I leave tonight for the World Race and I am BEWILDERED. How did this year of preparation go by so quickly? I’ve packed my bags, said my goodbyes, and am ready to go I guess? I don’t know if I’ll ever be fully ready. I’m in the middle of a book, I’m not positive I packed efficiently, I wish I had more time with people. But because the Lord called me to this, I am ready. I am ready because he makes me ready. Ready to go, ready to obey, ready to say yes. I’m ready to watch Him work and honestly I can’t wait.
Around midnight I will be heading to the airport where my parents and I will fly to Atlanta, Georgia. While I’m in logistics meetings and cultural training, my parents will be attending seminars to learn more about the World Race. I’m sure they’ll learn all they need to know about things like safety and insurance, as well as meet other parents. We’ll get to do some things together too, like worship and share meals. I’m ecstatic that they get to share this experience with me and hold off on saying goodbye a bit longer. After a couple days, my parents will head home and I’ll have a few more days of training before getting on a plane bound for Colombia.
During the first month of this trip, my entire squad (39) will be partnering with Ciudad Refugio (City of Refuge) in Medellin, Colombia. City of Refuge is an inner-city ministry that was founded in 1993 by an American missionary. Today its programs include street outreach, men’s and women’s rehabilitation and discipleship, men’s homeless shelter, ChildCry feeding programs, church services, Sunday School, counseling, skills training and work projects, a dental/orthodontics assistance program, youth programs and Christian homeschool, and micro-enterprise opportunities including a bakery and poultry farm.
I’m also excited to share with you some details about my second month on the race. My team (7) will be working with Kingdom Life Ministries in Cuenca, Ecuador. We will be living at their training center and working in a basic language school as well as helping with youth ministry (movie nights, worship nights, possibly VBS). Our goal is to help bring more people into the training center in order to share Jesus with them.
Here are some ways to keep up with my trip.
- Blog: I’ll be posting regularly on my blog, emilieblomberg.theworldrace.org. Subscribe while you’re there so you’ll never miss a post.
- Instagram: I’ll be posting photos and stories often. Follow me @emilie_hope13
- Facebook: I’ll post on Facebook occasionally.
Here are some ways to stay in touch with me this year.
- I will NOT be keeping my phone number this year, so don’t text me.
- Email: This will be the best way to contact me. [email protected]
- FB Messenger: I won’t be checking it every day, but this is still a good way to send me messages or to video chat.
- Instagram DM: Same as above! I’ll try to check my messages once in a while, but it’s possible they will get overlooked.
- Skype/Facetime: I can do either of these too! Set up a time to chat with me.
- Marco Polo app: I love this app! Send me a video of yourself and I’ll respond when I have wifi. This is also great because of time differences.
I can’t thank you enough for your support and encouragement. Please, please stay in touch this year!
Recklessly love and be loved,
Em
