Here are some frequently asked questions and answers about the World Race that I thought would be helpful for you. Please let me know if there was some other information that you would have liked to see!
TO THE FEW WHO HAVE SEEN THIS ALREADY: There are minor changes throughout the text, but I think you'll be most interested in seeing the detailed breakdown in the HOW section of the ways the $15,500 for the trip is spent.
WHAT
The World Race
Simply stated, the World Race is an 11-month mission trip to 11 different countries to serve “the least of these” with Adventures in Missions (AIM). The World Race partners with local churches and ministries to enable long-term missionaries to extend their reach and deepen their impact. The opportunity to reach the unreached and love the unloved is paired with an intense community environment while being exposed to what God is doing in the world.
Ministry
The type of ministry will depend on the monthly location and kind of needs present in the community. Some days may be packed full with construction, VBS, building relationships with orphans, teaching English, organizing feeding stations for the poor, or praying for the sick at hospitals. We will also be preaching at large gatherings, teaching, prayer walking, and doing door-to-door ministry.
Team and Leadership Organization
For each team, one person will be designated the team leader. We have a larger squad of 60-70 people that will be grouped into smaller teams of 5-7 people at training based upon different factors, including personality tests and teambuilding exercises. Looking at the male to female ratio, we will probably have 4-5 females and 2 males in each team, although some all-female teams are very likely. For the first four months on the field, we will have alumni from the program serve as squad leaders that will train leaders on how it all works and teach us the ropes of world travel.
Housing
Housing includes host homes, tents, and hostels. We will get an allowance of sorts each month for food and travel purposes.
Training
Approximately 6-7 weeks prior to the race start date, we will meet for 8 days of preparation for the trip and receive training for cross cultural ministry and ministry skills.
Adventures in Missions
Adventures In Missions (AIM) is an interdenominational missions organization that emphasizes prayer and relationships in their work among the poor. Since being established in 1989, they have taken over 80,000 people into the mission field, some for as short as a week and others for as long as a year or more. Their 14 bases around the world provide year-round ministry to places where "the least of these" are found.
WHERE
1. Australia 7. Tanzania
2. Malaysia 8. Rwanda
3. Vietnam/Laos 9. Kenya
4. Cambodia 10. Ukraine
5. India 11. Romania
6. Nepal
WHEN
I will be leaving in the beginning of September 2012 and returning at the beginning of August 2013.
WHY
The reason I am going on the World Race is because I know that God has brought me to it and His plans have consistently been better than my own. I had actually started applications for other missions programs, but God very obviously brought the Race to my attention and continued to confirm it.
HOW
I’m asking people to pray about partnering with me for prayer and financial support while ultimately trusting God make everything work together. Many of the places I am going to are under heavy spiritual darkness, and prayer is going to be essential for ministry impact and team unity. In order to go, I will also need people who will prayerfully consider giving financially as well. The amount necessary to raise is $15,500.
What fundraising support includes
The funds raised will cover all team costs once the trip begins. This includes: food, lodging, and air, land & sea travel. It also covers administrative, setup, coaching, debrief, and training costs prior to and at the start of the Race.
It does not include: travel to the training, travel to the start point, return travel home from a major U.S. city at the conclusion of the Race, medical insurance [required], vaccinations, or personal spending money. I am praying that God will provide for this amount as well; any excess funds raised through AIM would not go towards me, but I am planning on having an account at church opened for these extra expenses (excluding personal spending money) that can be donated to and send tax-deductible receipts in return.
Breakdown of Costs
The $15,500 is broken down into these general categories:
- Training Camp–$320 (2%)
- Field Support–$620 (4%)
- WR Development Program–$1,860 (12%)
- Administration Fees–$2,635 (17%)
- World Racer–$10,065 (65%)
Within the 65% going directly towards me, the budget is further segmented into these categories:
- Intercontinental Travel–$4,939.45 (45%)
- Food–$1,256.25 (13%)
- Lodging–$1,758.75 (19%)
- Transportation–$1,005.00 (11%)
-
Long Distance Travel & Misc. Supplies–$1,115.55 (12%)
GIVING INFORMATION
Deadlines
July 1st, 2012 CHECK 🙂 November 30, 2012
$3,500 $11,000
September Departure Date CHECK 🙂 February 28, 2013
$6,500 $15,500
Options
1. You can mail a one-time donation in the form of a check to
Adventures In Missions
P.O. Box 534470
Atlanta, GA 30353-4470
(This method avoids the 3-5% online processing fee that comes with credit cards and bank drafts.)
2. You can click on the “Support Me” link on the left-hand side of my blog and give a one-time donation, you can support me monthly during my trip until February, or you can support me quarterly.
If you are considering partnering with me financially, please know that whatever you give will be a blessing and that I would love for you to just listen and follow however God is directing you. Whether it’s $50.00 a month or a $10.00 one-time donation, I know God will use it to do great and powerful things as He's planned.
SAFETY
AIM is a well-established organization that has sent out over 1,000 World Racers in the past 6 years of the program. The organization is aware of the dangers inherent in travel and well prepared for them. They are cautious that avoiding danger would not preoccupy people from advancing the Kingdom, but they are committed to setting standards for safety. Two of their commitments is to never allow anyone to be without another Racer at any point and to not send Racers into countries that are listed by the Department of State as unsafe for travel.
COMMUNICATION
With natives
Our ministry contacts will provide translators as needed.
With you
I will be able to communicate with friends and family at home through Skype, email ([email protected]), and facebook. My blog will be the primary resource to hear updates from the field. Please leave comments below blogs or drop me an email with questions! I would love to keep in closer contact with you while on this journey. Make sure to subscribe to the blog through the "subscribe to the blog" link on the left-hand sidebar in order to receive email updates for when I update, which I'm hoping will be once a week while on the field.
