Travel Plans:
January 4: I’ll be leaving Chicago. My parents, my brother and I are going to have a mini road trip to Atlanta, where I’ll launch.
January 6: Launch begins. This will be a time of hearing from World Race leadership, worshipping, studying, and preparing for the Race before leaving for the field. During this time my parents will be attending a parent orientation. I will say my final goodbyes to them at lunch on January 7.
January 9: My squad and I launch for Zambia.
January –November 2014: A time filled with ministry adventures!
Some World Race Terms:
Racer: a participant of the World Race.
Squad: a group of 40-60 Racers split into teams of six to eight Racers, who travel together on the World Race. Once a Squad reaches its country for the month, the teams will typically spread out to different ministry sites. I am on Z Squad!
Team: a group of six to eight Racers who do life together: community-living, ministry, travel. They build each other up and hold each other accountable. They get real and raw with each other in an effort to stretch, change, and grow. I am on Team Zealous Love with Carlie High, Eric Cash, Gina Nueville, Katherine Chen, Lauren Yeargan and Logan Kafer. You can subscribe to their blogs to get different perspectives about how God is working in our team and ministry sites.
Route: an itinerary of a given Race. Each squad’s route is unique and subject to change.
Squad Leader: during the first few months of the Race, two to three alumni Racers lead the squad. Squad leaders oversee the spiritual health and progress of the entire squad. After the first few months, Racers identified and trained by the alumni Squad Leaders and Squad Leader Trainer/Mentors, assume leadership for the remaining duration of the Race.
Coaches: oversee the spiritual growth of the squad. These coaches are typically married couples and parents who have experienced life, and who bring wisdom and vision to the squad. We are a multi- generational organization that believes in discipleship and evangelism. Because of this, we deem coaches a valuable part of the mentorship all Racers receive during their journeys. Coaches will travel to all squad debriefs throughout the 11 months.
Team Leaders: a fellow Squad mate who has been chosen by Squad Trainers and Squad Leaders to lead six to eight peers in one of the smaller teams that will make up the larger squad. Team Leaders assume great responsibilities when agreeing to lead a team. Although each Racer maintains an equal voice, the team leader is ultimately responsible. Leadership occasionally shifts during the Race.
Ministry: a team’s assignment for the month. This will vary from country to country and can even vary day to day while in country. Examples of ministry opportunities include working in orphanages, mentoring street kids, befriending those trapped in human trafficking, door-to-door outreach, manual labor, teaching English, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, healing the sick, and so on.
Debrief: a time at the end of a ministry month when a squad reunites. Racers can encourage and reconnect with squad mates before leaving for their next ministry location.
Here’s a sneak peak at my closet for the year!
Talk to you soon from Zambia 🙂
