Updates - The World Race

WR Location Feature: Peru

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

When going on the World Race, it's important to learn about the countries you're potentially traveling to. Having an understanding of the history and tidbits about the culture helps in relating to the people you will meet. There are numerous times while on the field, you will speak with locals who will refer to a particular situation in their country, whether it be past or present. This some information on Peru.

:: Peru ::

Background

When people think of Peru, most think of Machu Picchu and the Incas. But over 29 million people, largely descendents of Spanish settlers and native Inca and pre-Inca cultures, populate Peru. Since pre-Columbian times, Peruvians have been divided by nature. From the arid deserts of the coast, the Andean Sierra rises up to 19,700 feet. The highlands comprise about a quarter of Peru's territory, but are home to more than half of Peru's population. This mountain mass poses major problems for development and integration into a single society.

The result is dramatic regional diversity, and considerable inequalities in services and living standards. Health, education and law enforcement programs are unevenly distributed across Peru.

Language
Peru's distinct geographical regions are mirrored in a socioeconomic divide between the coast's mestizo-Hispanic culture and the more diverse, traditional Andean cultures of the mountains and highlands. The indigenous populations east of the Andes speak various languages and dialects. Some of these groups still adhere to traditional customs, while others have been almost completely assimilated into the mestizo-Hispanic culture. But the two official languages are Spanish and Quechua.

Spiritual Climate & Ministry
Peru is a land full of wonder and epic stories. It's also a country in need of experiencing God's goodness and understanding what it means to have a relationship with the Creator. Many natives still dabble in traditional religious practices and idolatry, but God is up to something in this country. The Peruvian church is becoming thirstier for the truth and authentic spiritual breakthrough. Its political past has been riddled with violence from the likes of the Shining Path guerrilla and Alberto Fujimoto's presidency, from which both the indigenous poor and urban affluent alike are recovering. Your time here may include moments in the jungle-perhaps a visit to the Macchu Picchu-as well as life in the metropolis.

:: Stories from Peru ::

Ministry in Peru

By Emilie Janson

Our plan for the next few weeks is to continue to encourage and support the church, make relationships and physically build the church in Llomo de Corvina, speak in schools, attend church cell groups, and plan special children's festivals and sports days.

Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Over the past two weeks, Emily Simpson has walked the streets of Manila Bay. She has met the prostitutes, the homeless, the sick and the dying. In the Philippines, she has met the things that break God's heart. Her response to this pain is below.

I have walked the alleys of Happy Land twice since arriving in the Philippines...

And words do not justify how this cruel reality happens.

A dump...a shelter?
I am puzzled.
Generations of rubbish...a home?
A pile of garbage...a crib for a suffering infant?

An aluminum kitchen island...a bed for a family of three?

This is their reality.

AND THIS IS NOT OKAY.

Lord, I found you amongst the heaps of trash. I know you walked these steps by my side. Scavengers were praising your name while washing their clothes in scrub basins. Your face was plastered on the dingy walls. You were there but many of your children were not.

"The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few." -Matthew 9:37

Who is battling daily for these brothers and sisters, Lord?

I simply feel numb... my mind is sobered. I have no answers. Speak to me about this, Lord.

Show me your vision for Happy Land.

In the dark alleys your light was shining through. These people are fighting to live but no one was coming to their rescue.

FATHER, I CRY OUT. LET THEIR REALITY BE SEEN. LET YOUR CHILDREN LAMENT AND BE TROUBLED BY THE BROKEN CONDITIONS OF THIS HARSH WORLD. LET THEM TURN TO YOU IN THEIR ANGUISH. GIVE THEM A NEW HEART TO LOVE LIKE YOU.

"My eyes fail from weeping, I am torment within, my heart is poured out on the ground because my people are destroyed, because children and infants faint in the streets of the city." - Lamentations 2:11

Let my selfish pride, my entitlement, my vanity, my frustration about my circumstances diminish to a mere nothing.

WHAT NOW?

I soak in and swallow the fact that I am unable to save these people...

You call your children to fight for one another.

Lord, let my generation be one willing to go into battle and fight hard and courageously for the voiceless.

God, how do we battle this growing war

of poverty and injustice?

No Refunds for the Girl You are about to Purchase

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Caitlin Parker, a World Racer in the Philippines, has begun encountering the horrors of the sex trade. Little else will destroy your current world view like being exposed to this side of darkness...

Anger welled up inside of me as I read the words on the wall written in big bold capital letters. "NO REFUND". The words hit me like I had been punched in the stomach, leaving a sick nauseous feeling. It was the first thing I saw as I entered the massage parlor. The next thing my eyes met were ten beautiful smiling faces of the women who worked there. They were sitting in what can only be described as a pin or corral in front of a large mirror that spanned the wall behind them. We walked in and almost instantly had ten new friends. We sat for the next half hour or so talking, laughing, sharing, just being. We talked about the things we liked and enjoyed, our dreams, hopes, and desires. We learned names and asked about where they were from, as most of the girls were trafficked here from somewhere else in the country.

Then the sobering reality hit me as four customers ready to consume the product they wanted to buy walked up the stairs. How could this be? These girls are just like me. They in one moment were talking about their desires to become nurses, singers, restaurant managers, to go back to school and in the next were an object to be bought and sold with no refund. The men's eyes met the fierceness in ours and they quickly turned around as embarrassment came over their faces. I quickly put it out of my mind because I had more laughing, smiling, and encouraging to do. I knew this was just the beginning. This encounter was the first of many clubs we have visited where hundreds of women are in this destructive situation.

It has now been over a week since my first experience in the clubs and I now know much more than I ever thought I would. I now know that one girl was FAR younger than the required age of 18 when she was brought to Manila to be a "waitress" then forced to dance and sleep with men. Her own cousin lied to her and sold her to a recruiter. I now know that there are countless girls who are just trying to support their parents or to pay tuition to go to school. I now know the girl who was orphaned and has to take care of her little brother. She feels hopeless, like she has no other option. I now know that girl after girl gets drunk night after night so the horror of what they have to do becomes numb. I can hear her voice telling me, "I just get very drunk. Its just easier that way." I can hear the words echoing in my head, "No one wants to be here. We all want to get out and go somewhere else. Anything but this." I have seen the bruises. I have seen the tears. I have seen the emptiness in their eyes as they try to escape to somewhere else in their minds while they dance exposed in front of the men who want to consume their flesh. I have seen the men, many of whom are Americans on "business" trips with wedding rings on their hands, being consumed by a sick addiction that never fulfills but leaves a lust for more. I have seen the desperation for something to rescue these women from the nightmare they live.

My heart is beyond broken, it is crying out for these amazing women, for the injustice that they have been subject to. I want them to know that they are loved by God, that He has great plans for their lives. I want them to know that they are God's workmanship. That His heart BREAKS for them. That He wants to heal and redeem them. I want to apologize for the millions of people who know this occurs and sit back and do nothing. I want to apologize for our apathy towards human trafficking. These women are not statistics, they are daughters, friends, sisters, and mothers. They are people who deserve better than being used, abused, then thrown aside for the next person to do the same. When will it stop? When will someone reach out and pick them up off the floor, extend a hand of unconditional love that doesn't expect anything in return. We are not here to tell them to repent of their sins or judge their lives. We are here to bring hope. We are here to LOVE. We are here to extend a hand, cry with them, pray for them, let them know they have a future. We share with them joy and peace, even for just a moment. We are being used by God to be light shining one of the darkest places I have ever seen.

God's favor and protection over us is amazing here. We are partnered with the health department, so we are welcomed by club managers when we do night outreach. The management has to comply and it allows us full access to form relationships and share Gods love with these girls. We are invited into the girls' inner sanctuary, we are allowed in their dressing rooms and preparation areas. We laugh and talk with them as they do their hair and make up. They know we are not here to use them, just to get to know their hearts. We have come to know so many of these girls by name and see them on a regular basis.

So what do you do when a situation feels so overwhelming? You go after the one. You reach one heart, comfort one girl, one at a time. You offer a smile, a shoulder to cry on, and YOU PRAY. I trust that God is here. I see him working, moving, healing, and restoring. You pray with all you have and trust that God will do the rest.

So I will ask you this, will you join me? Make a difference. Don't sit idly back and let this happen. Pray for the women and men affected by trafficking. Ask God how He wants you involved. I trust God and I trust He will give you the answers.

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Spiritual Sons Becoming Spiritual Fathers

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

If you haven't already read Henri Nouwen's The Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming, then this post might be a bit of a spoiler. Keep reading anyway, and get your hands on a copy of this book; it was a seminal read for me (isn't funny how a homecoming story resonated so soundly with me while on a global pilgrimage?).

In the book, Nouwen explores the characters of this parable, the younger son, the father, and the elder son. Many of us, when we've read this parable, found in Luke 11:15-32, id entify with one of the sons more readily than the other. We've already figured out that the father in this story represents our heavenly Father.

Yet Nouwen concludes, at least for himself, that God is calling him to become the father. For many of us, spiritual sonship (daughter-ship, in my case), is hard enough to wrap our minds and hearts around. "I am a child of GOD? That is heavy stuff." Yet God isn't a static God, so His children aren't either; thus, He calls us to grow up.

In a world filled with orphans, God wants to raise up fathers. Women of the Church seems to rise more quickly and easily to the call to be a mother to the motherless; my hope and prayer is to see the men catch up and overtake us in being a father to the fatherless.

Here's a slice of the perspective of the Father's heart from Tyler Woodham, of the January 2010 World Race (N Squad):

Everyday, our team goes to an orphanage and plays with the children. . . However, everyday our hearts seem to break. Since the first day, some of the children have asked, "When is my mommy and daddy coming to get me?" And "Are you going to come back and get me after you go home?"

How do you respond to that? My eyes seem to water each time one asks this. But in these moments, when our team just absolutely wants to cry, God meets us where we are with the strength to control our emotions. The children need to see us lively, laughing, ALWAYS energetic, and just as excited to see them. As much as our hearts break for these children, we still have to hold our composure and control our emotions as long as we are around them.

These children have stolen our hearts. I wish you could hear them laugh, see their beautiful smiles, and play a game of basketball with them. Pray for them. . .

Mike Schuerman, also in the Philippines on the January 2010 World Race (M Squad), shares what it looks like to father orphans:

One of the main themes this month God has placed upon me is being a father to the fatherless. As in many cultures, the fathers are not around; the ones who are, usually are out working and when they are home they seem to show no affection and spend little to no time with their kids. This has resulted in many boys turning to gangs to find comfort and support from other male influences. As God would have it, part of my ministry this month is building relationships with some of the teen gang members along with working with men in the prison.

And this is how Neil Bruinsma, an alumnus of the October 2008 World Race, currently leading a Real Life team in Swaziland, follows in the footsteps of our heavenly Father:

I noticed a boy sitting on a concrete slab all by himself. His leg looked bandaged up. I immediately went over to him and with the help of our translator I ask what was wrong. Apparently three days ago he had fallen off the back of a motorcycle and was dragged some how. I could see the blood oozing through his bandage while flies buzzed busily around it.

"Three days ago? Why hasn't he been taken to the hospital?" I asked in surprise.

"There is no one to take him. He says he has no father and his mother has been gone for the past week and he doesn't know when she is returning," replied my translator, Titi.

I realized in that moment it was up to me if he was going to be taken to the hospital. It felt a bit strange to take on the responsibility of this boy, but I knew I had no choice. If not me then who?

It's time for all of us to grow up and think beyond ourselves. It's time for us to start investing in our legacy -- the next generation. As soon as we own the fact that we are sons and daughters, we need to start growing up to father and mother the sons and daughters God wants to give us.

The growth starts here.

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This Week on the World Race...

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Life on the World Race is extremely fast paced and often its so fast it can be difficult to keep up. So, to help you, we've highlighted some interesting things in our circle around the world...

This Week on the World Race...

Shannon Morgan is discovering the power of the Holy Spirit as he speaks to her to persevere in casting a demon out of a woman in Uganda: Casting Out Demons

Heather Duke's team is living and working in the jungles of Malaysia, learning local construction and cooking techniques as they serve the people: Malaysia: Into the Jungle

Kelly Kramp's squad learned there is a great need for Bibles in the churches of Malawi, and is doing what they can to help: Help Us Help Malawi

Jennifer Mitchell poetically reflects on being in Uganda on month #7 of her Race: Covered in Dust

Two-time alumnus (participant and squad leader) Brian Alonzo has a God-epiphany - on a treadmill in America: Losing Dignity Unto Christ

Photo Blog: Jeanne Bensch shares excellent shots of some of the beautiful faces she and her teammates minister to in the Philippines: Faces of the Philippines: Photo Blog

Video Blog: Luann Ulrich's team shares a look back on their ministry and adventure in Australia for month #2 of their Race: Australia Video

Matt Encounters a Convict and His Heart Becomes Restless

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Matthew Snyder, a January 2008 World Racer, serves with AIM's Marketing department. Right now, he and two other AIM staff are facilitating a mission trip in Tennessee. He shares the following story of how the Lord continues to stir up his spirit, against the status quo, on the streets of Nashville...

"I'm not from Nashville. I'm from Columbia. There's a correctional facility around there and, well, I got out about a month ago."

He fit the profile. He was in worn clothes, a bright red jacket, dirty white shoes, and hadn't shaved for weeks. His mustache curled precariously over his upper lip and glasses sat as an ornament on the ridge of his nose. There wasn't much else to do standing in the remnants of the rain shower we just had fall on us, so I decided to strike up a conversation with James.

Earlier in the evening the college team felt led to head downtown and initiate a "party" on one of the street corners. They pulled out guitars, made a 'prayer request' jar, bought ice cream to pass around, and infectiously stood on the street corner singing, talking with people, and just having a good time. It was quite the sight to see in downtown Nashville last night, particularly near all of the bars and the restaurants. It's where I noticed James.

Our common bond was music and a thirst for creative expression birthed through the chosen medium. We both had a past history with jazz and shared an appreciation for rock and roll (which I need to thank Michael Hindes for having an autistic-type-of-ability to remember rock history. It came in handy...).

And while I want to share a story about how I prayed for James and he was miraculously healed from something - I can't. I don't have any complicated tales of heaven invading earth. Nothing.

The only supernatural thing that happened, happened in me.

I love the simplicity of conversation. And for some reason last night, I had a supernatural swelling happen in my own gut while talking with this guy. I'm still trying to process what happened. I've never had that kind of connection with a complete stranger, someone who - through just being who they were - shattered my heart in a way that it disturbed me. It merely birthed restlessness in my spirit.

As we were leaving to head back to the church, I turned to James and said, "James... I really hope that our paths cross again." I stammered over my words a little because I was so taken back by our conversation. "Like... I really hope they cross again."

He stared at me and gave me a look I'll never forget.

"Me too," he said.

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Ministering to Byron Bay with Children's Sidewalk Chalk

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Ashley Huizenga, a January 2010 World Racer, shares the creative approach the Lord gave her to minster to the hippie town of Byron Bay.

There were no erasers or boards, but there was chalk.

And chalk was the word God gave me. Before leaving the US.
I thought it was going to turn into a creative fundraising event idea-but things never quite panned out. I didn't know if I should give up on the idea or just allow God to evolve my understanding of His word "chalk".

As ministry in Australia neared, chalk came up again, and I saw it everywhere the first week we were there. But what to do with this chalk?

As I prayed, God put a verse about grass and flowers dying into my head for the hippie fickle town of Byron Bay. It was Isaiah 40. It went like this.

"These people are nothing but grass, their love fragile as wildflowers.
The grass withers, the wildflowers fade, if God so much as puffs on them. Aren't these people just so much grass? True, the grass withers and the wildflowers fade, but our God's Word stands firm and forever.
"Look! Your God!"
Look at him! God, the Master, comes in power, ready to go into action.
He is going to pay back his enemies and reward those who have loved him.
Like a shepherd, he will care for his flock, gathering the lambs in his arms,
Hugging them as he carries them, leading the nursing ewes to good pasture.
Who has scooped up the ocean in his two hands, or measured the sky between his thumb and little finger, Who has put all the earth's dirt in one of his baskets, weighed each mountain and hill?
Who could ever have told God what to do or taught him his business?
What expert would he have gone to for advice, what school would he attend to learn justice?
What god do you suppose might have taught him what he knows, showed him how things work?
Why, the nations are but a drop in a bucket, a mere smudge on a window.
Watch him sweep up the islands like so much dust off the floor!
There aren't enough trees in Lebanon nor enough animals in those vast forests to furnish adequate fuel and offerings for his worship.
All the nations add up to simply nothing before him- less than nothing is more like it. A minus.
So who even comes close to being like God? To whom or what can you compare him? Some no-god idol? Ridiculous! It's made in a workshop, cast in bronze, Given a thin veneer of gold, and draped with silver filigree. Or, perhaps someone will select a fine wood- olive wood, say-that won't rot, Then hire a woodcarver to make a no-god, giving special care to its base so it won't tip over!

Have you not been paying attention? Have you not been listening? Haven't you heard these stories all your life? Don't you understand the foundation of all things? God sits high above the round ball of earth. The people look like mere ants. He stretches out the skies like a canvas- yes, like a tent canvas to live under. He ignores what all the princes say and do. The rulers of the earth count for nothing. Princes and rulers don't amount to much. Like seeds barely rooted, just sprouted, They shrivel when God blows on them. Like flecks of chaff, they're gone with the wind.

"So-who is like me? Who holds a candle to me?" says The Holy.

Look at the night skies: Who do you think made all this? Who marches this army of stars out each night, counts them off, calls each by name -so magnificent! so powerful!- and never overlooks a single one?

Why would you ever complain, O Jacob, or, whine, Israel, saying, "God has lost track of me. He doesn't care what happens to me"? Don't you know anything? Haven't you been listening? God doesn't come and go. God lasts. He's Creator of all you can see or imagine. He doesn't get tired out, doesn't pause to catch his breath. And he knows everything, inside and out. He energizes those who get tired, gives fresh strength to dropouts. For even young people tire and drop out, young folk in their prime stumble and fall. But those who wait upon God get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles, They run and don't get tired, they walk and don't lag behind.

So I wrote this on the ground in chalk. From one end of town to another.

Between two bars at either bookmark where the patrons would go to and fro between for most of the night.

Along their path, they met these words.

People read it.

They were involved in it.

They wanted to see where it went, how long it stretched.

It lasted about a mile and a half.
The truth of the words last immeasurably longer.

Some were into it, others criticized it.

But that's not up to me to decide what people do with it.

My call was chalk - to write those words.

I did.

God's word does the rest.

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Congratulations to February's Blogger of the Month!

Sun, 7 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Congratulations to Ashley Higgins for winning the "Blogger of the Month" award for February. Here are some of her top blogs:

Jesus Told Me To. [Casting Out Demons]

Jesus said:
"Heal the sick, raise the dead, heal the lepers, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received."

The minute I saw him I knew I needed to pray.

I was doing door-to-door evangelism with Lindsay for the day. Along with our translator we were going from house to house in Butende, Uganda to share the love of Christ with people. We had already led a few people to the Lord that day and were on our way back to the church for lunch. There was a group of women and children sitting under a tent of sorts in front of a simple home. We walked up just to say hello. Read more here...

Happy Halfway K Squad

Ashley highlights some of the most exciting moments of her race thus far.

Saving Sarah

For the first time in months, probably years, Sarah can sleep in peace tonight. As I write this, Sarah is on a bus from Kampala, Uganda back to her home country of Rwanda. Tomorrow morning she will be reunited with her sister as she starts over, claiming a life of freedom and peace for herself.

I noticed her the minute she walked into the church. Shy, reserved. She was clothed in a beautiful red outfit with the most intricate headscarf I had ever seen. Despite her introverted demeanor she worshiped. I couldn't take my eyes off of her as the choir sang "Jesus you are a winner." After the service I noticed Erin talking to her. I thought maybe she was a visitor or something and they were just making small talk. Until she got in the van to come home with us. Read more here...

Intercession Team Member Recaps Her Time in Haiti

Fri, 5 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Within a week of the earthquake that rocked Haiti, an intercession team had formed and began preparing to go to Haiti and cover the country in prayer. Jenni Weir, a January 2009 Racer, quickly found herself on the team and after returning a couple of weeks ago shares this story...

It was my first full day in Haiti. I was excited to go to Pastor Christians church, Gospel Light Chapel in Carrefour, to meet the people and pray over them. I knew there were a lot of people that have been displaced. They have no place to lay their head, other than the hard, rocky ground in the lot next door to the church. There's a few tarps covering their heads, to block the heat of the sun and the rain that falls - which still leaks through the seams.

Walking into this site, I was expecting to see lack of hope and few smiles. As I walked through the gate, I saw children laughing and playing, and life being lived all around me. They didn't have much, but what they did have was each other.

As I stood taking it all it and saying a quick prayer, I was immediately surrounded by a mob of children of all ages. Some had no shoes. A few spoke English. All were grinning from ear to ear, excited to see a white person. I was now not known as Jenni, but "blanc," meaning white!

It didn't take long for these kids to start talking to me in Creole, keeping my attention and the entertainment alive. Children kept coming and going, and dragged me around their "home" introducing me to their families and "new" life!

I couldn't help but smile, laugh and join in the "activities" of the day. I quickly began to learn their names - most of which I cannot spell or even pronounce - but the attempt sent the kids giggling and talking amongst themselves.

It was impossible to not fall in love with these children. With all that has taken place in their lives over the last month - losing homes, belongings and family members - they still had joy. They loved introducing me to the family they did have. They loved fighting over who got to hold my hand (made me wish I had more arms), giving a high-five and receiving lots of hugs.

That was only the beginning. Nothing could have prepared me for what was to come.

From the first day I got there to the minute I was getting in the car to leave, parents were coming up to me and HANDING me theirkids. Not just to hold and to love - but to take. I didn't say anything. I didn't do anything. I was just there. Loving. Being Jesus to them. In the midst of it all, children were being given to me to take care of. Not only temporarily while I was in Haiti, but to bring home.

My heart shattered. Who would willingly give up a son or daughter? A tiny baby that can't say that they love and need their mom? Who would hand a child to a "stranger" and a foreigner? These parents would. Not because they don't love them, but because they do. They want to see their kids grow up and have a better life and feel as though they can't do that in Haiti. They want to see them get out of the disaster, poverty and chaos of this Nation. These parents are only trying to do the best thing. However, what's best is not always right.

I fought off tears. Not because I knew I couldn't take these kids, but because I saw the desperation in the eyes of the parents. I saw the generous heart and love of a parent. As I graciously gave the children back to their parents, I explained why I couldn't take them. They weren't mine to have. These children are God's kids.

I began loving these kids "my way" and ended loving them as Jesus. I saw them for what they had, not what they didn't have. I loved them as my own, for the short time I was there. Loving when you know you have to walk away is hard. I remember the kids all shouting out at me when I left "when are you coming back." It touched me and broke me. How I miss these kids. Their smiles, innocence and love.

These are the faces of the new Generation of Haiti. We need to be praying for them and with them.

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WR Location Feature: China

Thu, 4 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

:: China ::

Background Information

Taking up most of the Asian continent, China, officially the People's Republic of China, is 9.6 million km2 in area (land and water) and is inhabited by 1.34 billion people. It has only been the People's Republic for just over sixty years, but the majority of the rest of her history has been marked by thousands of years of dynastic rule. This country's economy has opened up considerably in the past few decades, enjoying an influx of foreign investment within the latter half of the past decade. Much of the rural, agrarian workforce has been decreasing as more people move to the urban centers to eke a living by more industrial/manufacturing lines of work.

The demographics are similar to the political landscape, with Han Chinese as the dominant people group and a smattering of minority groups. The geography also spans the gamut, as the literal landscape is populated with mountains and desert plains, the south enjoying warm, almost tropical climate and the north enduring quasi-arctic cold. The diet also seems to reflect the geography and climate as mostly noodles (made from wheat) are consumed in the north whereas rice is the preeminent staple in the south. Wherever you find yourself and whatever (and we mean, whatever) you eat, the utensil of choice will be a pair of chopsticks.

The Church in China

There's as much spiritual variety in this great land as there is physically. The government has only been able to contain Christianity. In an article from The Economist (October 2, 2008), a former CCP member estimated that there are 130 million Christians in China, many of them members of small house churches.

Proselytizing is prohibited and government approved churches are very much controlled. CCP members are forbidden from holding religious beliefs, and party/government officials at best, harass the church and worse, persecute church leaders. The Heavenly Man by Brother Yun is one believer's stunning account of endurance in the midst of severe trials.

In addition to the spiritual oppression - fear, despair, depression, criticism - there are also several political/economic/human rights issues that plague this nation. In an effort to stem population growth, China had implemented a one-child policy. The Confucian-based preference of sons to daughters not only caused an increase in abortion but eventually led, simply put, a shortage of women for men to marry. It also just so happens that China is a human-trafficking destination, many of the women brought in come from southeast Asia and North Korea.

Mission work

Despite these struggles and problems, there's much hope for and in China. Missionaries like Hudson Taylor and Betty Stam were integral in bringing the gospel to China during the first half of the twentieth century; missionaries today, like the WR, are continuing to help usher in His Kingdom. You may find that nationals are rather fascinated with foreigners; this curiosity often leads to hospitality and even openness to hearing the gospel. The church continues to grow so rapidly that the challenge she faces in China is raising up seasoned, mature leaders and pastors.

As of yet, simply being in China is half the work of bringing Kingdom. You'll partner to varying degrees with "workers" already there. Much of the "work" will simply be being friends with the people you meet. China's a garden and you'll have different tasks - some of you will do the unglamorous but necessary work of tilling and plowing the soil. Some of you will sow seeds. Some of you will water. Some of you might get to reap the harvest that someone else planted.

Hopefully, this will intrigue you to approach your time in China with utter dependence and full faith. It's where the harvest and need for workers are plentiful.

:: Stories from China ::

Emails from China

By Lauren Morris

"Katrina is my exception. I met her during our cultural exchange program at a university in China. We email back and forth fairly frequently and have managed to stay in contact. Several weeks ago, I received an email from her telling me how unhappy she is because she doesn't know what she wants to do with her life."

In the Name of Jesus, Breathe! Part II

Wed, 3 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Here is an update on Trevor, the boy Dan, Matt and Austin had the privilege of praying for after a motorcycle accident. The original story can be found here.

Feb. 26

A couple of hours after the accident, Matt and Dan went back to the Jinja Public Hospital to check on Trevor. Trevor had been admitted and his mother, Sarah, and close family friend, Nathan, were visiting. Matt and Dan talked to Sarah and Nathan and found out that the family is Christian and Nathan is the family's pastor.

They told Matt and Dan that Trevor had woken up for a little while, but could not hear or speak. But, the doctor said he was hopeful that Trevor would make a full recovery.

Although his cuts have been treated, Trevor's forehead is still badly swollen.

After once again praying for Trevor, Matt and Dan leave.

Feb. 27

Matt's team left the night of the accident to travel to Tanzania, so the following day, Dan and Austin go back to the hospital to visit Trevor. They are greeted by Sarah and Joshua, Trevor's father. They told Austin and Dan that Trevor had woken up for a few minutes and had been able to eat a small amount of food and drink a little bit of juice. They told them that Trevor was able to hear and talk!

Trevor's parents had taken him to another hospital in order to get his head checked, possibly by a CT scan, because the doctor was worried about possible internal injuries to his head.

The cut on Trevor's forehead had been stitched and the swelling had also gone down.

Before leaving, Austin and Dan pray over Trevor once again and promise that he'll continue to be in their prayers.

Feb. 28

Because both Matt and Austin are now traveling to Tanzania, Dan goes to the hospital alone. As he walked through the courtyard of the hospital, he spots Joshua, Sarah and Trevor laying on a mat in the grass.

Trevor is doing a lot better and is expected to be released in only a couple of days. He'd been able to walk outside all by himself, but was still in a lot of pain. And although he's been able to eat and drink, the doctors think there may be something wrong with his jaw since he's only able to open it a little.

Joshua said that the man he had seen up the street on the day of the accident was the driver of the motorcycle. The crowd had found Trevor dead, so they'd begun beating the driver so he had run away. The man was later arrested and caned by the police for killing Trevor.

When the police started asking where Trevor's body was, the crowd told them they didn't know because some Mzungus (white people) had taken him away in a car. They found Trevor at the hospital.

Alive.

Dan found out that Trevor's sister, Precious, had been the only one the locals had decided to take to the hospital since Trevor was dead.

She and her brother had been walking hand in hand from school when they were hit by the motorcycle. She's been released from the hospital and is resting at home.

As Dan is talking to Joshua, Trevor wakes up and sits up on his own strength, but doesn't respond to Dan-- only drools.

Dan prays for Trevor once again and tells Joshua that he'll be back in the morning, before he leaves for Tanzania.

In the Name of Jesus, Breathe!

Tue, 2 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Every racer is challenged to pray and believe for God to move in ways they've never seen. Marissa Villa shares the following story from Africa.

They met for the first time in the Atlanta, Georgia airport back in May 2009. Matt Patch, Austin Anglea and Dan Snyder: instant brothers with much in common. After training camp the three of them had dreams and visions of the Lord using them together. Even though they'd talked about it with each other, none really knew what it could possibly look like.

In November 2009, Matt, Dan and Austin were baptized together in the Jordan River by their brother, Aaron Bruner. As they prepared for the baptisms, they reminisced about the dreams and visions the Lord had given them and how He was going to use the three of them in His Kingdom to do huge things (read Aaron's blog about it here).

It's now Feb. 26, 2010, and the three have gathered in Jinja, Uganda.

Austin was in town purchasing bus tickets for his team as Dan and Matt took a boda boda, or a motorcycle taxi, into town to do some work on the Internet.

Little did they know that God was about to use these three transformed men--one a former teacher/coach, another a former realtor, and the other a former cop--in a mighty way. Just one to three years ago they were living for themselves, living the American Dream, the party life. Today they were living for the Kingdom.

As Matt and Dan rode towards the town of Jinja on the back of the boda bodas, they saw a man surrounded by a group of people, laying on the ground to the left of the road. As the bodas slowed, the man, who was covered in blood, came to his feet. He'd obviously been hit by a car or thrown off of a boda, but seemed OK. The drivers kept moving.

As the boda bodas came around a slight bend in the road, Matt and Dan noticed a motorcycle laying there. Its pieces were strewn across the road. As the bodas slowed, a young girl of about 7 years old came into view. She was wearing a pink dress and her face and arms were covered in blood, but she at least was standing.

But just past her, a group of about 15 people were surrounding something else on the road. The boda bodas stopped in front of the group and a small boy, also about 7 years old, came into view. His body was laying in the middle of the road.

He was lifeless.

"He's dead," they thought.

A man shaked the boy, trying to bring him back to life, but he lay limp.

Dan and Matt pushed through the crowd to get to the boy who had a four inch bleeding bulge on his forehead. His mouth and ear was spilling blood.

Matt prayed as Dan looked around for a ride to get the boy to the hospital.

It was then that Austin arrived on another boda boda that was coming from the other direction. Austin jumped off of the motorcycle and immediately ran to the boy.

"The kid's dead," Dan told him.

Dan told Austin that someone in the crowd was willing to take the boy to the hospital. The two of them and another man carried the lifeless boy's body to the car.

"Do you feel a pulse or see him breathing?" Dan asked Austin.

Austin stopped his prayer mid-sentence, looked up, and simply responded, "No."

As they lay the boy in the backseat of the car, Austin pulled his sweatshirt off and put it under the boy's head. As he did this, the boy's chest started to rise and fall.

He was breathing.

The prayers for the boy continued as Dan, Matt and Austin climbed back on boda bodas. Matt and Dan rode to the hospital to pray over the boy again. The doctor on duty said the hospital didn't have the necessary medicine to stop the bleeding and swelling in the boy's head.

Matt and Dan decided they'd have to buy the medicine. They ran across the street and bought some, ran back, and gave it to the doctor.

They prayed again.

Meanwhile, Austin hopped back on his boda boda along with the boy's friend and the driver on a mission to find the boy's parents. They drove along back roads, through clothes hanging on lines, and finally arrived in the boy's village. His parents weren't home, but they managed to find neighbors who agreed to tell the boy's parents about the emergency.

A few hours later, Dan and Matt were at the hospital again to pray for the boy once more. They found him, his mother, and his close family friend there. They were told the boy, Trevor, and his sister, Precious, were both hit by a boda boda.

And they both survived.

The family is Christian and the family friend who was there is a pastor. Dan and Matt explained what had happened, that Trevor hadn't been breathing when they'd first arrived, but that his breathing came back after they started praying for him.

As they prayed for him again, Trevor began to move his fingers and his eyes started to flutter. His mother, Sarah, thanked God and thanked them for praying for her son.

They promised to keep Trevor and Precious in their prayers, and walked away knowing they'd experienced the miraculous ability of the Lord and prayer.

Austin:
I remember becoming irritated as it was taking a ridiculous amount of time to buy the tickets for the team. But it was no accident for it was the Lord delaying me for what was soon to happen! After my time spent in town I headed back on the motorcycle taxi. I looked ahead and saw a crowd of people and as soon as we pulled up close I saw Dan in the middle taking charge of the situation, and by the look on his face I knew something was wrong. I tapped my driver and told him to stop, I needed off! I remember seeing the boy laying in the middle of the road saturated in blood, Dan looked at me and said, "he's dead." Going up to the boy he was lifeless, as his eyes were open but glazed over, he surely looked dead. There was a man there trying to massage his chest trying to get his heart working. Not knowing what else to do, I put a hand on the boy and began to pray in the Spirit as Dan figured out a car to put the kid in.......we carried Trevor to the car while all three of us continued to pray and then the car pulled off to take the boy to the hospital. As quick as that, it was done.....riding back home on the taxi after we went and told the people in the boy's village, I began to cry thinking about the whole situation, but then I began to think how God aligned the three of us in order to be there for that boy, and I began to rejoice! God has a plan for that boy and he wanted him to live, and how grateful the three of us are to be a part of what God wanted done that day.

Matt:
Once we pulled up I was scared, shocked, and felt useless. I was looking at a lifeless child. A million things started to create a wall in my mind. Then God busted through all of the feelings and said, "hold on, I'm bigger than that... pray." So, I did. I walked away from today realizing that being in God's will is just that... being. I can't do anything. However, in Christ I can do everything. All I have to do is "be". Did I raise the dead today? No. I witnessed the beautiful gift of life that was being stolen given back. Glory be to God. How wonderful and amazing He is to let us be a part of His plan, His miracles... His son Trevor's life.

Dan:

once we pulled up and i saw trevor i thought without a doubt that he was dead...just the way he was laying on the pavement, i could tell. as i got closer and saw his forehead, the blood coming from his ear and mouth and his half opened, glazed over eyes...i just knew he was dead. in retrospect though, i have no idea if he was dead. to be honest, i thought about praying but quickly replaced that thought with, "i've gotta get him to the hospital" and started working to find a driver to get him there. i looked over at matty and saw him praying on the side of the road...and then out of nowhere austy showed up...to think of all the different variables that went into the three of us being there at that exact moment...it's unbelievable. anyways, i didn't think about praying again until i heard austin praying as we carried trevor to the car. i immediately started praying and a few seconds later, after all three of us were praying, trevor started breathing. i didn't realize it as it was happening but god put the three of us in this situation for a purpose...he had aligned it...it blows my mind...three different guys...all doing different things amongst the chaos to help this boy...trusting our god...praying with all that we had...and trevor lived. i know we didn't act any differently then most people would've but the lord put the three of us there for a purpose...to experience his miracles and the indescribable power of prayer...and trevor lived...that's the kind of god i am willing to give my life to.

July 2010 World Race Route Revealed

Mon, 1 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

July 2010 World Race Route

Interested in joining the World Race? APPLY HERE!

>> watch the World Race promotional video <<

**TRAINING CAMP DATES: May 22 - 30, 2010 **

Haiti
Haiti was hit with a life-altering earthquake on January 12, 2010. While the nation was left in shambles, it's far from struck down and destroyed. Haiti is experiencing a spiritual revival right now. Communities are turning to pastors for leadership and the Church is becoming the driving force behind Haiti's rebirth. This month you'll help with relief efforts, establish connections, teach, provide for immediate needs, and more. Come prepared to work - come ready to be rocked...

Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is an island nation in the middle of the Caribbean. With a population around nine million, it's a country with more affluence than its neighboring country, Haiti. After the earthquake on January 12 in Haiti, the D.R. quickly became home to thousands of refugees searching for food, shelter, and comfort. This month, you'll serve at orphanages, refugee camps, and more.

Ireland
Each year, the Awakening is a time for World Racers, coaches and alumni to gather together. This year, it's in the land of the Irish. You'll spend a week in Dublin with close to 400 other racers worshipping, teaching and encouraging one another in your journey. The time spent there will help fill you so you can finish out your year strong. And in your spare time, grab some fish and chips and tour the Dublin Castle.

Thailand
With nearly two million people estimated to be stuck inside of prostitution in Thailand, it has become one of the most popular places for sex tourism. Change lives in the city and rock worlds in the countryside. Thailand's sure to capture your heart.

Cambodia
28 years ago, Cambodia experienced one of the most gruesome genocides known to man where over one third of the country's population was slaughtered. Still in recovery from their past, the people of Cambodia are thirsty for hope.

China
Host of the 2008 Summer Olympics and home to 1.3 billion people, China is known for its grandness, not just in land mass and population. While the Han Chinese comprise the largest people group, there are over fifty minority groups, including the Uighurs, a people without a country. Due to the legacy of Mao's Cultural Revolution, Communism is not just a political system, it is almost the state religion. Speaking of which, depending on where you are, you may meet Buddhists, Muslims, and Taoists; there are even churches - government approved and regulated. The exact size of the underground church is unknown (hence the name), but what it is known is that it is large and still growing, thriving even in the midst of persecution. While there, you'll have to pay homage to the Great Wall, and bring light and hope to a people in darkness and depression. How you'll do that exactly - you'll find out once you get there. ;)

Philippines

This Asian island nation, once a Spanish colony and an American protectorate, is a country in tension, trying to cross the threshold between the third and first world. It offers a variety of landscapes - beaches, mountains, volcanic lakes - and languages, with Tagalog as the national tongue. The Catholic Church is a substantial piece of the religious pie, however, Islam is growing in the island of Mindinao. The Filipino people and culture love music and dance and community. While there, you may find yourself living with and giving hope to the destitute, caring for orphans, and challenging the growing number of Christ-followers to rise up.

Mozambique
This is one of the most beautiful countries in the continent of Africa. This is a favorite location of the World Race for a variety of reasons (the people, beautiful landscape, ministry partnerships, and more). Although the stronghold of poverty grips this nation, Mozambique is seeing signs of redemption and economic recovery. Due to this extreme poverty - or perhaps in spite of it - the church is growing, as well. This month on the Race, you will be teaching, preaching, practicing "true religion" with widows and orphans, and more. You may also probably have one of your most memorable travel "days" here. You'll find out what we mean soon enough.

Malawi

Known as "the warm heart of Africa," Malawi is definitely a place that you visit to ignite yourself with the fire of God. This country has a beautiful landscape and an even more beautiful culture and population.

This month, you'll be helping plant churches, raising up leaders, and infecting the people with the love of God. Chances are you won't want to leave.

Pioneer Africa
Twice during your World Race experience, your team will take a month to ATL (ask the Lord) for a new mission field. He may lead you someplace in the middle of a buzzing city or somewhere that can't even be found on a map. Either way, it's a time of listening to the Lord's voice and following him with true abandon. Uncover more of your inheritance...

Turkey
A primarily Muslim nation, the country of Turkey is also the least evangelized nation on earth. One of the birthplaces of the Church, it is now a nation closed to the Gospel and home of persecuted Christians. This month, you're going to take some risks in sharing your faith. And while we would love to share with you what you will be doing, we can't for safety reasons. Just know - you're not going to forget this experience.

Romania
The northern regions of Romania are home to the gypsy people. Though strangers in their homeland and forgotten by society, the gypsies are a strong and vibrant people who embrace the light of Christ in an inspirational way. Here you'll teach English, lead sports camps, live life with the gypsies, and more.

Want to know more about the World Race? CONTACT US!

Interested in going on the World Race? APPLY HERE!

**TRAINING CAMP DATES: May 22 - 30, 2010**

*Race route subject to change*

New Reader? Feel free to add your email address in the space provided on the left to receive blog updates.

I Remember When Life was Easy

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Marissa Villa is currently on the World Race and reminisces on times of greater ignorances. Now, enlightened, she continues to have her heart broken for God's children every day...

"I remember when life was easy," I think as I lay on a mattress, along with Aubrey and Jodi, that's been set up outside for us. The three of us and Robin are all sick with some sort of stomach bug that's zapped us of all of our energy. I think of how easy life is when you have a nice, clean, porcelain toilet when you're sick. How nice it is to have a Wal Greens, CVS, Wal-Mart or Target full of medications meant to make you better.

How nice it is to have an air conditioned home so you're not constantly sweating. How nice it is to not have flies and bees swarming around you as you try to go. I remember picking up a bottle of Ozarka or Dasani, never worrying whether someone cruel filled it up with dirty, disease infested water using a syringe.

I remember when life was easy because it wasn't that long ago.

Hope's life has never been easy. She's 7 years old and suffers from sickle cell anemia. Her parents can't afford all of her medications and special meals. Her twin sister died two years ago from malaria. But every morning we wake up to the sound of her laughter outside of our window as she plays with the other children who live around here.

She plays and plays until dark, then comes into the house for a prayer of healing and then goes to sleep.

Her best friend Gloria's life has never been easy. She is HIV + and is only 8 years old. She sometimes has to miss school because of its symptoms. But that doesn't stop her from dancing with everything she has in her each time there is a church meeting. It never stopped her from learning how to write English words with me. And it never stopped her from calling me "jaremo parra," the words for my friend in Alur. She'd laugh and laugh when she'd walk up behind me and tickle me and I'd act like it was the most shocking thing I've ever experienced.

Her life isn't easy, but she lives it with joy.

Then there's Glory, the 14-year-old girl I noticed had a shifty gaze the day we went to the primary school to give a sex/HIV talk. As the other girls giggled at the word sex, she looked down.

We were told that our assignment that day was to tell the girls that sex could wait until marriage, but that most were getting married as young as 13 to much older men. The spread of HIV was rampant as the young girls accepted gifts for sex just because they are in need or just want to feel loved.

Glory came to church that day and said she wanted Jesus to be her savior, but I haven't heard from her since. I'm sure her life now hasn't miraculously become easy.

And then there's Irene, the woman who told me she needed counsel after I preached on Sunday. As she held her baby, she told me that her husband has told her that she was not really his wife as an excuse to sleep with other women. She says that she constantly wants to walk away from her faith since he comes home after sleeping around expecting her to still give him what he wants.

Because he is who supports her financially and because of her commitment to him, she doesn't know whether she can or should leave him. I ask if she's at least protecting herself against HIV and she just tells me that he refuses to get tested and she is relying on God to heal her.

I don't know if that means she's already contracted the disease. We prayed and she asked to stay in touch with me.

I remember when life was easy. They do not.

The World Race: February 2010 Newsletter

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

:: February 2010 :: Newsletter ::

11 countries in 11 months; One update

:: In this Issue ::

Upcoming Trips & Races

How to help with Haiti
Stories from the Field

Videos from the Field

:: Upcoming Trips & Races ::

World Race Relief

Travel with us for one month to Haiti this June. Click here for more info.

The WR July 2010

It's headed to Haiti to help with relief efforts. Learn more here.

The WR September 2010

India, Thailand, Uganda and more. They're waiting for you. View the route here.

Apply Now

:: How you can help in Haiti ::

In the midst of devastation in Haiti, the World Race knows that the Kingdom of God is living and active, waiting to be revealed. As soon as the news hit U.S. borders, several World Race Alumni stepped into action. Teams are currently on the ground in the Dominican Republic and Haiti. You can learn more about what they're doing and read the latest Haiti news at haiti.adventures.org.

Give here to help support the WR teams in Haiti.

Don't forget about our WR Relief trip!

:: Stories from the Field ::

Kristen meets Holy Spirit meeting Dot
By Kristen Paulick

I walked into the COC's kitchen, which services the entire hostel, and there I met a precious, older lady with stark-white hair. Her name is Dot. She was talking to one of my squad-mates and it didn't take long before the Holy Spirit spoke. Ask her if she is in pain.

The Dam Will Soon Break
By Joel Chitwood

The other day a woman came knocking on our door here in Mijas. In her voice was the sense of urgency, pain. Her cry beckoned my heart. The walls of my heart were trying to hold on, desperately trying to prevent me from feeling broken, trying to prevent me from feeling her hurt and pain. A pain that would unleash me to action. She was asking for money for her and her child, I think to head to the pharmacy.

The View From His Eyes
By Caitlin Parker

Over the last few days I have seen oppressive darkness that brings a heaviness to my heart. I have seen violence. I have seen the streets FILLED with a whole generation of drunken men and women... something good or bad, I'm not sure?

:: Videos from the Field ::

Father to the Fatherless
Ken Virzi gets a glimpse as to what it feels like to be a father to the fatherless.

Cambodia By Bike
Weston Belkot takes us on a tour of Cambodia via bike. You can check it out here.

More and more people are going deeper in their relationship with Christ through their participation in The World Race. Lives are being transformed.

Come, be a part of it!

The World Race

1-877-811-0210

admissions@adventures.org

www.theworldrace.org

World Race Exposure Trip

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

World Race Exposure

1 month

Project Overview:

World Race Exposure is your chance to get involved with the World Race for a month this coming summer. The idea behind this new Real Life program is to submerge you in the lifestyle of a World Racer.

For one month, you will meet up with one of the World Race teams on the field and live life with them. You'll do what the team does, go where the team goes, and live like they live. This isn't for the lighthearted though. World Race Exposure is a month exactly like your average month on the World Race - so it's going to be intense, beyond ordinary, and leave you with a wealth of memories. Plan on traveling light... the less you pack, the less you'll have to carry.

Ministry Description:

You'll meet up with one of the World Race teams in Kenya. The chances of you living and working with the Masaai tribe are high and you could be doing everything from door-to-door evangelism, to preaching, teaching, playing sports, VBS ministries, and more. And don't forget that since this is a month with the World Race, one ministry you'll take part in, is your community life.

For more information and to apply:

Visit the World Race Exposure trip page

Want to learn more about our work in Kenya? Then you should read these stories:

His Name is Allan Wekesa

By Marisa Banas

"Seven months ago my life was changed by a little boy named Allan. When I found him he couldn't hold his head up due to the intoxicating glue that he had just sniffed. He was a small underweight child who wore worn out, adult-sized clothes and an expression that pleaded for help." Read more...

The Story: impossible faith; creative healing

By Alyssa and Stephanie

Diana was captive in a coma until God completely restored her. Doctors diagnosed her as hopeless and are now calling her a medical miracle. Alyssa and Stephanie met Diana during their Real Life trip to Kenya. Read more...

I Apologize for Everything Christians Have Ever Done to You.

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Christine Louie and her teammates have spent time in the Pacific Rim for the past two months. Recently they started a new ministry involving cardboard signs...

I stood outside on the sidewalk with a sign that said "Want an apology?" A group approached and asked me what I was trying to apologize for. I briefly introduced myself and the World Race and told them that I am a follower of Christ and I wanted to apologize on behalf of how Christians have misrepresented Jesus.

"I'm sorry for how we fought and killed Muslims, Jews, and gypsies in an attempt to take over Israel during the crusades. I'm sorry we cared more about being right than about being loving. I'm sorry for the hate crimes Christians have committed against homosexuals. I'm sorry for how Christians had advocated slavery in the past, justifying it by saying that it was presented during the time of Moses. Just because it's part of the social institution does not make it right. I'm sorry for the sexual abuse that had happened in the church. I'm sorry we are sometimes judgmental and live as hypocrites. I'm sorry for the times I haven't taken to care for you and others and chose to be completely self-absorbed. I'm sorry for the times I've misrepresented Jesus."

The Jewish woman from the group came up to me and gave me a hug. The group thanked me. Group after group, individual after individual, I only received thanks and positive words for the next hour or two. One woman told me that she was a lesbian and that she's thankful that even if I don't agree with her lifestyle that I can choose to love her rather than judge her. Another woman told me that she's thankful that there were Christians that were different because all she's experienced in the church was ostracism and condemnation. I got a chance to bring hope and comfort to a high school kid who told me "I hope that tomorrow will be a better day." I told him "I'm sorry that yesterday and the days before haven't been how you've wanted it to be, but tomorrow is a gift from God that can be better." Another man told me that he wanted an apology for all the things he's wanted to say, but didn't say and for all the things he should've done that he didn't do.

I realized the power of humility and a simple apology. Where there was regret, pain, and hatred, there was now hope, gratitude, and forgiveness.

Alumni Part of AIM's First Wave Response in Haiti

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

It's been almost a month since the first WR Alumni team went to Haiti. Kim Daniels took all the video footage and interviews we captured and created a superb vignette of our week, take a look. Here I will attempt to describe it in one (or two?) posts.

A detailed description of each team member can be found on Steph's blog. There were six of us on the Alumni team: Aaron Bruner, Jacob Hoyer, Sarah Diederich, Stephanie Tyrna, Ashley Musick, who served as our leader, and myself. Tonya Norman, also a WR alumna, led a smaller logistics/set-up team consisting of Jennifer Smith, Paul Hoyt and Paul Young; the four of them stayed in the DR/Haiti a few days longer and went into Port-au-Prince.

At various points of the afternoon on Thursday, January 21st, each of us arrived in Santo Domingo. Jack Larson and his staff scooped us up and brought us to a hotel for the night. In the undeserved and unexpected luxury of our two room suite, after a pizza dinner, Jack shared some of the history of his ministry, Mision Emanuel. He summed up the twenty (thirty?) years of serving the Lord and His people in the outskirts of the city as "just trying to do the next right thing."

The water filtration and bottling plant, which gave us 5,000 bottles of water to take with us to the border, has blessed the next generation. Jack said that the clinic, which his ministry built, saw an 80% decrease of children coming in - and that was a good thing, because the clean water dramatically reduced cases of diarrhea. Mision Emanuel is where the poor and vulnerable - namely, undocumented Haitian immigrants - seek care and refuge. This is where marginalized can get dental care (which once proved life-saving), vaccinations, medicine, physical therapy and education.

All this is the fruit not of any sort of expertise and experience but of going out on a limb in faith. We were so blessed by this ministry's hospitality to and partnership with us.

En route to Jimani, we picked up Pastor Raul and members of his church in Azua. This is where Steph and Tonya's team from the H-Squad (January 2009) spent their first month of the World Race. A couple of members of this church - Chino and Ignacio - are Haitians who've lived in the Dominican Republic for a long time and were crucial in translating Creole into Spanish. Esperanza is studying to be a nurse. Kelvin and Eliezar who are in their early twenties also came to lend a hand, mostly as translators (Spanish and English) and like us, to lend a hand in any capacity.

Our desire is to partner with and empower the local church and on the Dominican side of the border, we partnered with Iglesia de Dios - Pentecostal in Jimani. This church already has its hands full with caring for thirty orphans. Since refugees from Port-au-Prince started pouring into this town, this church has been moving even faster - doing what they can to reach out to the refugees as well as hosting teams from all over.

Our ministry was to ease as much of the burden of the young women of this church who've been on their feet in the kitchen most of the day making gallons of soup for distribution to hospital patients and their families and the displaced refugees in the streets. When we weren't in the kitchen or at the hospital or prayer walking through the streets, we became the orphans' playgrounds.

Chino consistently carried his Creole Bible around as we ministered in the streets. He was talking to the father/husband, Jean-Gabriel, of a family of three, and I just sat and listened with them. Thanks mostly to Raul, who also tried to connect them to a Haitian refugee center, we treated this family to lunch and assembled a small duffel bag of clothes and toiletries. Underneath the uncertainty of what lay ahead for them I saw a gritty, glimmering sense of gratitude that they were alive.

God then gave us an opportunity to cross into Haiti, fifteen miles in from the border in a city called Fond Parisien. This is where we partnered with Pastor Prophete and his wife Bettie (Betty?) of Haitian Christian Mission (HCM). They too were already busy and got exponentially busier since the earthquake. We served this ministry by converting the chaos of the influx of donations that got overlooked in their busyness into orderly portions of food and goods for five Port-au-Prince pastors to distribute to their respective churches. The rest of the supplies were also apportioned for HCM to distribute to people.

Thanks to your financial partnership, we were able to purchase large quantities of food - rice, beans, cooking oil - on behalf of HCM. We got to pray over patients who were waiting to be seen by the medical teams, visiting and on staff with HCM, and a couple of us assisted the medical team with triage. Esperanza got to help deliver a baby.

(photo from Ashley Musick)

After a couple days of ministry in Haiti (we would return to the DR for the night), our last full day of ministry was spent in Jimani. We returned to a Haitian church that Ashley and another teammate had previously visited; this church had become a makeshift hospital and mini-tent city. We prepared several gallons of hot chocolate to share with the patients and their families.

This is where we met Francois and his family and heard the incredible story of how God spared Francois and his wife, who gave birth to their daughter just days after the earthquake. Read Aaron's and Steph's perspectives. Who knows how many more families, despite the still unknown death toll, were spared and need assistance in back on their feet?

Our team was connected to the church in Jimani and HCM thanks largely to Miguel Shaul, director of AIM's base in the DR. And now that we've caught just the small part of the beginning of the vision He has for restoring Haiti, it's your turn. There wasn't much that we had to initiate; we simply rode on the momentum that's been multiplying. Now, we want to point you in the different directions that this movement is going.

We were there for a week. Steph's gonna be there for at least the rest of February. Aaron will go back and forth for as long as God sees fit. We challenge you to give God the one week, two weeks, one month or even longer and let Him multiply the seemingly small things you do and short window of time.

Alumni: Allison Johnston - I Want to Raise the Dead

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Allison Johnston participated in the June 2007 race and it awoke her to so much more that life and the Holy Spirit had to offer. Now, almost three years later, she still radically serves Jesus, fully expects to raise the dead and exhorts hundreds of young adults every year to seek the same.

"So, I am going to raise the dead."

Always a great conversation starter; or a conversation end-er. Never can tell what kind of response I might get.

Here is the deal: I really do believe it. I believe Matthew 10:9 when Jesus says: "raise the dead". I believe it when Jesus says that if we have faith in Him we will do even greater things. (John 14:12) I just believe it.

I haven't seen it happen yet. I practiced once, but the lady was old and we are pretty sure that she was resting with Jesus and he wanted her to just hang out with him. But we still gave it a whirl.

I still wrestle with the "why should we want them to come back to this earth? Aren't they better off in heaven?" argument. I really am not sure how I feel about a lot of things these days. But I just know in my knower that one day Jesus will raise the dead through me. I just know.

"So, I am going to raise the dead"

I have started a few conversations this way lately. I kind of use it as a litmus test of sorts. I can almost immediately tell how the rest of the conversation is going to go. You know all those fancy psychology tests that are floating around? The theories discussed in books like the Outliers and Blink? yep. This is like my own personal litmus test.

I have had 2 semi-blind dates lately and both times I have tossed the ole' "so I am going to raise the dead" out there. And yeah...both times I have not gotten called back! ha! A smarter person may stop using the line, but not me! It actually kind of keeps me going. I know I want to date someone that may go on crazy, dead-raising escapades with me, so might as well toss it out there.

I was teaching recently at the World Race launch in New Zealand. 110 brand new racers. May have been a little early to toss around the "dead-raising" plans, but at least they know who they are working with, right? There were a few stunned faces in the crowd. And there were quite a few that were right there with me.

Friends and family have pretty much given up trying to figure out my wild ideas. So they just kind of nod and smile.

But Jesus, my Jesus, He is sitting up there cheering me on and screaming "get on with it!!!!" And His opinion is really the only one that counts.

The World Race & Real Life in Texas...

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Calling all Texas residents!

The World Race and Real Life are going to be in College Station, TX this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (February 19-21) for a weekend conference at LifeChurch. It'll be a time to come and learn more about the World Race and Real Life, talk with the staff, and more.

Here is the schedule:
Friday, February 19th @7:00pm
Location: Buffalo Wild Wings (903 University Dr. College Station, TX 77840)
Any World Race or Real Life alumni are welcome to come to dinner with Michael and the staff! It'll be a good time to reconnect with each other and share about what's happening in our lives.

Saturday, February 20th @6:30pm
Location: LifeChurch*
Michael Hindes, the director of the World Race & Real Life, and a few of the staff will tell stories from the two programs and share what the overall ministry and vision is behind it. It's a great time to have your questions answered.

Sunday, February 21st @10:00am
Location: LifeChurch*
Michael Hindes will be speaking at LifeChurch during the Sunday morning church service.

If you are interested in coming to any of these three events, send us an email (kimberlydaniels@adventures.org) and let us know! We look forward to seeing you this weekend!

*Here is the address to LifeChurch
725 Villa Maria East Suite 3900
Bryan, TX 77802
Get directions

One Hundred Prisoners Gave their Lives to Jesus

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Birkleigh and her team have spent the last month ministering in Kenya. Happenstance afforded them the opportunity to minister to convicts in a Kenyan prison. And what they experienced forever changed the world.

The thoughts going through my mind as we met the inmates- "I'm sitting here under the shade looking at about 100 inmates at a Kenyan prison." "I'm so loved. They are so loved and I get to be here."

I was looking into their eyes, at their faces and seeing their desperation for truth, for someone to care, someone to pay attention to them and have hope in them. I didn't even feel worthy to be in such an amazing experience. I get to see God open their eyes to see their true identity in Christ, to be forgiven and to see hope in their future.

I sat there as my teammate Tres preached about their identity in Christ. He prayed for them and gave them an opportunity to begin a relationship with Christ. As Tres asked them to stand up and claim their identity as a child of God, my heart broke because I didn't see a convict, I saw a second chance, I saw God's forgiveness and His divine plan.

One hundred men stood up that day with hands raised, some crying and heads bowed. I watched grown men surrender their lives to their maker. I saw hope that day. I saw God's power and his glory on display in the most unlikely of places. I will never forget the faces, my emotions and the words that were spoken. I know that if God can change the hearts of what society says is scum, then He's the God I want to serve and love. He's the one that can do anything, and He has hope in us no matter what circumstance we're in and no matter our past. He REDEEMS!!!

I'm sorry I have no photos but we weren't allowed to. We're hoping to go back before we leave in two weeks to baptize those that came to Christ! We're so thankful to God for this opportunity.

*photo pictured is courtesy of Daily Mail

This Girl Cast a Demon Out of a Six Year Old Boy

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Ashley Higgins is currently in Uganda ministering to the least of these. Here is a not uncommon story on the race of a battle of good versus evil.

Jesus said:

"Heal the sick, raise the dead, heal the lepers, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received."

The minute I saw him I knew I needed to pray.

I was doing door-to-door evangelism with Lindsay for the day. Along with our translator we were going from house to house in Butende, Uganda to share the love of Christ with people. We had already led a few people to the Lord that day and were on our way back to the church for lunch. There was a group of women and children sitting under a tent of sorts in front of a simple home. We walked up just to say hello.

That was the first time I saw Jamal.

Jamal is a six year old little boy who has been crippled since birth. He is so undergrown that he appears to be only three or four. he cannot walk or talk. his hands and feet are deformed. His teeth are rotting and his eyes were competely glazed over. From a distance there appeared to be very little life in this young boy.

We began talking to his mother who told us that Jamal has been demon possessed since he was born. The family believed a curse was put on him because his father is a muslim man. His mother, a believer, asked us to pray for him. The second we began to approach him Jamal started screaming bloody murder. It was a shrill, horrified kind of scream. We prayed for about ten minutes before deciding we should go. The screaming was drawing quite the crowd and didn't feel comfortable making such a commotion.

Leaving, we both felt strongly that Jamal needed more prayer. He needed to be delievered of whatever it was that had such a hold on him. We prayed about it and decided to go back the next afternoon.

When we approached the house on the second day it was the same story - deafening screams, a flailing little boy and a mother who seemed desperate and exhausted. We explained to her that we would like to pray for Jamal again. We told her that Jesus is the only one who could set him free but that it might take a little bit of time. We told her that we would pray as long as it took if she would like us to. She agreed, saying she believed God would heal her son.

So I picked up a little boy, determined to see freedom manifest itself.

And the Jesus in me stared down the evil spirits who were oppressing an innocent little boy.

Lindsay and I prayed with every ounce of ferocity we could muster. We didn't yell or become impatient or angry. We just spoke with the authority Jesus died to give us. We broke off the bondanges of witchcraft and crippledness. We spoke life, freedom, healing, and joy into a little boy who was created for love. We prayed over Jamal for almost two hours. I watched his eyes change in front of me. I witnessed his body relax and his mouth take a new shape. I felt evil leave and love enter. And when it was all over I was simply holding a little boy. A little boy who just needs more of Jesus. A little boy who I believe will someday run and play with the rest of the kids. A little boy who will preach and prophesy in the name of Jesus Christ.

We went back to visit Jamal yesterday. His countenance was entirely different than the days before. He was still crippled but seemed much more peaceful. Please keep Jamal and his family in your prayers as they continue to walk in their newfound freedom.

Kingdom come.

Alumni: Chris Telfer Gets His Dream

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

When you go on the World Race, one of the most commonly discussed questions is How do you realize your dream? What, at the end of your life, must happen for you to die well? For some, it's having a family, for others building an orphanage in Haiti and for still others it means building a business.

My dream was and is music - I know if I am going to die happy; I need to pursue music under some capacity. So, last week, my wife (fellow racer Jenny Willis Telfer), Kim Daniels, Chuck Day and I made the trek to Nashville, Tennessee to start on the first part of the dream: recording an album. We spent three days, recording and perfecting my freshman album - and the feeling we walked away with is nothing less than exhilaration. Jenny shared a little bit of how we're feeling in realizing the dream.

It's Saturday night and Kim, Chris and I are driving through downtown Nashville. We just left the studio where Chris recorded his first album and are now listening to it in the rental car. I feel so ALIVE. I am full of joy, bursting with hope, excited about the future. I am unsinkable in this moment. My husband just fulfilled one of his life-long dreams of recording an album.

Thanks to all that have believed in me and are partnering with me in this dream.

You can listen to some of my music on Myspace. And please feel free to find me on Facebook and Twitter and be a part of my journey as I continue to pursue the path God has set before me.

What the Process of Breaking Down the Walls in Your Life May Look Like

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Last week, Stacey shared some of her story on learning how to receive love. She continues to hack away at the seemingly impenetrable walls in her life; as she continues to prepare for her trip. And since, by no means do we get there over night, Stacey provides an update on this part of her pre-race journey, here...

Went to visit my little sister this week in DC. And in the process managed to get myself snowed in for the better part of a week. It was actually a welcome respite to be forced to be still. The whole world stopped moving, just for those few precious days.

I spent my time curled up on the couch reading books and laughing and just being in community with family.

Then it struck me that I couldn't remember the last time that I had done that. Just loved on someone and get loved in return, with no schedule, no agenda, no plan or obligation.

In a world where people are constantly seeking new ways to be connected to one another, I found it quite startling that all of these technologies do not even begin to replicate the depth and meaning of being with people you love, face to face. With all the cell phones, land phones, emails, text messages, fax machines, facebook, myspace, iChat, video chat, twitter and all manner of ways that the world is connecting, we should practically be merged into one large consciousness by now, right? But how much of the energy that we put into these mediums actually brings out genuine and healthy fruit? Strikingly little. Now, I'm not advocating the end of these things at all, they are definitely incredibly useful, but they just fail so gloriously to an actual conversation spoken to an actual person over an actual meal.

So I spent the weekend practicing how to be loved. It is a skill that I do not possess without significant struggle, and is something that I have to work at diligently. Cheerleading myself on, "you are worthy, you are loved, you are wanted, you are holy."

And at the end of the weekend, I realized that I had taken a few bricks down off the wall somehow. And I started to see the Light of God start peeking into my Heart again. And it was good.

So I urge you. Go, make a date with someone you haven't seen in a while. Sit down. Talk. Don't plan for anything after. Give yourself some time to talk. Just see where it takes you.

A World Racer Encounters the Holy Spirit When He Speaks to Someone Through Her

Tue, 9 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Every World Racer experiences the Holy Spirit in some capacity during their time on the field. Kristen Paulick shares her experience with the Spirit's voice below...

I am so new at this- this "Holy Spirit thing". I arrived at training camp with my neatly trimmed Southern Baptist doctrinal theology squarely tucked in the bottom of my heart unaware what presuppositions it planted there. Prophesy, tongues, healing- those things didn't scare me, but I had never seen them come to fruition in my own life or in the life my church going friends and family. I think I came to training camp hungry to learn but still doubting. After seeing, hearing, and feeling the manifestations of the mighty person who is the Holy Spirit in my life and those around me, I believed, but still had not fully grasped. As I recently posted, God allowed me to get a little more acquainted with the Holy Spirit in the wilderness of New Zealand. I presented myself and you with a challenge- to walk intimately with the Holy Spirit on a minute by minute basis; seeking his will for our lives now and for some distant future endeavor. Well, my first day here at the Christian Outreach Center in Darwin, Australia, I kept asking the Holy Spirit what he had for me.

I walked into the COC's kitchen which services the entire hostel and there I met a precious, older lady with stark-white hair. Her name is Dot. She was talking to one of my squad-mates and it didn't take long before the Holy Spirit spoke.

Ask her if she is in pain.

I could tell by the way she was awkwardly standing- hands on her lower back, back crooked, and neck cocked- that she was in pain.

Ask her.

Okay, okay Lord. "Dot, are you in pain?!" "Well, Yes . . ." she started in on some story about her back.

Pray healing over her.

WHAT Lord?!

You heard me, lay your hands on her back and pray for healing.

Eeeek. Are you sure you're asking the right person. I mean, Lord, maybe you have me confused with someone else!

Kristen, you do it!

Ok. Sheesh. Gulp. "Dot, may I pray for you?!" "Why yes, I would love to receive that." I laid my hands on her and I prayed. I wish I could say that in that instant the question mark curvature of her upper spine straightened out, but it didn't. However, her pain was alleviated and she was able to finish the rest of her day pain free. She went from hobbling around the kitchen to motoring and zipping around the kitchen to accomplish the afternoon's many tasks. Praise the Lord for small victories!

Moments passed and a little bit later the Holy Spirit continued to speak. Dot started looking forlorn and almost tearful very suddenly.

Ask her what is wrong.

"Dot, are you okay? Is there something wrong?!" She started talking about feelings of worthlessness.

Ask her if she has always struggled with bi-polar, manic-depressive disorder.

Eeeek again Lord! That is soooo personal, I have only just met her!

Kristen, trust me. Ask her.

Alright. Alright. "Dot, have you always struggled with bi-polar, manic-depressive, disorder?" She began to open up. She began to cry. Yes, she had. She struggles with feelings of worthlessness, and feeling valuable in the sight of God, guilt and depression. She has never really told anyone these things before. The Lord brought a couple verses to my mind and words of life and prayers of encouragement. He spoke these things over her that day using my mouth. What a privilege.

Since that day Dot and I have become quite bonded. We are walking partners. We wake up at 5:30am and walk around the block. So far we have shared our testimonies and enjoyed one another's company. I have learned a lot more about the Holy Spirit and Australia. We start each morning with prayer. I continue to pray for the complete restoration and healing of her spine. God is teaching persistence in faith and prayer. Please pray that God will not only make her pain free, but through the power and might of the Holy Spirit pray that he will fully restore her spine. Thank you. Be Blessed.

An Unsung Heroine

Mon, 8 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

I returned from the Dominican Republic/Haiti over a couple weeks ago (will be blogging on that for awhile), and am resuming my highlights of some of the staff behind the scenes of the World Race.

For many World Racers, Ashley Musick's voice is the first one they hear as they first apply. Ashley was the one who interviewed me and told me that I was accepted. I got to know her during my Ignition training camp and also the M & N squads' Ignition training camp. She also was with us at our launch in the Philippines, and I got to spend a week with her in the Dominican Republic and Haiti.

To know her is to love her. She gives great hugs. When you converse with Ashley, make sure you listen and watch her, as her facial expressions communicate so much and often get me laughing. Her joie-de-vivre is infectious.

But don't get me wrong, Ashley is more than a barrel of laughs. She works just as hard as she plays. She first joined AIM as a participant in their short term trips, like the Ambassador program, and as part of the pioneer World Race squad. She's since been a crucial part of the Admissions department for the World Race, equipping new Racers with drama ministry skills and packing and gearing up skills.

God has used her excellence not just from behind a desk but also on the field. Ashley co-led the H-Squad as squad leader with Jenny Brown and now serves as Alumni Coordinator for the World Race. I had the privilege of seeing her leadership in action on the field, and I was just amazed at the depth of her servant's heart.

She was great at giving us the big picture for the day and identifying each of our strengths and delegating accordingly, e.g. having Sarah Diedrich lead the organization of a storage room full of donations at Haitian Christian Mission (HCM) in Fond Parisien, Haiti. But she was also quick to do the small things - picking up trash in and around the church in Jimani, DR, and around the grounds at HCM.

A growing number of World Racers means a growing number of World Race alumni. I'd think that it's daunting to keep track of so many people, but Ashley is great at making each alumn feel known, and finding ways to keep alumni activated and connected. She has an uncanny way of remembering people she meets; I wish I had video footage of her enthusiastic greeting to a clergyman when we were in Jimani - she recognized him from her flight from the US to the DR.

On an even more personal level, Ashley truly is a heroine to me. Even as she was so busy the weekend prior to our departure, she took the time to listen as I cried. She was calm in the midst of my confusion, even in the thick of her own.

If you haven't been already, read her blog - especially her recent post on why she was supposed to go to Haiti - and partner with her ministry.

Congratulations to January's Blogger of the Month!

Sun, 7 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Congratulations to Weston Belkot for winning the "Blogger of the Month" award for January. Here are some of his top blogs:

Put Me In Coach

Life is like playing in a basketball game. If you're in the game, you'll have the opportunity to have opportunities, but you still have to take the shot. If you're on the bench you'll merely watch others partake in what could be yours.

I'm not much of a risk taker. Last month I won the honors of "Most likely to follow the rules." Yet, I am learning to recognize when an opportunity presents itself to snatch it up like the last piece of bacon at breakfast-vegetarians insert a more desirable food. Being on the World Race allows for many opportunities. Some are once-in-a-lifetime opportunities and others are less than ideal, but they all open my mind, horizons, and world view of what it means to be a Christian. Let's take a quick glance at some opportunities over the last few days. Read more here...

The Boy Who Wouldn't Smile

Every time they welcome a stranger into their world, they must also eventually say goodbye, yet they never stop saying hello. They never stop offering their piece of banana, hanging on human limbs, inviting us into their games, learning English words at a faster rate than we learn Khmer, or putting their hearts out for us to love. They never stop smiling. This is Sopath. He is the boy who wouldn't smile.

During our first day or two I noticed that he wasn't like the rest of the other children. He was a creature of isolation amidst a world of cohabitation. He didn't seem to notice our arrival or our departure. The orphanage director informed us that before Sopath came to the orphanage a couple months ago he was adopted by a man and a woman several hours away near the Thailand border. They would leave Sopath and his brother and sister for weeks at a time without enough food or provisions. Out of hunger the children would wander over to the neighbor's house and wait for leftovers or eat weeds. Anything for nourishment. Read more here...

A Cambodian Rollercoaster

Sit down. Buckle up. Enjoy the ride. Nobody told me that during my first day with Team Increase, although they should have. I soon realized that this community center is really the embodiment of the "church." They are a group of people, a wall-less church, that drive to and visit the members of their community every day.

While visiting orphans and members of the church in the community we rode a motor bike to our first stop where a woman with arthritis lived. "She loves attending church, but it's difficult for her to walk the 200 yards to get there." "What? Just seeing me come to pray brightens her day." "That Operation Christmas shoebox really does make a lasting impression of love. Mental note: Send at least one of those every year for the rest of my life." Read more here...

This Man's Story is Why We Must Go to Haiti

Fri, 5 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The story shared here represents the spirit behind our actions. It represents the reason we do what we do. We can't always fix all your problems (although we'll try!), we can't replace all your treasured mementos and we don't always have the answers. But we can sit. And we can listen. We can love well; and we can pray on your behalf.

So that's what this team did - they listened to Alexia's story; they allowed him to be heard. That's why we need you to go - to listen to the stories that need to be shared.

Monday, January 25, 2010.

6:30am. Time to wake up. The ten of us quietly shuffle around the orphanage getting ready to head into Haiti for another day of helping out. The smell of apple cinnamon and maple brown sugar oatmeal hit your nose as you step outside the church. These few minutes in the morning are really the only quiet times we ever have to ourselves. I look around as my teammates are quietly eating oatmeal, reading their bibles, doing devotionals, and preparing for the day.

We head out around 7am. As we cross the DR and Haitian borders, we normally rent two security guards for the day. However, today the DR president is heading into Haiti and there is only one security guard that we can buy. His name is Alexia. He hops into the back of the truck with us as we continue on our way to Fond Parisien, the hospital/church we have been helping out at.

As we are making our way to the hospital, we notice that Alexia doesn't look too happy. Mind you, our rides crammed in the back of the truck together seem to bring out the fun and laughter in our team. I believe this is when the nicknames started coming as well: Jacob the Social Cracker, Sara Choe the Asian Tiger and Me the Dolphin Whisperer. Oh fun times! So as we are joking around having a grand ol time, Alexia sits there very serious and looks kind of annoyed. None of us really thought too much of it at the time.

As we arrive to Fond Parisien, we are all assigned different tasks. Sara Choe and I are placed in the hospital helping the doctors with patients. There are over 100 patients that have arrived today. Meanwhile, Ashley and Aaron have their own mission to spend around $5,000 to buy food and supplies that can be given away. So, off they go with Alexia in the truck to make some border runs to get rice, beans, and whatever else they can find.

When Ashley and Aaron return from their mission around 4pm we come to find out the story of Alexia...

Aaron said that Alexia spoke English (which none of us knew) and told Aaron that he looked sad. Aaron told Alexia that he wasn't sad, he was just tired. And then Aaron asked Alexia why heseemed to look upset. Alexia then replied and told Aaron that he had lost his entire family in the earthquake. He was the only one who survived and the only thing he has is the uniform on his back. He told Aaron that he did not know what he was going to do and what his future held. He said that he now feels obligated to go to school to become a doctor so he can help people.

When I heard of this on our truck ride home that evening, I was torn up. I slowly started to crumble inside. No wonder he wasn't laughing with us earlier. No wonder he was upset! Ugh. I cannot even imagine. The thought of losing my entire family, not knowing what my future holds and somehow managing to work all at the same time is just beyond me. What do you say to someone like this? There are simply just no words.

This is the story of Alexia.

He is not the only one with a story like this. At this very moment, there are thousands upon thousands of Haitians without homes, families, jobs, stability, a sense of security or a known future. Please keep these refugees in your prayers. And when you pray, pray specifically for Alexia who is one of the many amidst the devastated and brokenhearted.

If you'd like to spend a month in Haiti this summer with the World Race you can apply here.

Past Racers Meet Future Racer and Help Each Other Face the Pain of Life

Thu, 4 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The World Race has sought to be much more than just a 11 month journey around the world. They have sought to create a culture within the program; to create a movement. Part of that culture is a keen sense of tribe - We're all in this together, advancing the Kingdom of God. And another part is coming to complete wholeness in Christ - we were made for the abundant life. So past racers and future alike reach out to one another and encourage each other on their journey. Stacey Hume, a June 2010 racer, shares this story of what resulted when she tracked down a few alum.

The other evening I had the wonderful occasion to sit down with five former world racers. These beautiful people were so generous and kind to sit in and listen to my stories and help guide me along on this journey towards the World Race.

After hours of talking and chatting one of them turned to me and said point blank, "why won't you be loved?" Kind of an odd question for a person to ask that I just met. But an honest one. I could do nothing else but start to cry. An arrow launched into the heart of a problem I could not myself name.

For weeks God has been working on my heart. Gently coaxing me closer through love and words of support. But for years, no matter how far I come, or how close I get, there is a wall. I can run as fast as my heart will go towards Him for comfort and love and then whack!

Right into a brick wall. I often times go reeling backwards, confused as to what just happened. Other times I just stare in stark awe and sadness that I could never climb it or go around it and reach Him fully. And I can hear Him, on the other side, calling and waiting for me. But I can't reach Him. So, what did this Racer do for me? He put a label on my wall. He said, look here. This is what it is called. It is a wounded wall. It is your fear of being loved and known and open to others and to God himself.

And it hurt. Immensely. The roots of this issue run so very deeply that I'm not so sure they haven't been the thing sustaining me for so long. Protecting me from certain types of risk and pain and rejection. But at the same time they are protective, they are also constrictive. Forcing me to always be at a distance from others. I have been standing idly on my side of the wall my whole life, and loving others from a far. With a barrier. With a safety net. Through the Wall.

This type of love is different than true love. Because it is a singular action on my part, categorized by isolation and a lack of mutual trust. I keep launching things over the wall, and know full well that no one can send anything back. So it is a seemingly safe way to love. But also a lonely one.

So here it goes. Now that this wall has a name, I'm going to kill it. I'm going to take it down. Brick by brick.

This could take a while....

Haiti: Story of God Saving a Man and His Family in the Earthquake

Wed, 3 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Aaron Bruner just recently returned from Haiti where he was part one the Alumni team directing some of AIM's first efforts in Haiti. He encountered numerous needs but this story particularly touched him.

My heart was racing as I jumped into the back of our truck. Sarah and I were on a mission. A million thoughts flooded my mind as we set out to find babies' milk. Stores had been raped of their supplies and it was already 10pm, hardly the hour to find a pharmacy open. I sat there in the back of the truck bouncing along the bumpy terrain just pondering.

I met Francois at a refugee site in Jimani, a border town on the Dominican side about five minutes from Haiti. We had traveled to this site bringing hot chocolate to the families and the victims of the tragic earthquake that had paralyzed this nation. Francois asked what we were doing there and I had the opportunity to share why God had led us there. He expressed his thanks to the many people who had flown in from the outside to love and comfort his people. He proceeded to share his story.

Just two weeks earlier, Francois was in his house in Port-au-Prince. He and his wife lived in a 5-story building near the center of town. As he was working on the bottom floor, the earth began to shake and suddenly, the building collapsed. Five floors came crashing down on top of him. At this time, his pregnant wife had been in their home on the fifth floor and fell straight through the floor landing a few feet from where he stood. Instinctively, Francois leapt across the moving floor to sprawl himself over his wife for protection. It was the only thing that he could do. Thirty seconds later, the ground stopped and chaos ensued all around them. People were desperately searching for their families and injuries and death increased exponentially as the Haitians began to recover from the trembling. Francois arose from being the protective blanket over his wife to find out that she had begun contracting. She was nine months pregnant.

For five days, his wife experienced tremendous pain as they fled for the Jimani border, hours away from their home. "How was she going to survive?" he would ask. "Who will help us?"

Arriving at the border, Francois began asking questions. Medical teams swarmed the mobs of people pouring through the lines and they quickly assisted Francois and his wife. She went into labor and he waited to find out whether or not he would be widowed or if he would have a new addition to his family. He sat praying and asking the Lord for his sweetmercy. Moments later, news arrived that she had given birth to a baby girl whom they would call Francelina. Overcome with joy that his family had survived this tragedy, the only thing Francois could mutter was "God saved my family". And it's true. Only a divine creator concerned with the intimate details of his children could provide a solution to something so seemingly impossible.

When I met Francois, Francelina was a mere ten days old. The clinic was understaffed, there were language barriers, and there was a shortage of medical supplies. One of these was baby milk/formula. Three other families had newborn babies at this clinic but the milk had run out that morning and it was now 10pm. The need was great considering the babies had not eaten since that morning. His wife could not feed their child because she was unable to produce milk. It all seemed so eerily similar to the story of baby Moses. I had to act. I could not bear to see another family suffer the loss of a child like that. So I left with Sarah to find our Dominican driver.

We tore through the streets as we interceded and begged God to provide an open store or pharmacy with the supplies we needed. We arrived at a local store whose supplies I'm sure were drastically decreased than what they had before hundreds of Haitians had poured in through the border. But we asked anyway. Sure enough, they had just one box of 12 bottles. This I imagine could last the three families for a little over two days. It was not enough so we continued. I had visited a pharmacy before asking for phone credit, so we headed there. As we charged up the stairs, I kept thinking about Moses and Francelina. I was overcome with anguish for both families. My Spanish rattled off of my tongue with astounding fluidity as I communicated our needs. God was definitely in that considering their dialect is strikingly different from Mexican Spanish. The woman behind the counter smiled and placed three palettes of twelve bottles each atop the counter. Praise God! We paid and made our way back to the compound in hopes of arriving before the gates closed. We made it. I ran over to Francois and informed him of the news. A strong but gentle man sank into a deep sigh of relief with tears welling up in his eyes. The only thing he could do was thank us and thank God for saving his family. We were able to capture his story on video with Steph's camera along with many other stories. The WR marketing team is working diligently in sharing their stories.

Francois like many others probably hasn't the slightest clue as to what his next step will be. Many are just waiting. They can't return to what they had because it no longer exists and they cannot rebuild yet for fear of more earthquakesand aftershocks. So what are they to do? They just sit idly with blank stares across their faces. Our hope is to see pastors emerge as the fathers of this rebuilding nation. They will be the ones to look after the orphans and widows as the numbers are increasing daily. Our time down there was a success in establishing partnerships with different pastoral networks. We will be throwing full support in sending teams and supplies down to them in this time of greatest need. Many are turning to the Lord in the wake of this destruction. Please continue supporting them financially and physically by donating to the Haiti Relief Fund or by joining one of the many teams heading down there this year. EVERY skill set is needed and now is the time to act. I encourage you to do so. May God be glorified in it all!