The World Race Gap Year. These words are a dream come true to me, an adventure of a lifetime I cannot wait to begin, but to you they may be just words. When telling people about the World Race, I am often asked if I am joining the TV show The Amazing Race or if I am simply fleeing the country for nine months, running wild and free by myself.
Well I am here to clear up any of that confusion and am so excited to tell you about the very thing that has taken up all of my time, money, energy, brain power, prayer, and thoughts for a very long time now.
The World Race Gap Year is a nine month mission trip for college aged students hungry for community, overseas missions, and a deeper rooted relationship with the Father. As racers, our mission is to chase after fulfilling the Great Commission written in Matthew 28:19-20, “therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
Adventures and Missions, the faithful and humble organization running the World Race, organized six routes for this years gap year. I am thrilled to be a member of the Route 6, V Squad family. The forty some of us will be country hopping from Ecuador, Peru, Guatemala, and Cambodia over the next nine months.
How does one pack for nine months of different climates, seasons, countries, and cultures? Very simply, that’s how. To escalate matters, I should mention the World Race is a backpacking trip. There may not be much open space for favorite clothing materials or a nine month supply of acne free face wash, but it leaves plenty of space for the Lord to move and for adventures to flow freely. Packing light will allow us racers to leave behind comforts of the materialized American society, and join village and cultural lifestyles. Less is more.
Missions work and loving others, they’re synonyms. Your missions field is always right where you are, between your two feet. Imagine how grateful I am that my two clumsy feet will be carrying me to these four countries to love and serve others well, spreading the message of hope, joy, and new, abundant life. These feet will be relying not on their own strength, but the strength of the Lord of course.
In each country my squad and I will be hosted by various ministries who so kindly allow us to join their selfless lifestyles focused on giving back, giving generously, and giving the gospel. Days and energy will be joyously spent on anything from caring for children (my favorite pastime), in manual labor, and combating social justice issues like sex trafficking. We will be in the business of sharing the gospel with our words, actions, smiles, and in the way we love others.
As for me, I am overjoyed and so grateful for this opportunity. I am eager to experience cultures and lifestyles and learn the valuable lessons they have to offer. I cannot wait to meet those different than me and listen to what they have to say. I am thrilled to share the joy and time I have so graciously been given to anyone who needs to feel loved, heard, and important.
I could never think that any of this is by my doing or my power. I would never think that I will be traveling the world to save other people and convince them of my beliefs. I am simply a girl who after being tired of running the show, was graciously given a new, full life completely different than what I could have ever dreamed up on my own. When you’re in love with someone you cannot help but talk about them and want that same love for someone else. I am so thankful for this opportunity to do just that.
Thank you Jesus.
(and thank you friend, family member, or soon to be friend for taking the time to read, you are a blessing at its finest!!)
