Hi friends! Just wanted to give some updates & provide more details about what I’ll be doing on the race 🙂
First, I’ve reached my first goal of $5,000!! None of this would have been possible without each and every person who has given & prayed! I am seriously SO grateful for you all.
Second, South Africa has been added to my route! My squad and I will now be traveling to Swaziland, South Africa, Ethiopia, and Cambodia! Here’s a closer look into the countries I’ll be going to and the ministry opportunities I have:
1) Swaziland! (in 2018 it was renamed the Kingdom of eSwatini, but many still call it Swaziland 🙂 I’ll be living here the first 2 months of the race. Due to the HIV/AIDS epidemic, many children have been orphaned. Our ministry focus will be at carepoints, providing children with food, clean water, education, healthcare, and discipleship.
2) Jeffrey’s Bay, South Africa! For month 3, the girls on my squad will be traveling to SA. This month will be spent working with the Global Leadership Academy. We will be teaching classes, helping admin, and doing improvement projects around the school. Our afternoons will consist of various community outreaches.
3) Ethiopia! My squad will be partnering with HOPEthiopia in Addis Ababa, a ministry that creates safe communities for people at the margins of society. We’ll spend our time loving on at-risk children & caring for the often neglected elderly population. My squad will be joining the community as agents of change through both physical and spiritual restoration.
4) Cambodia! In our final country, we’ll join partners in ministering to local street kids, teaching English, and sharing the hope of the Gospel with local families.
As for the coronavirus, Adventures in Missions has been closely monitoring the spread of the virus around the world. Due to borders closures and growing health/safety concerns, all teams currently on the field back were brought back to the US this week.
My heart hurts for these racers whose trips have been cut shorter than expected & so many others who have been robbed of upcoming plans. This season is weird and frustrating. There’s a whole lot that feels out of control and fear is really evident in the world right now. But I know the Lord is in control. He’s bigger than this virus.
And catch this vision! 500+ racers have poured into the US this week. World Race shared in a recent update: “we are not terminating missions trips but repositioning an army.” These racers, who were bold enough to follow the Lord across the world have followed Him back to the US, just a little sooner than expected. He brought them back for a reason. The mission isn’t finished, and God isn’t done working. Even in the midst of the chaos and fear surrounding us He is still working things for his good.
As for my race, we will be launching in a little over 5 months (crazy believe it’s that soon!). AIM has not cancelled any trips beyond May 2020 & I’m confident the Lord will make a way for my squad.
Again, thank you all for your support. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out! Praying for safety and good health in this season 🙂
ps – I’ll be selling t-shirts in april, so be on the lookout for updates on those real soon!
all the love,
jen
