Now that it has been over five months since I was accepted to The World Race, I am finally somewhat familiar with the jargon. I compiled some common phrases used throughout the program into this unofficial dictionary, so you can also understand the terms I may throw around in blogs, emails or conversations. Some of them might sound very intuitive, but I would rather over-inform you than under-inform you.
I included the term and definition below, along with its corresponding acronym (if it exists) and how it specifically relates to me in parentheses. Please let me know if there are any words that you’ve heard and don’t fully understand, so I can add them. Thanks Supporters!
Adventures in Missions (AIM) – An interdenominational Christian organization concentrated in global mission work, they put on multiple mission trips (the organization in charge of The World Race)
The World Race (#11n11) – An 11-month mission trip to 11 countries (the program I’m participating this year)
Route – A list of 11 countries a squad will travel to (Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Chile, Bolivia, Greece, Balkans, Romania, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Uganda)
Racer – A person who goes on The World Race for the first time (me)
Fundraising – A process of raising finances to be able to fund the mission trip (I am currently at around $10,000 and need to raise $17,000 total)
Supporters – A community of people that donate financially, pray, read blogs and support a racer in multiple ways (all of you!)
Mobilizer – An AIM staff member who is in charge of ensuring that each racer has met the financial deadlines, checks in with racers to find out their plan (Austin)
World Race Budget – A limit of money allotted per day per person based on the amount that each team has fundraised (averages to $5 per day for food)
Personal Money – An amount of money that the racer can use from their own bank account for extra activities, food, lodging, etc. (I have some in my savings account but am trying to limit my spending)
Training Camp – A ten-day period in Gainesville, Georgia, includes all six squads that have the same departure month of January, includes team-building activities, camping, worship sessions, teaching, and field scenarios (we had this in October)
Squad – A group of 30-50 people who are between the ages of 21-35 that travel to the same 11 countries, meet up at the end of every month to travel to the next country (C Squad, we have 30 people)
Squad Leader (SQL) – A person who leads a squad on The World Race, has been on the race at least once before, travels with the squad for the first five months (Kate, Kevin, Molly Fae, Larisa)
Squad Mentor – A pseudo-pastor for a squad, helps develop healthy spiritual growth, supports squad leaders, visits the squad at each Debrief (Ben)
Coaches – A couple in their 40s to 50s who are the pseudo-parents of the squad, provide encouragement, wisdom and insight, visit the squad at each Debrief (Kris and Doug)
Team – A group of 5-6 people who are on the same squad, travel together for various months to different ministries within a country, have a team name, teams switch throughout the year (Me, Emily, Carolyn, Holly, Jenna, Victoria – our team name is Tharseo, a Greek word meaning “take courage” or “bravery”)
Team Leader (TL) – A person who leads a team on The World Race, has not been on the race before, was picked at Training Camp to lead a group of 5-6 people (Emily)
Launch – Two-day period of final training in Atlanta, Georgia, includes all six squads that have the same departure month of January (we had this early January, stayed in a hotel)
Travel Day – A day or two where a squad travels from one country to another (our first one from Georgia to San Jose, Costa Rica had quite a few issues)
Logistics – Two people per squad who are in charge of communicating with the Georgia headquarters, coordinating safety and insurance, planning debriefs, organization lodging and travel days (Ben, Victoria)
Treasurer – One person per team who distributes the money to each individual, tracks all team spending and enters it into an Excel spreadsheet, balances budget, aids with currency exchange (Carolyn)
Storyteller – People who are chosen to blog more often than a typical racer, read all blogs of each squad member, choose blogs that stand out to send to the main office so that they can be featured on The World Race website’s home page (Luke)
Track – A required concentration to focus on throughout the year, four total teams – Social (create fun events/activities for squad), Health (keep squad eating healthy and exercising), Worship (lead squad in song or other creative ways to worship God), Story (develop/help squad write blogs) (I’m on the Story Track, helping to edit blogs)
Team Time – A daily meeting where someone leads the team in an activity, reflection, worship session, or bible study (I lead on Tuesdays)
Journey Markers – A weekly reflection for each team to fill out, can include reading, activities, studying (we just had our first one, which was a reflection on the story of Peter walking on water)
Ministry Site – A place where a team works for the month in a certain country, will change each month and can also change throughout the month depending on what work needs to be done (we have had multiple in Costa Rica – orphanage, church, school)
Ministry Host – A local or American person, couple or family who live in the country, guide us to our ministry sites, problem-solve logistical issues, changes each month (Pastor Marcos)
Free Day – A day off from scheduled ministry, can be used to meet up with other teams, travel, relax, etc. (we currently have Saturdays and Sundays off)
Debrief – A period of a few days where an entire squad meets together to hang out, catch up, relax, and train for future months (we will have four throughout the year after months 1, 4, 7, 11)
One-on-Ones – A time where a racer meets with a team leader, squad leader, squad mentor, or coach to discuss how things are going (I’ve had one with Kate)
Feedback – A time where someone gives you encouragement, challenges you, or points out an area of growth in your life (I haven’t had any yet, but it’s early!)
Leadership Development Weekend – A weekend where the entire squad is trained to become stronger, more effective leaders, happens a few times during the race
All Squad Month – A month where an entire squad works together, can be multiple months (second month for us)
Parent Vision Trip (PVT) – A month where parents of racers are invited to serve with their children for a week (month eight in Romania)
Unsung Heroes – A month where a team’s ministry is to find new contacts for future ministries (we don’t have a specified month for this yet)
Gospel Coalition – A ministry that provides Christian resources around the world (we received six books in Spanish about the gospel and other themes, we can give them out to anyone we feel lead to throughout the race)
Project Searchlight – A re-entry conference in Gainesville, Georgia, that occurs a month after return from the race, includes all six squads that left in January (not included in fundraising price, optional for racers)
