Hello Hello Hello!!
Thanks for your interest in my journey! If you haven’t already, go ahead and click the Subscribe For Updates button under my photo. This is the most effective way to stay up to date with the most current information. I will continue to update this blog during the race. Social media access will be limited, so you’ll want to be connected here.
But really… do it now. Please. All you need is an e-mail address to subscribe!
As I continue to raise for support, I’ve noticed a trend of questions. Really good questions. My intention for this blog post is clarity. Let’s get to it. For the record, this has been adapted by my best friend Paige’s FAQ section.
Any World Race specific LINGO will be big & bold for reference.
Q: What is The World Race?
A: The World Race is a program through ADVENTURES IN MISSIONS. It is an 11 month missions adventure to 11 countries. Participants go through an application and interview process for a specific ROUTE. My route trains in August and launches in October 2016. I will return to the United States around September 2017. I will return to Georgia, USA approximately 1 month after The World Race, for an additional debrief session with October squads.
My route is October Route 2: N Squad
Asia: (India, Nepal, Vietnam, Cambodia)
Africa: (South Africa, Botswana, Swaziland)
South America: (Bolivia, Peru, Chile, Argentina)
Routes are subject to change, so they tell us not to get too attached to our route!
Hashtags I frequently use: #theworldrace #11n11 #kelSEYtoshiningSEA #Nspirethenations
#kelSEYtoshiningSEA is the easiest way to consolidate my photos on Instagram and Facebook
#Nspirethenations is my squad’s hashtag
Q: Why are you raising $16,961? Why so much? Where does the money go?
A: The cost of my program is $16,961 to cover all costs of travel and living abroad. This includes everything from visas, airplane tickets, food, missionary health insurance, to ministry costs. This money goes directly to Adventures in Missions. I do not handle any of the money raised. It processes through AIM headquarters in Georgia. Any additional money raised over my assigned amount, does not go to me, but a general fund for AIM. Therefore, I will notify all supporters when I am FULLY FUNDED.
More on raising funds…
DEADLINES?!
Yes… deadlines! My first deadline is $5,000 by JULY 22! THAT’S IN 20 DAYS! I need your help!
PLEASE consider donating here: https://www.adventures.org/give/donate.asp?giveto=worldrace&desc=Kelsey%20Nerland&appeal_id=NERLANDKELSEY
See the picture below for other important financial deadlines.
I am encouraged to fundraise the entire amount, rather than contribute my own funds. I like to call this SUPPORT RAISING… this process is more than funds. I consider my senders to be ministry partners. This mission is a partnership. I am your representative of our community, the Church, and JESUS CHRIST. I take this call seriously.
Sub question: What will you do about money on the race?
I am currently saving personal money (from my job) for unforeseen, emergency situations, small gifts for family/friends/hosts, and occasional soul-care adventures during my time-off. This money DOES NOT come from any donations received. Other personal expenses that are out-of-pocket: plane tickets to and from Georgia (in August & October), gear (backpacks, tent, sleeping bag, compression packs… if anyone is feeling called to support me in these ways, let me know!), vaccinations, prescription medicines, eye contacts, etc. This is my personal financial contribution toward the mission.
Q: Who are you going with?
A: My route consists of approximately 50+ young persons (young professionals, recent graduates, students, non-students)… this is my SQUAD. As a squad, we will travel together to the same countries and meet-up for occasional debrief and leadership weekends. However, our ministry locations and work will differ. Upon arrival of a country, we will split into TEAMS. Teams are 5-7 individuals who DO LIFE together. We are with each other 24/7. We give each other genuine FEEDBACK every day to help sharpen each other (this is a real thing… every single day!) and we submit weekly CELEBRATIONS & CHALLENGES to leadership for accountability and encouragement. Each person in a team has a team role, decided by leadership during TRAINING CAMP. These roles include a team leader, treasurer, communications point-person, storyteller, and more. Teams will likely change 1-2 times, while abroad. Training camp will be held for 10 days in the middle of August in Georgia, USA. Training camp is all about team building and preparing physically, mentally, and spiritually. This is six weeks before LAUNCH. Launch takes place a few days in October in Georgia, USA before we travel to our first country. This is the final training and preparation. Loose itineraries will be assigned. Our parents have the option of attending parent sessions and a final, tearful, commissioning service.
While abroad, the squad is backed by a squad-specific leadership team. This includes SQUAD LEADERS, alumni Racers who travel some with us and identify/raise up new squad leaders within our squad to lead. We also have a marvelous crew of SQUAD MOBILIZERS, MENTORS, COACHES, TRAINERS, COORDINATORS… and more! We are well cared for!
Q: Who are you staying with?
A: We will stay with local ministry hosts, called CONTACTS. We join the work of the local church through these contacts. If our contact does not speak English, we will have access to an interpreter. Our contact teaches us about their country and cultural expectations. Most times, we will pay our contacts upon arrival for boarding arrangements. (However, there are times when we stay in our tents for the month and do our own grocery shopping via team budget!)
We will not know much about our contacts until launch, and even then, we are given limited information. This information is subject-to-change (AND OFTEN DOES!), so leadership prepares Racers to not maintain ANY expectations.
Many of ya’ll have inquired specifics about province/state/city/village… simply, I do not know. I will likely not know until I arrive in that country.
PSA: Another reason to SUBSCRIBE FOR UPDATES… so I can tell you where in the world we are and what kind of work we are doing. I promise to be creative.
Q: What are you doing in each country?
A: We will join in God’s work, often through our contacts. Some months we may be charged to choose-your-own-adventure and make new contacts for future Racers.
We will participate in many service-oriented projects (manual labor, construction, farming, hiking into villages, cutting grass with machetes), build relationships with contacts and locals through encouragement and love, teach English, and even preach.
We will have some “time-off” to engage, explore, reflect, and refresh. I’m not sure how often this will be yet. But I trust the time will come when it is needed.
Q: Are you nervous?
A: A bit– but I think it’s excited nerves! I know it will be physically, emotionally, spiritually, and mentally exhausting, but I’m stoked!
I am really excited. I’ve been thinking about this for 2 years & I’m ready for this adventure! I’m excited to live in simplicity and depend on God.
But I’m thankful for this time to slow down and be present with those around me. I’m thankful for the time with my family, friends, and community. I’m thankful for the time to continue building relationships with my ministry partners.
If there’s anything that I have learned in life, it’s that life is short. We are not promised tomorrow. It doesn’t matter where we go– whether we stay home or travel abroad… we’re never promised our future days. I have learned that this life is too short to live in fear. I am embracing the call to GO and be a servant, a sister to the poor. It’s not all about good intentions, it’s about God’s glory. He will redeem a people from every people group.
Romans 10:14 – Paul says,
“But how will people call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how will they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher (messenger)?”
I sincerely hope this post was helpful.
Do you have any questions that I didn’t answer? Comment below!
I welcome any additional questions!
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Peace + Grace,
Kels
