1. Wait, what is it you’re doing?
It’s an 11-month mission trip to 11 different Latin American countries through a program called World Race put on by Adventures in Missions. We’ll be serving alongside long-term missionaries, local churches, and other contacts in country to help meet that particular community’s needs. This could include playing with children (that’s what I’m hoping for), hospital visits, prayer walks, manual labor (don’t laugh I do own a hammer), street evangelism, et al.
I’ll be on a squad of 50ish people in each country at the same time, but I’ll be serving every day with five other girls on my team. (You’ll meet them soon).
2. How much does this cost?
Since my Race is all Latin America, it’s only $13,500. Think about what it costs to live in the States for 11 months and that number doesn’t seem so huge. The additional $778 is for insurance. Yup, I’ll have it. So my grand total is $14,278 is the cost of the trip plus insurance. As of right now, I’ve got about $11,500 of it raised. My goal is to have it all raised by January (but my real deadline isn’t until the spring).
3. When do you leave and where are you going first?
January- Puerto Rico.
February- the Dominican Republic
After that it’s Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras.
In no particular order.
4. Wait. Your sister’s getting married next summer. What’s up with that?
I’ll fly home for her wedding. Details about that are still sketch but it’ll happen.
5. How much luggage do you get to take?
One backpackers pack full with a tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, etc.
6. Do you have your shots?
Yes. When I went to the travel clinic, the nurse practitioner wanted to shadow the doctor because I had such a unique situation…
7. You’re a Compassion International girl. What’s with that Food for the Hungry photo on the sidebar?
Well, basically I can’t make it go away. Adventures in Missions has a partnership with Food for the Hungry so if people sponsor children through Racer’s blogs, the Racer gets a $50 scholarship. While FH is an organization doing some neat things around the world, my passion’s Compassion. So you could sponsor a child there too. I don’t get a scholarship. But my sponsored child gets a gift. And I like that better.
8. You’ve got two blogs. Which are you going to update?
Just subscribe both here and on my personal blog, KatieAxelson.com. There will be overlaps in content but everything won’t be the same. It’ll all depend on how well international internet and I get along.
9. How can we pray for you?
Just pray. If you want prayer cards to hang on your fridge, mirror, and dashboard as reminders, let me know.
