There are many questions coming my way concerning the World Race, here is a cumulation of the most frequently asked so far.
Why?
This seems to be the question I have gotten the most. Why the World Race? Why do you want to spend almost a year of your life away from friends and family and living out of a backpack?
My simplest answer: because God has done so much more for me and I expect him to move mightily in my life. I will be “giving up” a year of comfort and familiarity, but, in return, He is going to use me to touch the lives of those who are hurting and, in the process, change me into the woman He has called me to be. I am walking this journey in obedience- He has called me, I will go where He leads.
Aren’t you scared?
Yes- this whole process is unnerving, but God is bigger than this, and I am, again, walking in faith.
When do you leave/return?
I am flying to Atlanta early in October 2016 for a couple days of seminars, training, and worship with my Squad, I then fly from there to my first country, Malaysia. I expect to be back in the States by the end of August 2017.
How much does this cost?
I am expected to raise $16,561. This covers all my international travel, insurance, food and lodging, and everything else that goes into sending me overseas for a year. I am not expected to raise all of this before I leave. AIM has given me deadlines for when certain amounts are due:
$5,000 – Due 7/22/2016- Completed
$10,000 – Due 9/16/2016- Completed, praise the Lord!!!
(Launch: October, 2016)
$13,000 – Due 11/30/2016- In process!
$16,561 – Due 1/31/2017
I also have other costs- a bit more gear, flights to Atlanta for training camp (August 2016) and launch, spending money, and etc.
How in the world do you expect to raise that much?
I have no idea- but God knows. I am blessed to have a fulltime job I love and I will be working as much as possible to cover as much as I can. I will be sending out support letters, talking to anyone and everyone who will listen, and I am planning a couple other fundraisers. Word of mouth is my biggest ally!
Where are you going?
One of my favorite questions!
My race route will take me to 3 different continents over the 11 months.
Asia: Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Philippines
Africa: Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi
Europe: Ukraine, Romania, Albania, Greece
My route is subject to change based on a variety of factors including safety concerns, political climate, general needs… (in fact, it has changed quite a bit since I’ve signed up, with the addition of Albania and Greece to assist in the refugee crisis- trusting that we go where we are needed most!!)
Are you going with a group from your church?
I will actually be meeting the people I will be traveling with at a Training Camp in August. I am Facebook friends with quite a few of them, and they seem to be an amazing group of Jesus-loving people and I am honored to have the chance to serve alongside them.
Overall, my Squad will be made up of up to 50 people. These are all the people who are going on my specific route (there are 3 other routes leaving at the same time!) and we will travel from country to country together and spend some time together at the end of each month at debrief.
The squad is broken down into teams of 6 or 7, which will be decided at Training Camp. The teams disperse throughout the country we are in each month. Sometimes, due to the type or size of the ministry, a site will have multiple teams.
What exactly will you be doing?
My team and I will be partnering with local churches and ministries to be the hands and feet of Jesus. I expect to be working with orphans, planting churches, preaching the Gospel, doing work projects, assisting in the current refugee crisis in Europe, and ministering to women and children trapped in prostitution as a result of human trafficking.
Are you seriously going to live in a tent and out of a backpack for a year?
Pretty much! Sometimes, depending on where we are staying, we may have the opportunity to stay at a place with real beds and walls, but having a tent will ensure that I will always have a place to live.
*Squeal!!!* You are TOTALLY going to meet someone on this trip!!
I love this non-question, however, there is a strict no-dating policy on the Race for obvious reasons- nothing should be taking focus away from the ministry taking place, both with the people we are working with and in our own lives, and dating drama tends to steal the spotlight.
How can I help?
- Please pray for me. For my squad, my team, and those that God is going to bring us in contact with throughout the 11 months. Pray that the communities we enter will have soft hearts towards the Gospel and that God will work mightily. Pray that when anyone looks at us, they will see Christ’s light in us. Pray for safety, pray against sickness and food poisoning. Pray that the relationship between my team and I is edifying and forgiving; living in constant community is going to be difficult- for safety, we are usually never by ourselves- a struggle for introverted me. Pray for me during this preparation time- there is lots to be done!
- Please pray as to how God would have you support me financially. I can’t do this on my own; I would humbly ask that you would come alongside me and support me in this journey, as the Lord calls you.
- If you look on the left-hand side of this post, there are links to:
Follow Me: Enter your email address and you will get an email when I update this blog.
Support Me: Where you can support me financially.
Tell a Friend: If you know someone who might be interested in the amazing journey I am on, please utilize this link!
You can also check out who else is on my squad and my team, contact me, and browse other posts and photos. - If you have any advice, questions, concerns, thoughts, or remarks, I would love to hear them!
Thank you for taking the time to read this (rather long) post!
I am excited to share this journey with you all!
God Bless!!
-Laura
