*This is the start of a Q&A series to answer the questions of my supporters and readers! Hope you enjoy reading these & gain more insight on what the next year will look like!*
Q1: What is the World Race Gap Year? Answer: The World Race Gap Year is a sector of the World Race which goes to eleven countries in eleven months. WRGY is a unique discipleship journey with a focus on missional living. Racers serve in three different regions of the world and grow closer to God while living in Christ-centered community to discover their calling to impact the Kingdom of God. The Gap Year program is aimed towards college aged students who are looking for an alternative after high school, those who want to take a year to serve in the midst of college, or for students right out of college that still meet the age requirements.
Q2: How old do you have to be to participate? Answer: The World Race Gap Year is for people 18-20. If there is a situation where the person is a bit younger than 18, the organization might allow the person to go if they see that the person in mature for their age! I’m glad they do this because it has given me one of my favorite people (shout out to Jenay)! If someone is older than 20, they can apply for World Race #11n11.
Q3: How did I first hear about the World Race? Answer: I first heard about the World Race through Instagram. I looked into it and thought it was an incredible opportunity, but dismissed the possibility of me doing it because the fundraising about is intimidating. God kept bringing it up over and over again through social media and through my friends. I took this as a sign that I should look into it more and when I was sure that God had called me to it, I started to pursue it and begin the application process.
Q4: What was the application process like? Answer: The application was a long one, but one that was necessary to reveal some things to me. I was one of the first people to apply the night the applications came out. The questions were personal and required vulnerability. Thankfully, the World Race doesn’t only accept people who claim to have it all together or come with a clean record. After the application I had to set up a phone interview. I set mine up for a date pretty close to application day. The phone interview was wayyyyyy more nerve wracking than the online application, but it ended up going well! I had to have a mentor reference filled out and submitted before anything further could occur. I started getting worried about the what if’s and didn’t believe I was going to be accepted. A couple weeks later I was sitting in a parking lot when I got call from the person who interviewed me. She told me that I had been accepted into the World Race (imagine me trying not to freak out) & since then everything has flowed from there!
Q5: Will you consider this to be a preparation for a lifetime career? Answer: I do consider this to be preparation for a lifetime career. Over the past year, God has shown my vocational ministry is my calling. However, the type of vocational ministry is not clear yet. I believe that the World Race is an amazing opportunity for me to explore an array of ministries and find a best fit area. Currently, the ministries that i could see myself in are children’s ministry and working with people have have special needs.
Q6: What led you to feel the need to drop everything and take such an alternative approach to life after high school? Answer: Honestly, since sophomore year I had a feeling that college wasn’t going to be the next step for me. My plan was to pursue photography because it has been one of my passions for several years and I wanted to take it on a bigger scale to start up my own photography business. However, my plans were not God’s plans (as usual) and He pursued me until I looked more into the World Race. I have always loved to serve since I was little, so I was drawn to the missional lifestyle of this gap year program. After much consideration and prayer, God confirmed that this was His calling.
Q7: Have you ever been out of the country before? Answer: The World Race will be my first time out of the country! It’s a big leap, seeing as how the duration of this trip is nine months and I might only step foot in America for a layover.
Q8: What is something you want to learn on the World Race? Answer: One of the things I want to learn on the WR is how to love others better through their love language. I am often times trying to love others the way that makes me feel loved, but that’s not the best way to love others cause everyone in different!
Q9: What is World Race’s mission? Answer: Good question! It’s probably easiest for me to put a link to their mission and beliefs so I don’t get anything mixed up or make this blog super long! Here is a link to that information: https://www.adventures.org/about/?iname=believe#believe
Q10: What are you most excited to gain from World Race? Answer: A better, deeper perspective on God’s character & learn more about cultures! I have a tendency to have a closed mindset and I’m praying God will soften my heart & mind up to new things.
Q11: Why did I say yes to God? Because there’s nothing to lose. God uses everything as a teaching opportunity if we are open to learning. He is going to teach and refine my heart so much over the next year. If I don’t get to launch in September, then I still have learned so much during this time and gained a deeper relationship with the Father.
