying for the remaining $8,000 of the trip myself and will cover all expenses while I’m abroad. The donated money will cover all my field expenses for the 11 month mission trip. As I take this huge step in faith, will you consider partnering with me in a one-time or monthly gift amount?
Adventures In Missions is a tax-exempt organization under IRS code 501(c)(3) and is a member of the ECFA. (Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability). Due to IRS and ECFA regulations governing the administration of tax deductible donations given in support of a particular trip/program, support contributions given on behalf of an individual will be used to offset the costs of the trip/program you are involved in. All contributions are non-refundable regardless of the participant’s success in completing the program.
You can visit my blog at www.alexholland.theworldrace.org to learn more about my journey. Any amount of money in partnership is greatly appreciated. What I need more than anything else is your partnership in prayer. Please pray for me and my squad as we leave the comforts of our homes in the United States and prepare to spread God’s word.
God bless,
Alex
