I am so excited for the journey God is taking me on, both spiritually and physically. There is so much I am having to do to prepare for this journey and already I see the Lord’s work through all of it. I will be going to 3 different continents and 11 different countries throughout my journey. I am so thankful for the people God has placed in my life during this time. Everyone has been so supportive and encouraging, and I know that God is using all of you to prepare me for this upcoming journey.
I have been blessed to have a friend, Katie Allen, to have gone on this mission trip and to have her as a guide through this time. One thing she shared with me on a long phone conversation was to be flexible because things could change and are not going to go according to plan. That can especially be true with the route that I am on and the countries I will be going to. Below I have copied a list of my route from the World Race site along with a description of the area. I am also adding in the temperature that it is supposed to be in each country as we visit them thanks to some research a fellow Racer has done.
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Malaysia – October – high: 88; low: 73
Enter a world entrenched in Islam. A people within the thriving metropolis of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysians still live in ignorance of the Good News of Jesus Christ. As you delve into this culture of works-based religion, strong self-discipline, and uncanny faith, you will have the unique opportunity to deliver hope and point the people to their Redeemer.
Thailand – November – high: 88; low: 72
The kingdom of Thailand, known as Siam until 1939, is the only country in the region not colonized by Europe. Their 2000 census showed that 94.6% of the population is Buddhist, 4.6% are Muslim, and 0.7% are Christian. Approximately 600,000 people live with HIV/AIDS in Thailand. With nearly two million people estimated to be forced into prostitution, it has become one of the most popular places for sex tourism. Change lives in the city-where you, like Jesus, might befriend prostitutes-or in the countryside-where you may serve youth, care for orphans, and encourage a remnant of believers.
Cambodia – December – high: 86; low: 72
Cambodia houses one of the Seven Wonders of the World, Angkor Wat, a Hindu temple and monastery built during the Khmer empire in the 12th century. It later became a Buddhist complex a century later, and today, just over 96% of Cambodia is Buddhist. Almost 30 years ago, 1.5 million Cambodians died at the hands of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge regime. Today, Cambodia is a source, transit point, and destination of human trafficking. Unfortunately, the government is struggling to stop it. The people of Cambodia are thirsty for the hope you can bring.
Phillipines – January – high: 90; low: 77
This Asian island nation, former Spanish colony then American protectorate, is a country in tension, trying to cross the threshold between the third and first world. It offers a variety of landscapes – beaches, mountains, volcanic lakes – and languages, with Tagalog as the national tongue. The Catholic Church is a substantial piece of the religious pie, however, and Islam is growing in the island of Mindinao. The Filipino people and culture love music, dance and community. While there, you will find yourself living with and giving hope to the destitute, caring for orphans, and challenging the growing number of Christ-followers to rise up.
Zimbabwe – February – high: 80; low: 62
Formerly a British colony known as Rhodesia, Zimbabwe boasts intriguing ruins and shares the majestic Victoria Falls with Zambia. According to Amnesty International, the current regime is allowing human rights violations to escalate. Zimbabwe also has one of the lowest life expectancies in the world. The majority of the people identify themselves as Christians but very much need people like you to advance the kingdom with love and hope.
Zambia – March – high: 88; low: 64
After years of British colonial rule, Zambia became independent in 1964. Since then, the economy has grown and the official religion has become Christianity, but there are still great needs in Zambia. With the country near the bottom of the United Nations Human Development Index, the Zambian people still suffer from poverty, short life expectancy, malnourishment, lack of clean water, and the AIDS crisis. Zambia needs encouragement from missionaries who can remind them of God’s faithfulness in the face of challenges.
Malawi – April – high: 77; low: 64
Known as “the warm heart of Africa,” Malawi is a place you visit to ignite your passion for God’s love. This country has a beautiful landscape and an even more beautiful culture and population. This month, you’ll fall in love with the people of Malawi and bless them with the love of God. Chances are you won’t want to leave.
Ukraine – May – high: 62; low: 48
This Eastern European country is caught between its past oppression under the Soviet Union and the desire to be accepted by the West. People in the West tend to be more nationalistic than those in the East, where Russian is more commonly spoken. There’s a substantial orphan (social and full) population and human trafficking’s an issue here, too. Most people claim to belong to the Ukrainian Orthodox church, which is subdivided into three bodies. God’s desire is to bring hope, peace, authentic relationship with himself, and unity to this nation; you’ll find out how exactly you’ll participate in that!
Romania – June – high: 80; low: 58
Romania is home to a large gypsy community. Though strangers in their homeland and forgotten by society, the gypsies are a strong and vibrant people who embrace the light of Christ in an inspirational way. Here, you could teach English, lead sports camps, live life with the gypsies, and more. It will be an exciting time of learning about a people group you may not have known even existed.
Albania – July – high: 87; low: 63
This country on the Balkan Peninsula is where Paul himself travelled there on his third missionary journey. Albania declared independence in 1912, but was occupied by both Italy and Germany during World War II. Behind the Iron Curtain, Albania was under Soviet rule until the early 1990s. Most of the population identify themselves as Muslim (70%) while the remainders are Orthodox Christian (20%) and Catholic/Protestant (10%). Your ministry will vary depending on the host that you work with: you could be working with a summer camp for children in the area, reach out to youth ministries and gypsy camps, or you could work in local prisons. Regardless of the ministry, you are sure to bring some much needed hope to this nation.
Greece – August – high: 90; low: 71
Often called the birthplace of civilization, Greece is known for its deep cultural history. Ranking high on the list of tourism destinations, Greece is also ranked third in the world for highest unemployment rate. Over the past few years, Greece’s financial crisis has topped the news highlights, and most recently it was a major transition point for refugees. Still at the forefront of today’s news, Greece is in need of hope. Follow in the steps of Apostle Paul and share God’s love in a country that was once a hub for Christianity.
Till next time!
Kara Faber
