Life Goal: The World Race

As my time in college is winding down (faster than I really expected), I have been thinking about were I want to be in the next ten years. I have gone through the thoughts of going to grad school (not going to happen anytime soon) to finding a job in the corporate world. But I have also thought about spending a year in mission work.

One really cool mission opportunity is The World Race which takes you to 11 countries in 11 months where you work with "the least of these."




To participate in the World Race you have to be between the ages of 21 to 35 for the 11 month mission trip or 18 to 22 for the shorter WR Gap Year (three continents in nine months). Racers apply for their trips and go through an interview process. Then before and throughout the race, racers raise the cost of the trip, which can cost between $13,500 to $16,000 per trip. The funds racers raise cover all team costs once the trip begins. This includes food, lodging, and air, land & sea travel. It also covers administrative, setup, coaching, debrief, and training costs prior to and at the start of the Race (theworldrace.org).

Here is a testimonial video from WR Alumni Hollis Johnson:



Before I sign off, I want to leave this little tid bit. No matter what you may do, or what you may think you can do, there is always something more. You just have to have an open mind and an open heart to have a new experience, It could be a mission trip or it could just be a new friendship.

Good luck!

Christmas Doesn't Always Come in December

I always find it interesting when I hear about someone's mission trip or time away from home in a different country. I haven't had the opportunity to go overseas for a mission trip but I definitely have plans to do so. However, finding opportunities to volunteer and make a difference can be found right in your backyard.

One organization that I have had the opportunity to be involved with, and is close to home, is Operation Christmas Child, which is technically based in Boone, NC but has distribution centers across the Southeastern US. I have had the opportunity to work in the Charlotte, NC Distribution center and it has been an amazing experience.

(WBTV.com)

The above picture is just a small portion of the boxes that come into the Charlotte processing center. As a volunteer, I have had the opportunity to check boxes, tape boxes and make sure boxes are packaged for transport and easy access for those who are handing out the boxes to the children across the world.

Other than working in the processing/distribution center, you can also pack a box for a child. I usually do one every year and last year I had the opportunity to follow where my two boxes went. OCC sends has a barcode scanner that can keep track of where you box travels, mine happened to land in Cameroon (Fun Fact: Cameroon won the 2000 Olympic Gold Medal for Soccer) and I sincerely hope that the little boy and girl that received my boxes are doing well and are safe from anything.

There are so many different things and reason that I hold OCC so close to my heart. One of those being the idea that something so small like a shoebox full of small toys and toiletries can change a child's life. OCC is a great way for a child to experience the love of a friend without having to expect something in return other than a loving relationship with God.

(Samaritan's Purse)

I hope that you have or find an organization that you can hold close to your heart. It could be a religious based organization or it could just be a cause based one with only a focus on cause. No matter what I hope that you know that you are making a difference with any type of mission work that you do. A person, a community, or even the world can change with just a little bit of help.