This is my first week of fundraising, and coincidentally I am spending it at the beach with my sweet family. It’s very strange thinking about where I will be in just two and a half short months in contrast with this amazing place I get to share with some of my favorite people. When we first got here, I was uneasy at the thought of sharing my heart with them about this trip. I was embarrassed to call myself a missionary in front of people whom I had never had a deep, religious conversation with. Much less, people who know my flaws and love me so much anyway. I was scared, and being very selfish.
On Sunday night, my world was turned upside down. A friend I went to high school with, Will Blasius, went to be with Jesus. Will had a love for his life and the people in it that was contagious. He was so funny and loved making people laugh. While I was grieving I realized that life is so precious, and I was being so foolish thinking that this trip (and this life, even) was even the slightest bit about me. It’s about the people I will be helping, the needs that we will be filling, and of course, God’s plan.
I thought a lot about Will and who he was, never ashamed to be amazingly himself. So here I am, an open book. Ready to tell anyone who will listen about this crazy adventure God has called me to and how he is working in my life. (Even my family if you’re reading this, although by now I hope we’ve already had this talk.)
I’m going to answer some FAQ’s about my trip.
What is the World Race Gap Year?
The World Race Gap Year is an 9 month missionary journey to 3 countries to serve the poor while living amongst real and raw community. It requires stepping out of your comfort zone and being exposed to what God is doing in the world.
Is anyone going with you?
Yes, I am going with an organization called Adventures in Missions and I will be on a team of people who are all around my age (18-22). Our team will be broken into squads. My squad will become my family. They are the ones I will travel alongside, pray with, and do life with for the next year.
Anyone you know personally?
No one that I have ever met. I am excited to be introduced to them next month at Training Camp.
Where will you travel?
I will travel across 3 continents and spend three months living in Thailand, Guatemala, and Malawi.
What will you do there?
My team will volunteer with local ministries in each location doing everything from sharing the gospel in villages, to loving on AIDS victims and playing with orphans to helping those trapped in human trafficking to meeting with and encouraging believers in their faith.
What will you bring with you?
Each World Racer leaves with a hiker’s pack weighing between 30-40lbs to meet airline weight restrictions. In it will be my sleeping bag, pillow, tent, mess kit, medical kit, 8 days of clothes, 2 pairs of shoes, my Bible, my journal, and my most basic necessities (and trust me, the definition of necessities here is a LOT different than what you have in mind).
How does your family feel about this?
They’re always supportive of me as a human and love watching me make crazy decisions (this being the craziest by far) so I hope they’re as excited as I am. I know God will provide them comfort while I am gone.
What happens when you come home?
I will be the same girl I am now, just far more aware of the needs of this world. I will still love watching Ellen and Friends, just maybe not as often and prefer climbing mountains an volunteering just a little more. I may have missed weddings and births and funerals, but I will have gained memories and experiences and testimonies. I know the Lord will shake my world and those of the people I meet with the touch of His hand. I will be okay. I will be forever changed.
What are your plans for after the Race?
I’d like to say I have that all figured out, but it’s just not realistic. In more than a year, I’ll be stepping off the missions field from the greatest adventure of my life. Any plans that I make on my own in that time will surely be wrecked and changed by my journey and by God’s vision for my future. I am trusting and putting my faith in the fact that the Lord will use me in ways that show my heart where I should go, what I should do, and how I should continue my ministry when I return home. As of right now, I would like to continue my education at The University of Tennessee (Go Vols!) As for a career, I’d like to say I’ll be doing something where I can help people. I’ve always been pretty set on high school choir director, and that’s where I would really like to see myself, but who knows.
Can you receive letters and packages while overseas?
I cannot receive packages for any reason other than emergencies. An emergency package contains only one of two things: a debit card to replace a missing one, or medication. The locations I will be living in are very remote. It just isn’t practical to send or receive packages. I can, however, receive and send email whenever I have wi-fi and I would LOVE to receive updates on your families, pets, breakfasts whatever really! I’ll still be interested even from the other side of the world. Promise.
How can I stay updated on your travels?
To the left of this post you will see a place to type in your email address to receive email alerts each time that I post. I am required to blog once a week up until my launch date. After that point, I will be posting twice a week as long as internet access allows. I promise to post pictures!
How much does the trip cost?
The actual trip costs $13,805, and this covers all of my field expenses. Housing, food, general and basic needs and travel while I am on the field.
When do you need to have your support raised by?
There are several financial deadlines that I have to meet, but I believe that I will be fully-funded before I ever set foot overseas! God will take care of me, I know it.
– July 22, 2016- $5,000 due and in World Race account
– September 16, 2016- $5,000 due and in World Race account
– The rest should be secured before launch (October 1)!
How can I help?
First and foremost I would so appreciate your prayers during this time and also while I travel. Pray for my team’s fundraising efforts and that God would be preparing our hearts in big ways for this God-adventure. Pray for our safety as we travel and that we might bring love and hope wherever we go. Read over the list of the nations we will travel to. Pray for these broken and hurting nations! Pray that the sweet people we meet will be open to hearing the truth of God’s word.
Financially, there are several ways to help. You can donate to my trip as a one-time gift or as monthly donations, allowing you to choose the amount and beginning and end date. If you would like to do this, please make checks payable to Adventures in Missions P.O. Box 742570 Atlanta, GA 30374-2570. Make sure to specify that you would like the donation to go to HARPERSARAH or your donation will not be sent to my account. If you would prefer to make a donation online, you may do so by clicking the “Support Me” link in the upper left side of the page and complete your donation as instructed.
Thank you so much for your support already- it is truly amazing to see how God is moving in this journey!
xoxo,
Elizabeth
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
