It is Monday, August 12th.
Last Friday, I found out that by the end of this month, I will be leaving to Squad-Lead for a 9 month mission trip called World Race Gap Year.
About a month ago, I was sitting in Starbucks with my mentor for a one-month mission trip to Peru that I was leading. The team was coming in that day and I had become really comfortable with where I was at in life. There were a lot of unknowns that came alongside recently transitioning to life back in The States- but I had my own expectations lined up in front of me and I was ready to pursue them. In that moment, The Lord wrecked my plans (I’m never surprised by this anymore, lol). Hailey looked at me and asked me if I would pray into Squadleading a trip called World Race Gap Year. I spent the last month praying for clarity, despite the fact that that same evening during training camp, I knew what The Lord had clearly spoken to me:
“When you gave your life to Me years ago, you told Me that you were surrendering all in turn for how I gave My life for you. You said you’d go where I’d go, no matter the cost. I’m giving you the freedom to choose and I’ll be proud of you no matter what- but you have my ‘Yes.’ I just want yours.”
The Lord will usually give me words or phrases to help put to words the seasons that He’s placed me in. The rest of that month, the words that kept showing up were “surrender” and “childlike faith”.
After I came back to Texas, I was having dinner with my Squad Coaches from The Race and I had invited them to pray with me over the decision. I explained my heart to them and The Lord had made it clear to us what decision I was supposed to make.
Leaving The States again for 9 months and trusting in God’s complete provision has been stretching, but I know that after team-leading this last trip to Peru and getting to walk alongside and invest in the team as they grew in their relationships with The Lord and in sharing the gospel, there was no way I could turn down the opportunity to do that again for 9 months! It was a dream come true. In returning to The States, I had been praying that The Lord would provide opportunities to disciple college-aged young adults. This was an answer to prayer and an opportunity to grow in understanding what it looks like to fully trust that God is a good Father and that He will provide for everything I need. He’s giving me complete permission to dive into this beautiful calling that I love and I am so excited about it.
When I think of World Race Gap Year, I can’t help but get so excited about what The Lord is doing in and through my generation. We had worked with Gap Year squads a couple of different times on my Race and I was always so encouraged by their enthusiasm and eagerness to press in and soak up all that The Lord has for them. I believe that God has called this generation to be people of great impact and that there’s a fire in them that He has stirred for mass revival. God is doing something huge through World Race: Gap Year and I am so thankful to have this opportunity to be apart of it.
FAQ’s:
What is the difference between The World Race and World Race Gap Year?
Time-Frame: The World Race is for 11 months and Gap Year is a 9 month trip.
The Amount of Countries Traveling To: Most World Race Routes go to 11 countries or more. Gap year goes to 3 continents, but typically one or two countries on each continent.
Age: The World Race is for people ages 21 to 35. Gap Year is for young adults ages 18 to 20.
Set Ministries vs Unscripted: I joined a non-traditional World Race route formerly called Fusion (Unscripted). Our ministry focused on hearing The Lord’s voice and allowing that to be our guide. Though we will incorporate listening for The Lord’s voice, Gap Year is all traditional, with a focus on serving local ministries in the countries they are going to. Some days will be packed full with construction, VBS, building relationships with orphans, or praying for the sick at a hospital. Much depends on our ministry partners needs in each country, and specifically during the team’s month with them! Regardless of the pace or the activity, every day will be focused on being a part of God’s Kingdom work.
When do you go?
August 27th! I will be with the squad until the end of their Race in June 2020.
What is your role as a Squad Leader?
As a Squad Leader, my main role will be focused on discipleship and walking alongside the squad as they learn what true community looks like, grow in their personal relationships with The Lord, walk out The Great Commission, and become the young men and women of God that they are called to be. I will be focusing on a few different teams on the squad, going back and forth between them throughout the year. I will have one other Squad Leader with me throughout the 9 months and there will be team leaders who will be with their individual teams for 3 months on the field.
How much do you need to fundraise?
I have three financial deadlines:
$1,200 by Dec. 1st
$2,400 by March 1st
$3,800 by May 1st
On top of field expenses, I also need to raise money for personal expenses (including plane tickets, vaccinations, etc.). Spending the last year and a half of my life following God’s lead in missions has meant that I haven’t had the time for a conventional job. I have a few weeks left before I go on the field and will be working as much as possible up until that point, but am mainly relying on God’s provision to provide the funds that I will need.
How Do I Donate?
You can donate through the donation bar at the top of Jordanharrington.theworldrace.org
If you want to sow into personal expenses on the field, you can donate through
Venmo: JaHarrington
or
Paypal: [email protected]
Thank you so much for reading this blog and for following the journey that The Lord has called me to. Please keep me, my squad, my co-leaders, and the people that we will be with on the field in our prayers as The Lord is about to do something HUGE through this Gap Year Squad!! I am so excited to share beautiful testimonies of God’s faithfulness with you all over this next year! Feel free to message or call me if you have any questions or would like to hear more! Love you guys!
Bendiciones,
Jordan
