A heavy weight has been lifted: my youth girls finally know. My family knows. My friends know. Everyone knows. Finally. Praise God! Tomorrow marks two months since I first interviewed with Adventures In Missions for the World Race January 2013 Route 2. Only two months ago, and yet it seems like that was so long ago. It seems like I’ve been keeping this bottled up forever, not just two months. Today, my squadmates have pointed me to this crazy realization: We’re now into the double digits for the countdown of days until January. WOW! Plus, there’s only about 20 days until I meet that lovely squad that will be my family next year!
So, you don’t have any idea what I’m talking about? The words launch, countdown, squadmate, etc. leave you a little confused? It’s okay; this blog is for you! I haven’t done the best job of explaining some important World Race lingo (except here) and information since I’ve only been able to announce this incredible journey with a few people over the last two months. This afternoon, since everyone now knows about this incredible journey, I decided it’d be a great time to explain a few things so that all of you could understand me when I come up to you speaking excitedly or write slightly oddly worded facebook statuses.
Adventure In Missions
The World Race is a program of the inter-denominational organization Adventures in Missions (AIM). AIM is a reputable missions organization that has been around since 1989, sending people from different churches and backgrounds all over the world on life-changing mission trips. For more about AIM, visit Adventures.org.
The World Race
The World Race – or TWR or the WR as you may see it abbreviated – is an 11 month mission trip to 11 different nations around the world. The first World Race squads launched from Mexico in January 2006. Literally knocking on doors and sleeping on streets, it was a raw adventure of faith. While in Swaziland in 2007, the Lord told Seth Barnes to structure the World Race for a movement and to give it away to our generation.
The World Race continues to change. It is expanding overseas and in the States, yet its foundations stay the same. It is a journey to 11 countries in 11 months to serve “the least of these” while amongst real and raw community. It facilitates discipleship through the process of discovering into the abundant life He promised. It births partnerships with ministries around the world. It requires Luke 10-like faith.
They’re calling us out of our comfort zone and giving us exposure to what God is doing in the world before we commit to the American dream. Because it’s not about us, it’s about the Kingdom.
Routes
Routes are the order and list of the 11 different nations we (my squad) will be visiting and when in the year we’ll be there. The World Race currently launches at various times throughout the year. In 2012, they’ve launched squads in January, July, and September, and the program will do the same in 2013. During each launch period there can be 3-4 different routes. For example, in January 2013, there are four different routes. My squad and I will be traveling on route #2: Ecuador –> Peru –> Bolivia –> Romania –> Ukraine –> South Africa –> Mozambique –> Swaziland –> Thailand –> Malaysia –> Cambodia, but there are three other squads serving on three other different routes. Also, this is only our tentative route. The countries we serve in could change based on events and outbreaks occurring within the intened country or other such situations. It’s nice to know that AIM (Adventures In Missions) takes care of us that way.
Squads & Teams
Each route is made up of a squad. Squads are normally 50-70 people of 21-35 year old Christ-followers who are all seeking to serve and see God’s kingdom. Squads travel from country-to-country and sometimes serve as entire group at a ministry sight together fo the entire month. Every few months the squad goes through a process called debrief. When I go through my first debrief next year, I’ll be sure to fill you in a bit on what that is. What I know so far is that it’s a time when the squad comes together as a whole to discuss the previous months of ministry and take time to be refreshed in the Word.
Each squad of 50-70 people is made of smaller teams of 6-8 people. These teams do life together 24/7 on the mission field. Depending on the needs of the nations and ministry contacts we serve, a team could be alone at a ministry site or partnered with one or more other teams (either from the same squad or different squads who happen to be in the same area that month). Sometimes, all the teams from a squad get to serve together in one of the countries for a month.
After training camp, I’ll do a blog about my squad and my team. I already know my squad and you can meet them here, but teams won’t be assigned until the week of training camp. Oh yeah, one more thing. Each squad is assigned a letter. My squad is “N” Squad. So, if you things about N Squad just know that I’m talking about this awesome group of people the Lord has blessed me to travel, live, and serve with next year.
Training Camp
Training Camp is fairly self-explanatory. No, it is not boot camp (although ask me again later, after I’ve been through it for a week). It’s a week-long training that introduces us to many of the events, cultures, food, and situations we will encounter as a missions team. This week will be filled with cultural training (how to dress, eat, communicate) and ministry skills training. If you want more information, check out this “Training Camp” tab on the World Race website. It gives a decent look at the outline of camp.
Launch
In January, my entire squad will converge on a U.S. city (TBD by AIM) and go through a few last days of training and preparation before we head to the mission field. That will be our launch city because once those last few days are complete we will launch, go, set forth, embark on our journey. This will happen the first week of January 2013. I absolutely love that AIM and The World Race uses the term “launch,” but I’ll save why for a later update.
What does the Missions Aspect Look Like?
Every day on the World Race will look a little different. Within each country, my team and I will be set up with a ministry contact. That ministry contact could be a church, an orphanage, a community, local organizations, and many others. We will work with these contacts throughout each month to meet the needs of those in the local community and share the gospel. Some days will be packed full with construction, VBS, building relationships with orphans, or praying for the sick at a hospital. Some days could be slower where we shop for groceries at the market, cook for ourteam, and spend time praying for the community we live in, work in, and walk through. Every day will be focused on being a part of God’s Kingdom work, in every way that looks!
Deadlines & Finances
It costs $15,500 for me to embark on this journey. That amount covers all of my food, travel, and lodging for the entire eleven months. There are some expenses outside of that that have to be taken care of before I can launch, and I’ll need funds for personal expenses on the field as well. Financial deadlines have to be met at various times throughout the coming year.
Deadline #1: October 1, 2012: 2 weeks before training camp; $3,500
Deadline #2: December 15, 2012: 2 weeks before launch; $6,500
Deadline #3: April 1, 2013: end of Month 3 on the field; $11,000
Deadline #4: July 1, 2013: end of Month 6 on the field; $15,500 FULLY FUNDED
So, when you hear or read things about deadlines, that’s what I mean.
I hope this helped clear up a few things and met any informative needs.
Thanks for reading and don’t forget to subscribe for future updates!
In His Grip,
Rhonda
