So What Is The World Race?
It is a journey to 11 countries in 11 months to serve “the least of these” while amongst real and raw community. It facilitates discipleship, through the process of discovering, into the abundant life God has promised. It births partnerships with ministries around the world. It requires Luke 10-like faith.
‘After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest. Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’ And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you. And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the labourer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house. Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’
(except we are allowed backpacks and sandals! 
)
The World Race is headed by Adventures in Missions (AIM). Adventures in Missions is an interdenominational missions organization that focuses on discipleship. They emphasize prayer and relationships in their work amongst the poor. They believe in sending people from different churches and backgrounds all over the world on life-changing mission trips. They are a non-profit organization with a home base in the Georgia, USA.
Since they were established in 1989, they have taken over 100,000 people into the mission field, some for as short as a week and others, a year or longer. In several places around the world they minister year-round to “the least of these”. They believe that by giving people the opportunity to hold orphans, bring hope to the hopeless, and pray for the sick, lives are transformed. They seek to disciple as Jesus did; their vision is that God would use them to raise up a generation of radically committed disciples of Jesus Christ. (To find our more about Adventures in Missions and what they believe, please visit adventures.org/about.)
The first World Race squads launched from Mexico in January 2006. It was literally knocking on doors and sleeping on streets. Living like Jesus did!
Like many mission trips, the World Race requires fundraising. These funds cover all team costs once the trip begins. For example:
- Food, lodging, and air, land & sea travel.
- administrative, setup, coaching, debrief, and training costs prior to and at the start of the Race.
- Does not cover cost of getting to/from Training Camp (August 10th-20th) or getting to the launch site of Race and travel home from the major US city at end of race. Also does not cover medical insurance and vaccinations.
So What is Training Camp?
It is 10 Day adventure, providing training, character and physical testing. They will be asking me questions like:
- Who am I?
- Who does God want me to be?
- How did I get here?
Then:
- Who am I traveling with?
- What does God-centred community look like?
- What can my friends and family do to support this endeavour?
Finally explore topics like:
- The underground church
- Human trafficking
- AIDS
- Church-planting
- Safety training
Safety on the World Race
In this area I ask for prayer, the world is a dangerous place. Physical health and safety are priorities as administrators plan and coordinate the logistics of my trip. They try to the best of their ability to create space for adventure to flourish, while mitigating risk as much as possible by:
- monitoring natural and political situations, evacuating and/or rerouting Racers if necessary
- vetting ministry partners, especially upon first contact
- maintaining a 24-hour emergency phone line
- addressing and advising Racers during training camp and launch on health and safety
Some World Race Terms
- Racer : a participant of the World Race.
- Squad : a group of 40 to 60 Racers split up into teams of six–seven Racers.
- Route : an itinerary of a given Race. Each squad’s route is unique and subject to change.
- Squad Leader : During the first four months of the Race, two to three alumni lead the squad. From the fifth to the final month, Racers identified by the alumni squad leaders assume leadership. Squad leaders oversee the spiritual health and progress of the whole squad.
- Team Leader : a peer Racer selected during training camp. Responsible for serving the team, the leader oversees the spiritual health of teammates and acts as a liaison for them between the squad leaders, logistics team, and ministry partners.
If a squad is a church, then my team is a small group. Through these groups, all my fellow Racers and myself will disciple each other and work together to serve ministry partners. We will become family. Like any family, we will sharpen one another but also have a lot of fun with each other, too. We will learn how to deal with conflict and bring healing to each other. And we will grow as a result. Constantly being around my team will give me a taste of real commitment and covenant. Every day, I’ll have opportunities to put my words into action, love my teammates through difficult times, and call out one others’ strengths.
So Why the World Race?
- For me, the World Race is a huge step of faith. God is calling me to trust him completely. It is not easy to leave my family and life here, but God is asking me to do this. To grow into deeper intimacy with him. This is not going to be comfortable or easy. I will not be living the hotel life. It will be relying completely on the Lord. I could get Malaria, terribly sick, hurt or killed. Is there a greater step of faith then this?
- By the blood of his son, He has burdened my heart with a longing to see the broken restored, hearts healed, the poor made rich in Jesus. We will be going to the slums, carrying nothing but our backpacks. And we will live as they live.
- Discipleship – I don’t know where my calling is. If it is here in Canada or in another Country and this trip gives me an opportunity to find that out. As advised by previous racers, some countries with tug at your heart more than others.
- Community – The opportunity to walk through this journey with others. I welcome the thought of being discipled and discipling others in their walk with the Lord.
- The People – Reaching out to these people. I will get to learn their stories, know their faces, love them as Jesus loves me. Learn their hardships and pray with them. Enjoy their laughter and personalities, and help them either know more of the Lord or encourage them in their walk with the Lord.
So What Exactly Will You Be Doing?
While moving to a different country each month, we will be helping the local ministries and missionaries where my team and I are placed.
- For example: we could be building houses, teaching English, caring for orphans, digging holes, encouraging pastors and missionaries, feeding the hungry, praying and preaching door-to-door, sharing my story, repair broken homes, families and hearts, visiting people in prison.
What does a day in the race look like?
Every day on the World Race looks a little different. Some days will be packed full with construction, VBS, building relationships with orphans, or praying for the sick at a hospital. Some days could be slower — shopping for groceries at the market, cooking for my team, and spending time praying for the community I walk through. Regardless of the pace or the activity, every day will be focused on being a part of God’s kingdom work.
Where will you be going?
Yay! October 2016 Route 3!
Costa Rica
Nicaragua
Honduras
Guatemala
Malaysia
Thailand
Cambodia
Philippines
Rwanda
Uganda
Kenya
Important Dates
Fundraising:
- $5,000 US – Due July 22, 2016
- $10,000 US – Due September 16, 2016
- $13,000 US- Due November 30, 2016
- $16,561 US – Due January 31, 2017
Training Camp
August 10th – August 20th
Departure for the Race
First week of October 2016
Ways You Can Help
Prayer. SOOOOO MUCH PRAYER.
- For protection from illness, violence and the enemy
- For peace among all squads, no tension or quarrelling
- For smooth travels
- That the hearts of the people we meet would be soft and open towards the Lord
- That God would reveal his future for me
- Fundraising: I am facing great opposition in this area:
- Because of falling Canadian dollar as of today, I will need to raise $23,500 Canadian for it to = $16,561 US
- Because it is a US non-profit organization, Canadians that donate are not eligible for tax receipts
In spite of all this, I have hope: our God is one that moves mightily in the face of opposition.
Fundraising
If God is calling you to join me in this way, thank you!
Donations can me made online, by mailing in checks or in cash.
Online gifts can be made right here! On the top of this page, to the right you will see a orange button saying ‘Support Me!’. Follow the instructions.
- Credit, Debit or Bank drafts are accepted
- 3% processing fee for Credit Donations
- 2% processing fee for Debit and Bank Drafts
- Dynapay – if you wish to give monthly, no processing fee! (adventures.org/dynapay)
Checks – Contact me. I will give you a donation card. Fill it out and mail it to Adventures in Missions (address will be on the card). It can take up to 2 weeks for the check to process and show up on my blog. When filling out the check please make it out to Adventures in Missions and put MASTERSCARISSA in the memo line. This insures that Adventures in Missions can put the funds into my account!
Cash – Once the cash is in my care, I will place it into my account for you.
IMPORTANT: Please be aware that Adventures in Missions uses US DOLLAR AMOUNTS. If you wish to donate and need help please come to me! (I have been informed that you can write payable in Canadian Dollars under the handwritten amount and XX.XXCA to avoid the exchange rate.)
How Can We Come With You?
Unfortunately I can not fit you all in my pack. 
But you can live the adventure with me as I post updates to my blog or facebook! Please add me on facebook or click the large orange button at the top of this page that says Subscribe! Follow the instructions and you will be able to see all updates I post.
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Please pray for me!
God Bless
