Hey friends!
As I continue to raise support, I’ve noticed a trend of questions. Really good questions. My intention for this blog post is clarity!
First off, thank you so much for your interest in my journey. It is so cool to see how many of you are curious in either my launch or curious because you’re wanting to do this yourself! 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, while on the field. Social media access will be limited so you will want to be connected here.
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 2018. I will return to the United States around September 2019. 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:
- Asia (Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia)
- Africa (Lesotho, Swaziland, South Africa)
- Central/South America (Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador)
Q: Why are you raising $18,200? Why so much? Where does the money go?
A: The cost of my program is $18,200 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 is processed 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… 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 for unforeseen, emergency situations, small gifts for family/friends/hosts, and occasional 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, gear (backpacks, tent, sleeping bag, compression packs…), vaccinations, prescription medicines, etc. This is my personal financial contribution toward the mission.
DEADLINES:
7/20……….$5,000
9/21……….$10,000
10/1………..Launch
11/30……..$13,000
1/31……….$18,200
Q: Who are you going with?
A: My route consists of approximately 40+ individuals. 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 everyday 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, and more. Teams will likely change 1-2 times, while abroad. Training camp will be held for ten 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. 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!
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, 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’ve been told by World Racer Alum that weeks usually consist of five full-force work days, one adventure day, and then one rest day. This could change. We will play it by ear.
I hope this post helped you get a little more informed! Please feel free to ask any additional questions. Either give me a call or comment below!
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)?
xx Mace
