All The Things I Didn’t Know

Most people in the US have heard about the World Race before applying. They know someone who knows someone, and so forth. Therefore, they know some details about ‘The Race’. I found this organization/program through a Google search. I truly had no idea what I was signing up for. Therefore, I have compiled a list of things I’ve learned about what the next 11 months will look like.

1. We are splitting up! Originally I had thought all 22 members of my squad would be in the same place helping one base. Instead (which makes a lot more sense) our leaders have split us up into teams of 4-6 people. This makes it a lot more manageable to connect with members of our squad and really bond. My team is made up of six girls and we call ourselves Para La Gente which means For The People.
2. I will be staying in people’s homes. Not all the time but usually we will stay with a host or close to where our host lives. Sometimes they rent out a place for our team to live or we stay in our tents. None of the teams, will most likely, be serving in the same place. In Guatemala, my team will be serving in Sumpango, which is 20 mins from Antigua. After flying into Guatemala City my squad will be staying in Parramos at Adventure’s base. A couple of days later my squad will move with their team to the various places they will be serving. One of our teams will be located 8 hours from the base!
3. No one actually knows what we will be doing. There is a form for the partnering ministries to fill out for needs/activities, but our leaders have informed us things are subject to change, dramatically. There will be places where we will not be doing anything remotely to what we were informed we would be doing. The form is more of a guideline than a rule. We were told to hold those expectations loosely with an open hand.  In Sumpango, my team will be working with the ministry Reindom. What our schedule says we will be doing:MONDAY: Free dayTUESDAY: Prayer Room, Feeding program, English classes, Bible class, Leadership Class, Literacy, Art, Computer classes.WEDNESDAY: Prayer room, Visits to vulnerable families, and/or Helping with a food/sport/other program in Aldea Santa Marta.
   THURSDAY: Activation day every 2 weeks with AIM staff, 1-3 p.m. Prayer Room, Hitting the Streets to Evangelize
   FRIDAY: Prayer room, Feeding program, Bible Club, Music classes, English and Literacy class.
   SATURDAY: 3 Bible clubs in different communities. (VBS maybe?)
4. There are roles to be given out. Inside our teams, there are assigned roles. We have a team leader and a treasurer. We also have roles that are chosen within our squad. There are logistics squad members who plan our travel days. They are in charge of the money, book the transportation, and make sure the squad knows where they are going. Adventures puts our squad in charge of a lot of our trips. Our leadership team (which is not chosen by our squad members) starts with our coaches, then it goes to our mentors, and then our squad leaders. Our coaches are a couple whose life was changed through a parent visit trip. They served alongside their daughter as she was a racer and fell in love with the program. Our mentor is a young woman who works for Adventures in Missions. Our squad leaders are three individuals who will travel with us on the field. These leaders look after our whole squad. 
5. Leadership leaves us! After we have had a significant time on the field our squad leaders leave it up to us to finish off our trip. Right now the idea of this is terrifying, however, they are preparing us to lead ourselves.
6. Our teams switch! Not only are we divided into teams but throughout the year they will switch our teams so we can serve alongside different squad members. Within these changes, new roles will be chosen for our team.

Now for the update on how I have been doing. For the last two weeks, I have been at training camp, in Gainesville, Georgia. We sleep in tents, wash our laundry by hand, and only have porta-potties to go in. We are roughing it here. Adventures in Missions is training us for the field.

Let’s talk about the food situation, sometimes we run out of protein within a meal. I’ve never experienced this before, being hungry. I’ve been hungry, however, I have always had some sort of control over the situation. There is a vending machine that receives so much love here. Nevertheless, it is an uncomfortable feeling for me. I have been blessed with an abundance of food in my life and that might not be the case in the next 11 months.  I will receive enough to eat, however, it might look a lot different than what I have considered full all of my life.

I have also been learning a lot spiritually. Adventures has some awesome sessions on Christ. We have been taught about the Holy Spirit, how to preach the gospel and apologetics. I talk more about this in another blog I am writing about my second baptism, which is coming soon!

Though the conditions have been less than favorable training itself has not been the most difficult. I’ve really had a hard time connecting with my people/team. I’ve struggled with feeling alone as long as I can remember. However, being a part of intentional groups has really helped with this. I knew I would make friends here but I’m a little slower than everyone else. I’m also older so I’m not sure if that has any effect on the equation. I was very encouraged by some intentional and insightful words when I was feeling very discouraged. Connecting with individuals has been better when it comes to making friends. There are a couple of people here that see me and I hope I’m able to see them as well. Also pray for my team, to connect, bond, and work together well.

Thank you for all your continual prayers and support! God has been so faithful through you. I hope you can come to see Christ through this journey I am taking.