When you sign up for the World Race, there are many different routes for you to choose from. Not only can you choose which time of the year you leave, you can choose which route you want to take based on the countries they’re destined to visit. Now if you’re like me, the only difference you see in the routes is the countries you’d visit – but, I was wrong there’s more.
I had ended up choosing my route after narrowing it down to three different routes. One was just down right highlighted to me, another had India on it, and the last one had Rwanda on it. India just always looked cool to me whenever other people visited because the culture is so different. Rwanda was highlighted to me because the first time I truly realized the world wasn’t what I thought it was (like my neighborhood) was when I watched Hotel Rwanda for the first time. I submitted all these in prayer and ended up choosing the route that had Rwanda in it (later it added India as well). It had turned out that Rwanda was a huge month for me in a lot of life changing ways – but the route wasn’t just like the rest of them. It was FUSION.
What is fusion? Probably just about the most perfect thing that the Lord had in store me thus far. You see, I had chosen to do a year of ministry work because I wanted to learn how to make these missionary moments become every day actions. I wanted those highs from trips before to become my lifestyle and not just a quick short vacation away. And that’s exactly what FUSION does. It teaches you how to make life ministry and your ministry a part of your daily life.
So the reason for this blog is to brag a little on why FUSION just might be for you :
- Life is ministry and ministry is life : you’re getting prepared for life back home.
Ministry isn’t just getting connected with an organization and doing work for them – yes it can include a ministry host but what are you doing with the people you’re there working with? Are you pouring into them or are you just taking the resources you’re paying to get? - Freedom : no hosts / no HEAVY rules
My teammate kind of looked at me with concern as I said this one out loud. Don’t get me wrong, you can’t go hay wire – but let’s be honest, do you want to? If you follow Jesus with your whole heart, you’re going to make good decision regardless if you have rules or not. With FUSION there’s more trust there – but this trust is only worthwhile if you’re serious about being responsible and respectful. Just ask yourself, would Jesus do this? Bar ministry – yes. Getting wasted at the bar where you COULD be ministering – no. - Smaller squad : closer friendships (FUSION family)
We truly are a family. We openly and freely can talk about poop and other bodily fluids and then switch over to whatever spiritual warfare is going on like how you might talk about what was for lunch today. We have fewer teams and thus have found it easy to stay in touch with everyone to some degree. Every time we get together it’s a small family reunion – no one left behind.
- Active listening prayer : all day every day
Every day is whatever the Lord has in store. Not having hosts we don’t have anything scheduled and when we do try to schedule things, we learn that the Lord quickly wants our attention back and to allow him to take the wheel on our decisions again. Even in the middle of the day, we come back together and can ask the Lord “okay Father, is this where we’re supposed to be? Who is on your heart in this room? What is my portion in this event?”. It’s non-stop four wheel drive Jesus. We fail, but it’s fun doing it in a community that can point you back in the right direction. Practice, practice, practice. - Squad song
- Tiny budgets : yes, you read that right.
Our small budgets although can be a little stressful at the beginning of most months, has allowed us to fully rely on God. We have no one there that’s going to make us breakfast lunch and dinner, nor do we have someone arranging how to get to our ministry for the day and paying in bulk for everyone. Nope, we figure it all out on or own as a team. This brings unity, submission, and lots of prayer and praises. I can’t even tell you how many times my team has prayed for free lodging and free food and we received it. All praises be to Jesus – because if the budget doesn’t suffice, He will indeed. $5 for daily food, $5 for daily lodging, $1 for daily trans, and $40 per month for long distance travel (per person). It’s beautiful, it really is. - “Adventure days” : what does that even mean?
Other squads have days in their weeks/months called adventure days where they can use their personal money to do whatever adventure that country has to offer. However! FUSION’s lifestyle is that every day is an adventure because well, Jesus is an adventure. We’ve had days where we’re “adventuring” and that’s where we find our strongest ministries. I mean, what kind of people do crazy adventures and travel a lot? Those seeking to find something!
- Tourist ministry : yes, we get to minister to those that travel, I mean – where else can you find an organization that does just that? That’s what I thought.
This one is my favorite part I would have to say. The Lord has put tourist specifically on my heart for years before even joining the race and I had no idea. Seeing the fruit that comes from it is just super neat and has showed me just why it’s been on my heart all along. Our God is so good and amazing and He loves the least of them the most. Isn’t that something we all want to be a part of? - Best Coaches : Momma K and Papa T
Just some of the cooler people I have had the chance to meet and live alongside of. They love and disciple people like it’s there job. Well, it kind of is 🙂 - Diversity : Traveling with people from different nations
Everyone on my squad is unique and comes from a different background. Let us not forget how huge the U.S. is and how much diversity is in that alone. But apart from all the U.S. travelers I’m living alongside, I’m also living alongside foreigners. Angola, France, Canada, Scottland, Netherlands, and Hong Kong. We’re all different, but we all love the same God. Amen to that.
Now friends, these are just a few short reasons why I love FUSION and what it stands for. At times it’s hard, at times I have wanted to give up, but that’s the cool thing about a family – we just don’t give up on each other. We pray fervently, we love wildly, and we run this race from victory. FUSION 3 is just such a dream. I pray that if you’re looking to join the World Race that you take a look at your FUSION route. No matter your squad, I pray that your hearts are in the right place as you’re going across nations to be changed and to love people on the way to that change. Get excited for an amazing, adventurous and full race, that will change you and will become a part of your life forever.
God bless and remember, you live in this world from the side of victory – never feel like you’re losing because our Lord has gone before you and conquered it all.
