Dear Friends and Family,
As you all may or may not know, I’m graduating! Crazy right? A few months ago I really was
beginning to be at a loss in regards to my future. I did not know what college to attend, what to major
in, where I wanted to be…My life was a big ol’ question mark. It was at this time that I started looking
into gap year programs. I thought, well, maybe college straight after high school is not what God
wants for me. So, I started looking. The World Race was one of the first programs I stumbled upon,
and I bookmarked it for later. The World Race Gap Year is a 9 month Christian mission trip to 3
different countries around the world. One of the unique things about the World Race is that it’s not
only a mission trip but also an intensive discipleship program designed to launch my generation into
our specific calling. Through the World Race, my team and I will serve in partnership with
churches and ministries in local communities to preach the Gospel, plant churches, work in
orphanages, minister to women and children trapped in prostitution as a result of human trafficking,
and bring the restorative hope of the Father’s love to many tribes and nations. So, I showed this
program to my parents, and I asked them to pray.
At this point, I took a big turn backwards and delved back into the college search. I visited a few
colleges, and some I really liked. I started to receive some scholarships and get accepted to schools, I
even was able to get on a couple of the schools’ soccer teams, and I began to get excited about the
college experience, at least that’s what I was telling myself. In reality, I did not have any peace over
going to college. I knew in my heart that it was not what God wanted of me, but I was running,
running, running! No matter how hard I ran though, the World Race was always in the back of my
That all changed after a conversation with my parents. They came to me one day and told me “Will,
we really believe that this World Race Gap Year program is what God wants you to do,” and I knew
they were right. I always had known that it was what God wanted, I just did not want to accept it. I
had been scared and stressed for months over my future, trying to desperately find the perfect college
and the perfect career, when it was not what God had for me. I had been searching without the Lord’s
help, no results were turning up, and I was at a loss for what to do next. And so I prayed. “God, if this
is what you have for me, here I am, take me,” and I hit the submit button for my World Race
even begin to express the amount of peace God has given me with this decision.
So, my friends and family, I am going on a 9 month mission trip to three different countries: one in
Southeast Asia, one in Central America, and one in Africa. Needless to say, I am going to need your
support! Please pray for me as God leads me into this next stage of my life. One of the biggest
challenges I will face getting to my race will be fundraising: the trip will cost $12,500 dollars. This
money will include all field expenses for my 9 month trip. The Lord met my first payment deadline of
$6000 yesterday, and I have raised $6600 so far. There is still $6000 to be raised, and I am confident
and excited to see what the Lord will do! As I take this step of faith in trusting God’s plan for me,
would you prayerfully consider joining me by making a tax-deductible donation? I am asking that, if
you were planning on giving me a graduation gift, you would instead help fund my trip. You can do so
online from my blog at willpetersen.theworldrace.org(click “Support Me!), or by filling out the
donation card included in this letter and mailing a check. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to
follow my blog to find out more and follow me on my journey!
Yours in Christ,
Will Petersen
