Q: The world race, is that like the amazing race?
As much as I think competing in a tv show like the amazing race would be, well.. amazing, this is not the same. The world race is a Christian mission trip to 11 countries in 11 months. Adventures in Missions (AIM) organizes this. I will leave with my squad in September 2013.
Q: Squad??
That’s how they refer to a team of about 50 other young Christians that go on the same route.
Q: Do you know these people already?
No, we are trying to get to know each other through Facebook and our blogs now, until we meet for training camp in July.
Q: Training camp?
Before we leave on the trip training camp is used as a way to get to know each other and for the organization to get to know us. We will camp out in Georgia for a week and get exposed to situations we might face on our trip.
Q: So where will you go on the trip?
We will go to Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, India, Nepal, Mozambique, Swaziland and South Africa.
Q: Sound dangerous, how will you stay safe?
AIM makes sure we stay safe, most months we will be placed with American or European missionaries who know the area and if a country gets too dangerous our route will change to another country.
Q: Ok, so what will you do in these countries?
That’ll be different every month. Our squad will split up in teams of 5-7 people. With this team we will go to our ministry site. Ministry can differ between working with kids in orphanages, working with sex trade victims, teaching English, building churches or schools, door-to-door ministry or anything else you can think of.
Q: So will you get paid for this?
No, I actually have to pay money to go. The trip itself will cost $15,500, which includes almost all the expenses for those 11 months: travel, food, accommodation, etc. They don’t expect me to have all of this before I leave, there’s a couple of deadlines:
- US$ 3500 – June 30, 2013
- US$ 6500 – August 18, 2013
- US$ 11,000 – December 1, 2013
- US$ 15,500 – March 1, 2014
Next to that I will have to buy gear, insurance, vaccinations and flights to training camp and launch in the US. So total it will cost about 20,000 US Dollars.
Q: How are you going to pay for all of this?
The organization asks participants to raise funds in their community. I hate asking people for money, but I don’t know how to pay for all of this myself. Plus, it’s a good way for others to participate in my journey, too. I will have to trust on God that if He wants me to do this, he will provide.
Q: So how can I help?
First, I want to ask you to keep me, my squad and the people we meet in your prayers. That would mean a lot to me. Don’t feel obligated to donate, but if you feel called to help me financially, there are several ways to do that. Please look at my “Donations and other practical stuff” blog to learn more about how to donate. And of course, tell all your friends about my trip! The “Share my story” link on the left side of this page can help you do that.
