I noticed this week that a lot of the questions people have for me about this whole World Race thing are pretty similar. Honestly, I'm completely ok with answering them 100 times. I love talking about it! When people ask me questions I feel like they care about what God is doing in my life, and THAT is so encouraging. You have no idea. So I'm gonna answer some of the questions that I get repeatedly in this post. But if tomorrow someone asks me one of the same questions again it won't bother me one bit! I love your questions. Bring 'em on. Thanks for caring enough to ask 🙂
Friend: So, what are your plans now that you've graduated college?
Me: Actually, I have this incredible opportunity to participate in something called the World Race!
Friend: Oh you mean like the TV show?
Me: (sigh…) No, not the TV show.
Friend: Ok…then what the heck is the World Race?
The World Race is a stretching journey to 11 countries in 11 months to serve "the least of these" while amongst real and raw community. This unique mission trip is a challenge for young adults to abandon worldly possessions and a traditional lifestyle in exchange for an understanding that its not about you: its about the Kingdom. Ps- I stole that right off the World Race website (www.theworldrace.org)
In my own words, the World Race is a chance for me to break free from the materialism, selfishness, and comfort that I inevitably slip into here at home. I expect that God will burden my heart for the injustices and poverty that I will encounter and I hope that through this experience I will come to better understand the Lord's calling on my life for the future.
Are you going through an organization?
Yes. And they are wonderful. I'm partnering with the organization Adventures In Missions. They are an interdenominational missions organization that focuses on discipleship. Every person I've interacted from AIM over the past few months has been incredible. They're constantly encouraging me, praying for me, and keeping me organized as I prepare to head out in January.
What countries are you going to?
Philippines, China, India, Nepal, Swaziland, Mozambique, South Africa, Moldova, Romania, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic (I finally have them memorized so feel free to quiz me!)
What will you do while you're there?
In every country we'll do something a little bit different. The organized planner in me wishes I knew right now exactly what my team will be doing in each specific country BUT I don't. We find out who our ministry contact for the country will be right before we head into each one. Here's what I can tell you- every month we'll partner with a local ministry. This could be a missionary family or an organization that's rooted in that country like an orphanage. Some examples of the type of thing we'll be doing are preaching the Gospel, prison ministry, planting churches, ministering to women and children who are trapped in prostitution as a result of human trafficking, etc. All with the ultimate purpose of bringing restoration and hope of the Father's love to many tribes and nations. I can't wait!
What is the hardest part about leaving home for a year?
Saying goodbye to my best friend. And my dog…
…Leaving my mom.
…Missing my brother's last year of high school.
I'll even miss getting lectured by my other brother about why Im years behind because I don't have a 401k or know how to use twitter!
…OH, and I have this fear that I'll come back from this journey and all my friends will be married with kids.
What am I most excited about?
I know for a fact that my answer to this question changes every time. Just warning you. But right now I'm most excited about experiencing so many different cultures and just being able to better understand God's heart for the nations. I'm excited to live among them and get my hands dirty. I know it will be hard, probably way harder than I can even comprehend right now, but its so cool for me to think about actually getting out there in the slums, in the poverty, carrying everything I own in a backpack for a year, and doing something about the needs of people. This is for real!
And I'm excited to meet all the other people on my squad who have the same heart for the Lord as I do. I can't even begin to imagine all the incredible things that God is going to do through 70 people fully committed to serving the Kingdom.
How can you help?
Let me just say that I have already been SO blessed by the love and support that people have already started to show me. People who barely know me have slipped a donation in my hand and there hasn't been a day since my acceptance that someone hasn't emailed or texted or called me to let me know that they're praying for me. You'll never fully understand what all of that means to me.
Asking for help is just not in my nature. I'm independent and stubborn and this trip doesn't really leave room for either of those! Asking for money makes me feel awkward, asking those close to me to commit their time every month to praying specifically for me, selling things to people, begging my friends to help me with my fundraisers, making presentations about my trip in front of big scary "real adults"….its all SO out of my comfort zone! But I've quickly learned that this trip isn't something I can or should do on my own! You all are just as much a part of what God is going to do as I am. And it blows me away every time when someone responds to all my nonsense with "Leah, I want to help."
So for those amazing people who want to help and believe in what God is doing through me, here are the ways you can do that:
- Subscribe to my blog! This is the easy one and its SO nice for me to know that you're reading. This blog will be the main communication I have while I'm gone next year and I want to keep you updated! All you have to do is put your email address in the box on the left side of this very page! Once you do that you'll receive an email notification every time I post a new blog! AND when you're feeling extra nice, you can leave a comment. Especially when I'm gone, but now works too 🙂 This girl appreciates feedback!
- Pray. For me, that I would continually trust God through this time of preparation and that I'd open to the work He's already doing and will do on my heart over the next year. For my squad, that we would be unified and supportive of each other. And for the 11 countries and the people that we'll meet while we're there.
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One-time donation or monthly pledge. In order to participate in the World Race I have to raise $16,000. I get a little overwhelmed just typing out that number! But honestly, I'm so confident that this is what the Lord has called me to. No doubt. And if I'm confident in that then I have to also be confident that the same God who called me is big enough to provide the money that I need.
If you can help me financially, just click on the "Support Me" tab on the left of my blog and you can make either a one-time donation or sign up for monthly donations for however long you wish. All donations are tax-deductible.
1 Thessalonians 5:24 "He who calls you is faithful, he will surely do it." - Buy a t-shirt! The design is coming soon thanks to my amazing friend Katie Larson, so be on the lookout and order 1…or 10 🙂
- Donate items to my upcoming garage sale. If you have anything around your house that you've been wanting to get rid of please please let me come pick it up from you! I'm preparing to host the biggest garage sale. ever.
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Buy some bracelets! These bracelets are made by women in the Philippines (our first country!) Instead of being lured by the money that can be made through prostitution, the women work hard every day making these bracelets in order to provide enough income for their family and stay off the streets. I've partnered with a ministry called Threads of Hope in the Philippines. For every bracelet that I sell, 50% of the profit goes towards my trip and 50% goes right back to the women in the Philippines. Each bracelet costs only $2 and I have thousands of them to sell!
…I tried to write a short blog, I really did! Oh well…maybe next time 🙂
Thank you guys SO much for all your support!! I couldn't do this without you!
