Where in the World?

I figured the best place to start would to be to tell you a little more about this journey called the World Race. I will be apart of 1 out of 4 teams that are leaving in January. Each team is going to serve in 11 different countries! 

Since I was little girl, I have talked about going to Africa to get to know the culture and the people. My parents used to tell me all the time about the tall (over 7ft) and the short (under 5ft) tribes that they encountered while they were there. I am excited that the Lord has not only called me to Africa but to also three other continents.
                                               
(This is not the exact order of the journey.)

�-�始 with ASIA.

CHINA is home to 1.3 billion people. It is a country that is politically controlled and religiously persecuted. Even though there are churches, everything is government approved and regulated. The greatest fact about this country is that the underground church is extensive and continuously growing, even thriving, amidst persecution.

INDIA holds a sixth of the world's population within its borders. This country hosts over 29 languages and multiple religions with 80% percent of the population being Hindu. I am broken over this place because of the struggles with poverty, human trafficking, forced prostitution, and religious persecution. My team hopes to work with local churches while growing in our own faith because of their testimonies. 

PHILIPPINES is an Asian island nation with Tagalog (made me think of cookies) as the national tongue. I am excited to meet the Filipino people because they are known to be in love with culture, music, dancing and their communities. While we are there, we have the opportunity to give hope to the destitute, care for orphans, and challenge the growing number of Christ-followers to rise up.

Vámonos to CENTRAL AMERICA!

EL SALVADOR aka "The Savior" went through a civil war that lasted from 1980 to 1992. The country is building a great political system and are ranked 3rd for the largest economy in Central American due to rapid industrialization. In the midst of the thriving communities, we will point them to Jesus! 

GUATEMALA as you might know yields some of the best coffee (yuck). It is a beautiful country with plenty of natural resources due to fertile soil from the volcanoes. However, the people are gripped with poverty and are bound to know RELIGION and NOT GOD'S GRACE! My team and I will form intentional relations though  ministry and reaching out to the people, who are in the fringes of society.

HONDURAS â€‹is home to the Aztec and Mayan civilzations, whose ruins are still standing. Honduras is the thrid poorest in the region, after Haiti and Nicaragua, due to political and military troubles. One of the biggest oppourtunities my team will have will be to reach out to the youth, not just to try keep them out of gangs and trouble, but to let them know about the love Jesus has for them.

AFRICA is calling my name! 

KENYA lies right on the equator (HOT)! Almost everyone has heard of Kenya because of the turmoil the
country has been in for the past years. The team will work in the bush and in the slums by loving on orphans, evangelizing, and building communities, while working with current ministries. I pray that with the rebuilding of the country, the people are yearning for God's hand.

TANZANIA is one the oldest known inhabited areas on earth. This country is 33.3% Christianity, 33.3% Islam, and 33.3% indigenous religious groups. We will be visiting hospitals, orphanages, going on door-to-door evangelism, open-air crusade.

UGANDA aka "Pearl of Africa" was tortured by a civil war for over 20 years that involved child soldiers. The country was torn to shreds but is starting to recover swiftly! The people are reported to rely heavily on Christ even after the devastation. The team will either go to the north to help ministries that bring healing and reconciliation or we will head to the south to work with churches to disciple old and young believers.

Off to find treasures in EUROPE..

ALBANIA is the birthplace of Mother Teresa. It is country that is 70% Muslim, 20% Orthodox Christian, 10% Catholic/ Protestant, and less then 40% percent of the people are active in religious services. We will be connecting with students by building friendships across campuses. We will share our testimonies and lives praying that they have affects on these young adults.

The northern part of ROMANIA is home to the gypsy community. Even though these strangers are forgotten by society, they are vibrant for Jesus! We will be teaching English, leading sports camps, while we live with them, and learn about their culture. Everybody says that I have a gypsy soul.. 😉