I LOVE to talk about the World Race! There are probably only four conversation topics that I will ever excel in, and the Race has made it’s way to the top. (Leave a comment below and guess the other three! Go.) Upon telling someone I’m going on the Race/explaining what it is, I almost always get the following responses, in this order:
“The Amazing Race?!”
Real talk, if I had $1 for every time someone asked me if I’m going on the Amazing Race I would have enough money for myself AND my entire squad to be fully funded.
“Oh wow eleven months… Wait how old are you again?!”
I have a baby face okay. The general assumption from strangers is that I’m somewhere around high school age, but I can’t really blame them. 90% of my wardrobe is Disney t-shirts, I did this to myself. I’m 21, but 12 on the inside.
And the last of many responses… is about a million different questions ranging everywhere from the logistics of the Race, to what I’m most excited/nervous about:
“What countries are you going to? How the heck do you pack for eleven months in a single backpack? How did you decide to do this?!”
So, because I will be on a plane headed to Belize in less than *THREE WEEKS* (pinch me!!!) this week’s post is all of your questions, answered! And because I’m a savage, if anyone asks me any of these questions from now on I will verbally recite the link to this post. Just kidding. Mostly.
Here we go!
Where are you going?
Here is the breakdown of where I will be each month!* This is a question I get a lot, so if you find it hard to keep up with or should you find yourself wondering “where in the world is Mal?” at any point in the next year, check my Instagram bio where I will have my location updated each month!
October- Belize
November- Honduras
December- El Salvador
January- Vietnam
February- Cambodia
March- Albania
April- Serbia
May- Romania
June- Ethiopia
July- Uganda
August- Rwanda
(*My route is subject to change, because life happens, and more importantly, Jesus happens!)
What are you packing?
Another crowd favorite! I have to pack for eleven months, and eleven different countries/climates, in only a 65L internal frame backpack (less than 50 lbs) and a small school-sized backpack. I will be posting a packing blog in the last few days before I leave to break down everything I’m bringing, but yes this is a source of stress for me! I think I’ve read/watched every World Race packing blog/vlog in existence. But, bottom line is it’s my unique experience and I can’t rely solely on what others have or haven’t brought. Thankfully, after spending ten weeks in Jamaica last summer, I feel as though I have at least an idea of unnecessary things to bring vs. what I will regret not bringing. And I’m definitely looking forward to all those Asian markets I’m hearing so much about!
What’s the weirdest thing you’re bringing?
I don’t know that I would call it weird, but I’ll give a teaser of my packing blog post: among the MANY things on my list; a pillow pet, a Stitch eye mask, and the Cheetah Girls 2 downloaded on my phone can be found. You know, the essentials.
What are you most excited about/expectant for on the Race?
This is a loaded question, I’m excited for EVERYTHING! Location-wise, I am probably most excited for Cambodia, for a reason I have yet to discover. Of the three routes launching in October, I picked this particular one because I felt so strongly drawn to Cambodia. The Lord has something great in store there and I can’t wait to discover what it is!
As part of my internship with ACE last summer, one of our famous statements we often over-quoted was “I left my expectations at home.” This is a crucial aspect of any ministry, and can also be applied to just about anything in life. I find myself constantly checking my heart going into any situation, especially the Race, and looking for unfair expectations. I love the saying: “be open to the possibility, not attached to the outcome.” Expectations breed disappointment. Expectations limit God. I honestly don’t know how He will work in my life and the lives of those I will encounter on the Race, but I know He will work. I know I will see His hand. That’s what’s important. I’m open to every possibility with my Father at the wheel!
What are you most nervous about/not looking forward to?
My answer for the longest time was fundraising. I have now surpassed the $10,000 mark and am on my way to the next deadline of $13,000! I can’t even put into words how much of a load off my shoulders this is. Reaching such a milestone has made everything about a million times more real. But, this has also made more room for the full weight to sink in of missing eleven months of the lives of everyone I love. I am enforcing a new rule that no one is allowed to get engaged or married, have a baby, graduate, accomplish anything, basically have a life or do anything worth celebrating or even worse, have any sort of tragedy happen in the next year. Can we all agree?!
Why are you going on the World Race?
To put it simply, because the Lord asked me to. To put it not so simply, check out these previous posts: The Story, Make Your Life About Others.
In Matthew 28:19 Jesus gives us the Great Commission: to “go and make disciples of all nations”. I am going, I believe He has called me to go, but not because of anything I’ve ever done. The Race has almost nothing to do with me. I’m merely a vessel, and I am so thankful to be. In this next year of my life, everything I will experience: every child I will minister to, every woman I will hug, every man I will smile at, every corner of the earth I will walk in, every bit of it is for Him. I am so lucky to experience it, but it isn’t about me in the least bit. I can’t ever say that enough.
Why are you *NOT* going?
I’m not going on the Race to find myself. I’m not going to travel the world. I’m not going to run away from or avoid my own life. I’m not going for the Instagram pictures, or the stories.
I’ve mentioned this song (Kari Jobe- The Cause of Christ) in a previous post, but it perfectly describes my heart behind the Race. I’ve worked hard to put myself aside in this last year in order to be ready for an experience that would be easy to make a selfish one. But once again, the World Race couldn’t have less to do with me. I’m itching to begin an eleven month journey of looking to the Lord first, others second, and myself very last.
“The only thing I want in life
is to be known for loving Christ.”
How did you hear about the Race? How did you know God was calling you to it?
I first heard about the Race probably when I was in early high school. I’ve met/known a few alumni Racers over the years, as well as many friends who have served with Adventures in Missions. I’m sure many would agree with me, the Race is one of those things you hear about and think–who wouldn’t want to do something like this?! Being so young when I first heard about it, it became something I thought about a lot but never in my wildest dreams thought I could ever do. Growing up, every kingdom worker I knew went to bible college and worked in a church. So, in my junior year of high school when God told me not to go to college right away, to me, that felt like a gut punch that I wasn’t good enough to be of any use to Him. So I started making my own plans and quit looking to Him.
Fast forward to August 2017, the World Race and AIM kept popping up everywhere I looked. Instagram, ads on Facebook, strangers telling me they just returned from the Race, I couldn’t escape it and knew I had to at least ask God if He was trying to get my attention. I sheepishly looked at Him and said “…the Race, God?” and expected either nothing, or a laugh in return. Like someone like me could ever raise $18,000, travel the world, live out of a backpack, and give up eleven months of my young life to serve. To my surprise, He said “yes.” Then He made it happen.
Every fear I’ve had over the last year, every insecurity, every potential roadblock that made me doubt whether I would really make it to Launch; every single time I’ve sat down and asked for peace or reassurance once again He has completely overwhelmed me.
If you’re a future Racer reading this, potential future Racer, or just someone wanting to grow in allowing God to lead your life, please don’t read my story or look at me as one of those people completely prepared, completely has her life together, completely qualified for such a journey as this. It’s hard. I haven’t even launched yet and this is already the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life. I could write an entire blog post on how unqualified I am. But, I have a yes in my spirit. Or at least I’m learning to. I said yes, and the rest has been completely His hand. That’s my advice to you: start small by just saying yes.
Thank you so much for checking out this week’s post! I have about $2,500 left to raise to hit $13,000 before Launch and I need *YOUR* help to get there! If the Lord has laid it on your heart to partner with me in serving around the world, please consider “purchasing” one of the numbered boxes below and donating the amount above! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!
