We’re spending this Christmas season reflecting on God’s faithfulness to our Racers, partners, and ministries around the world. To celebrate, we’re sharing with you our 12
11 Days of World Race Christmas. Each day leading up to Christmas we’ll post a new video of what Christmas spent on the Race looks like.
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Psst. Y’all ever play a game where you have to find a pickle in the Christmas tree? Well, we’re offering a $25 gift card if you spot a certain word that starts with “F” and rhymes with “funk” or “funky” in any of our videos; leave a comment with your email as to which video and the timestamp. In this version of the game, we’re pretty sure there is no “pickle” but we guess that means you’ll have to watch the videos to know for sure!
11 Days ’til Christmas
On this first day of World Race Christmas, Hope Mendola leads off our list by leading a chorus of angels in J squad’s rendition of “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” If you pay close attention, you’ll see how similar Hope and Mariah’s voices are.
10 Days ’til Christmas
A World Race classic — again, from the August 2011 J squad, while they were in Turkey for Christmas in 2009. they take on the holiday staple, “Twelve Days of Christmas”. Want to know what life on the Race looks like? Here’s a peek:
Note the sweaters a Turkish woman gave them that, unfortunately, didn’t really cover the guys’ midriff.
9 Days ’til Christmas
The August 2009 K squad got together for this rendition of Jingle Bells.
Truly squad unity at its finest! What a snowysandy Christmas!
8 Days ’til Christmas
Getting sick is no bueno. Getting sick overseas also no bueno. Getting sick around Christmas very no bueno.
Someone on the June 2010 O squad got sick in Thailand — a primarily Buddhist country — so a few of them spent the holiday in the hospital. Watch what happened:
7 Days ’til Christmas
Do you reunite with your extended family often? How massive are these family reunions? The October 2009 L squad was scattered all over Thailand for ministry in December 2009. They reunited in Bangkok. Here’s what it looks like to get 43 family members together:
6 Days ’til Christmas
Here’s Traci (VanSumeren) Derington and Aaron Bruner of the September 2007 D squad busting out some Feliz Navidad karaoke action in Manila, Philippines.
5 Days ’til Christmas
Ever ask yourself, “What does Christmas in an isolated jungle farm somewhere in the vicinity of Los Chiles, Costa Rica, look like?” Who doesn’t? And here’s an answer, compliments of the October 2010 S squad:
4 Days ’til Christmas
C is for classic and this one’s from the June 2007 C squad. You’ll clearly see how the quality of video (and acting and singing) of Racers has improved over time. Ok, maybe just video quality. Enjoy!
3 Days ’til Christmas
When the October 2008 G squad convened in Kenya to celebrated Christmas belatedly, they went all out. Like Disney on Ice. Minus Disney… and the Ice:
2 Days ’til Christmas
On the World Race you see a lot of things for the first time. Here’s another first: a human gift-wrapped Christmas tree on the side of the road in Costa Rica! See for yourself how far the October 2010 S squad’s Christmas spirit goes.
1 Day ’til Christmas
Not all our squads actually spend Christmas on the field. While in India, the January 2008 E squad decided to celebrate Christmas in July after surviving heat, in close quarters — all 26 of them one house. We were told, “it was, without doubt, a challenging month for all.” Here’s the end result.
So which squad had the best Christmas?
That wraps up our 11 Days of Christmas! Thanks for celebrating with us. We wish you a Merry Christmas and ask,
