About Me

30 Questions about the World Race and Ash

1. Wait…what are you doing?
Short answer, going to be a missionary.

2. How long will you be gone?
11 months, but when you factor in training and launch, about a year.

3. Where are you going?
11 countries all around the world. We will be spending a month in each country. Our route is subject to change so we do have to be flexible. Also we will most likely going to a closed country so I might not be able to say where “specifically� I am at. For our current route click here.

4. Why is it called the World Race? Are you racing around the world?
Though I might be running, there is no “raceâ€� aspect that we will be participating in, it is simply the name of the program we are doing through Adventures in Missions. Adventures in missions is a missions organization that has been around for over 20 years. For more information about them click here.  

5. When are you leaving?
October 6th, 2011! The leadership team will leave first then the rest of our squad will join us in Guatemala.

6. Why the World Race?
I have been praying for direction for about a year. It is funny to me that I even didn’t pray for something specific, I just asked God to guide me. This organization sends missionaries in a team, which appeals to me most of all. I have encountered a lot of missionaries and done various missions work but have seen a lot of individuals get burned out or lonely in the mission feild. I loved the idea that there is a community alongside you, working with you, serving in the same passions as you.
This organization also values freedom and enables you to be an adult. This isn’t a cookie cutter, type A,  missions trip with all the details figured out. We have to learn to be flexible, trust others, trust God, be responsible adults, get from point A to B. They are trusting us out in the field to make our own decisions, be wise, but also live in the freedom that God will guide you where he wants you to go.

7. What will you be doing?
Fulfilling the great commission yo! “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20).
We will be doing a lot of everything, serving in orphanages, doing manual labor, helping in human trafficking, praying for the sick, putting on bible school programs, the list goes on. Keep in mind, because there are so many details and things are subject to change, we are typically told what our focus for each country is about a week before we get there. So though I would love to tell you what city I’ll be in when I’m in Thailand, what type of human traffick organization I’ll be working with, or the names of the Orphanges we will serve at,  I just don’t know yet. Just know we are there to preach the love of Jesus and serve those in need.

8. Are you scared? Freaked out? Nervous?
You might say that I feel like God has been preparing me my whole life for this. I know there will be scary moments, but I say bring it. I know there will be times I will loose it and freak out, but I am ready for God to stretch me. I really am so excited, and if you know me, you know I’m down for an adventure.  I was nervous about meeting our squad, but since training with all of them, I know that we are a family and God brought us all together. My team especially is the most amazing part, I love each one of them so much and can not wait to become an even closer family.

9. What is a Squad?
The World Race sends out one to two Squads a month and has been for the past 5 years. A squad typically has 50 people on it. I am on the October Squad also known as “B� Squad. There are currently at total of 51 people on B Squad and two Squad leaders.

10. What is a Team?
On our Squad of 51 people, we are broken down into 8 teams. This is where the family and community aspect plays another important role. Each team has 6 to 7 people on it and are also subject to change through the months.
A team operates like a little family. We have a budget together to buy and cook food. We will serve and work on projects together. We will lodge and live together. We will also have nightly debriefs were we have open communication and feedback about uplifting and supporting one another.

11. Will you all be traveling together?
Our squad will travel to each country together as best as possible. Once we get to a country each team may go do a different city or area to focus on a different ministry, it all varies and depends. Some teams will be paired with other teams, others won’t, it all changes.

12. Don’t you want to be in each country for longer than a month to serve them better?
Yes, and the great part is we kinda get to. Let me explain. The world race has been sending out teams the past 5 years and will continue to do so. That means there are several teams out on the field on different routes already going before us, and there will be several teams that will go after us. So though I might be there only a month, the world race has set up long term relationships to serve and minister in those in each area, month after month, after month. I really think it is yet another amazing part of this missions organization.

13. Are you backpaking the entire trip?
Yes, but there might be times where we will stay in a ministry house or with a host family, but not often. I’m stoked to call my new backpacking tent my home. It will be pretty easy to clean.

14. Wait, so you can only take a 40lb packpack for the entire time you are gone?
Yeah. The race really encourages a life of abandonment. Here in America we are so spoiled. We think we need so many things that are in reality a crutch to being able to live a simple life. I will pack my tent, sleeping bag, travel gear, and enough stuff for about 10 days. Everything else I will be able to buy along the way if I run out.
“But then I realize there is never going to be a day when I stand before God and He looks at me and says, ‘I wish you would have kept more for yourself.’ I’m confident that God will take care of me.” – from David Platt, Radical: taking back your faith from the American Dream. 

15. How much will this cost?
$14,500 is what I need in my World Race account. That is pretty good considering this will cover my life for a about a year.  Money for gear, extra food, camera equipment, extra activities will come out of my own pocket. If you are interested in becoming a monthly or even one time supporter I would be so thankful. Every little bit counts! Click here for more info.

16. What if you don’t raise the full amount?
I have to have most of it before I leave but if I do not have it all paid off by a couple months in to the trip I will be sent home. I pray to our Lord in heaven that will not happen. I am confident that God will provide.

17. What if I have a couple ideas for fundraising or people who may be interested in supporting you?
CONTACT ME!  I would appreciate any ideas or connections!

18. Will you poop in a hole?
Absolutely, who knows I might blog about it, but I don’t know how well that will go over.

19. So you will be able to blog, get Internet access?
Yes. Another great thing I love about the World Race is that they require us to blog and want us to be able to contact our friends a family when we can. They will make time for us to do blog posts and skype with friends and family. So that being said, subscribe to my blog!!! Also please leave comments. It’s the only way I really know there are people actually reading these things.

20. Do you feel like you are kinda living the dream?
Oh Yeah! God has been blessing my life so much lately it is UNREAL.

21. Will you be able to blog about everything?
No, there will be limited time and between all of the chaos I know that I won’t be able to blog about every experience and every amazing story. I will try my best, but we all know that the good moments in life are often times hard to put words to or who knows if I’ll be able to type pages and pages to explain everything.

22. Is there health risks?
Yeah. there is a lot of weird food I will be eating. There is a chance I could get Malaria. We will be going to some unsafe areas and borders. There is a chance a number of things can happen but the World Race holds our safety as something that is important. None of us will ever be alone and they have trained us in some precautionary measures, but the truth is, life is a risk. If I die on the race, just know I will die doing something I love 🙂

23. Will you be able to shower?
Sometimes, but like I said, I feel like God had been preparing me for this and if you know me you know I’m not a big shower person haha. Jesus didn’t shower all that often, and I’m trying to be more like him everyday.

24. Can you have things mailed to you? Can you send me a postcard?
Actually we won’t be able to receive or send mail. It is typically so expensive and a lot of times we don’t have time to make it to a post office. Also we don’t want to be a burden on our hosts by having tons of things sent to them. So just check my blog, there will be plenty of photos and stories.

25. Have you ever done something like this before?
Kinda. I’ve been on mission trips to Mexico, Japan, New Zealand and Australia. I have also traveled to Canada, Spain, London, and Africa for fun. I have loved camping, hiking, and the great outdoors since I was little so I feel like I’m pretty prepared. Plus my mountain men friends have been teaching me the ropes for a while now.

26. What are you going to miss the most?
I have a couple of ideas of what I will miss but I’m really trying not to focus on that. So what if I miss eating healthy, so what if I miss sleeping in a bed, so what if I miss air conditioning, I will be living my life for God and living a once in a lifetime opportunity. So when things get rough I’m gonna try to stay positive and focus on that.

27. What are you most looking forward to?
Wow I feel like I could right a whole blog about this and I probably will, but the short simple answer is being able to be like Jesus while growing and living in an authentic community. I really feel like it is my opportunity to really live out everything I’ve been learning in church and college all these years. I will get to see so many different cultures and help so many different people. I have always wanted to have a counseling ministry for missionaries and I think this is a catalyst for that to happen.

28. How can I help?
1. Pray for me. Continually lifting me up in prayer is the most important thing you can do for me. Pray that I can raise all of the support. Pray that I will learn what God wants me to learn. Pray that my heart will be open. Pray for the work that will be done and the people we will minister too. Pray that I can lead well and be the leader my team needs. Pray for the amount of details I need to handle before I leave because at times it all can feel a little overwhelming.

2. If you are interested in supporting me monthly any amount will help. Really. Think about this. If 52 people would support me for 11 months at $25 bucks a month, that would cover the entire $14,500. YOU COULD BE ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE.

3.Subscribe to my blog for more updates, information, and stories.
 
4. Comment on what I post. Comments also help me know that there are people actually reading this thing. Show some love, don’t be a lurker 🙂

29. What are you going to do when you get back?
Are you kidding me? I haven’t even left yet! I am trying not to plan a thing. So many things can happen from now to then. Who knows if I’ll want to come back. Who knows who I will meet or what ministries I may get connected with. I’m praying for direction and an open heart.
*Also if you feel called to support a missionary long term let me know, I might know a girl.

30. What if I have more questions?
What, are you my mom? In fact, since you bring it up, my parents are totally cool with me going. Like I said, I have been preparing them my whole life for this haha! See the thing is when you tell them via facebook that you are taking a boat to from Spain to Africa and they’ll hear from you in about 4 days, it prepares them for when you say I want to serve like Jesus and travel the world. But really if you have more questions, contact me. Love you all!