My name is Andy and I am married man on the World Race.
I am writing this blog for any married couple interested in doing the World Race.
First, here is a picture of Madison and I on the top of a mountain in India, where we ministered to villages who have never heard the Gospel before and who have never seen foreigners before.
I share this picture to show that all of the adventure, excitement, and romanticism of the World Race is real.
Next is a picture of the kids who stole both of our hearts, where we stayed in an orphanage with kids who parents have either left them or neglected them.
The World Race will teach you about the Lord’s Heart. You will learn that God deeply cares for this world and want those who are hurting to know Him. This will in turn, align your heart with His to see the world as our good good Father does. Here is a picture of a impoverished area we ministered in.
Next, you will be stretched! Sharing life with 6 or 7 others can be challenging. Finding time alone can be challenging, but not only that finding space to be alone can be hard. But the opportunity to be forced into community and have people speak encouraging words into your marriage and speak life into areas that you may need work on is one of the greatest blessing we could have asked for.
But by far the greatest of joy is doing ministry side by side together. This month specifically in Vietnam we have been given the opportunity to work the morning shift at a coffee shop. So we sit among a crowd and share the Gospel, the story of Christmas, and our motivation for the World Race with Buddhist, atheist, and those seeking to know who God is. We get to do this together!! How cool is that!
You will both be given the chance to preach and teach the bible, this means a chance to grow in your understanding of who God is and communicate the truth. It teaches you to rely on God and strengthens your faith by standing not only behind the words your speak, but following through with actions.
You will learn about world religions and cultures all around the world. Our God is a big God and he can help us to communicate the truth with clarity to those from different backgrounds.
Finally, the World Race is awesome because your have a great team behind you. The leadership at Adventures in Missions supports your marriage and checks up on your regularly to see how your marriage is doing, are you going on dates, have you taken a day off together, and if the answer no to these, they will be sure your take time for yourselves. Here is a picture of when we were required to go on a date together.
Finally you will want to become parents!
This is all to say all married couples considering the World Race should apply!! Above all your marriage will be strengthened as you two learn to depend on God.
