Hi friends. Family.
A song comes to mind “It’s been such a long time…Sail on, on a distant highway… I’ve got to keep on chasing a dream.”
I know that the World Race is a current dream in my heart that I believe is from God. I want to pursue this dream once again.
I had the desire (that I was believing was also a God desire) to move down with my sister, find a job, and find a place to live with her. I usually find a job so quickly. It has been nearly 7 weeks since I’ve been down here. Although, I did jump in right away with church and a place to connect.
So much growth and realizing and growing has happened here.
Amongst all the craziness and uncertainty, the World Race has not left my heart. Donations have been trickling in and I’m so grateful.
I wanted to tell y’all about the potential countries we will visit and my heart behind choosing the Pacific Rim route. Next year starting in August, the areas my squad (the 20+ racers who will all be going to the same countries as me, traveling together and training together) and I will visit are Central America, South America, and Southeast Asia.
Our first hub is in Central America. Adventures in Missions has partners in Nicaragua where we plan to start our journey next year. Nicaragua was one place where I had previously (years ago) looked into going to for a mission trip. One of the first things that caught my eye and stuck in my heart about Nicaragua for the World Race is that “they need to know they are seen, loved, and not forgotten by God.” (Posted on the World Race website.) I am a middle child whose family tried their best, but didn’t fully speak to my love languages. When I first came to Christ, He first showed me I was loved by Him, then by my family. Then He showed me I was seen and not forgotten, invisible, or unimportant. I have learned that the easiest things/ topics to teach others are the ones God has personally taught me/ brought me through.
Our ministry partner in Nicaragua believes transformation happens through relationships. They want to build these relationships (or friendships in the language of many US Americans) through basketball, working on the farm, and every day life. I agree and remember the importance of building these relationships from when I was on a mission trip several years ago to Florida. Throughout the 10 weeks in FL, we went to the beach, the grocery store, the pool, and the theme parks with our coworkers. We made sure to pray for them, as well. It was amazing to see how friendships were built and how God changed them in that time period. The mission trip to Florida would help me to develop the same types of friendships in Nicaragua.
That’s how I connected with just one of the countries we are planning to visit starting August 2022. I plan to tell y’all about the other 2 areas we plan to visit soon.
The other potential countries in Central America are Panama, Costa Rica, Honduras, and Guatemala.
This is how you can help:
- PRAY: Prayer is so important.
-Pray for me and my team as God prepares us now mentally, physically,
spiritually, emotionally and financially
-for unity
-that everyone who is supposed to go hears about it and applies
-racers would have desire to be there
2. GIVE: I can’t go without partners like you. (Click on give link here in my blog.)
3. SHARE: -Tell people who may want to contribute.
-Post, to your social media, one of my blogs that moves you
-Connect with me to meet up or talk to someone who may want to make
the World Race their journey
Grateful for you all!
God bless you, Rachel, for responding to God’s calling to bless the people of these nations with your love and sharing of the Gospel.
“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:10
Hi Rachel-
We met you in line at Mickey’s Runaway Railway ?? sending you all the best!
Best wishes from Colleen and Tripp!