DATE: 09/09/2007 08:58:58 / MOOD: Encouraging

Do you want to help change the world forever ?

Let me tell you about an incredible opportunity to make a difference now, there are three World Racers on the field who need your help to stay there. Christy,Brookeand Silasall began raising support last fall to go on the January 2007 Race, but they couldn't raise enough funds.

Still believing that the Lord wanted them to go, they re-doubled their fundraising efforts, expanded their prayer bases and waited for the June 2007 Race. Finally, on June 6^th, they jumped on a plane and headed to Africa. Since then, they have spent three months sharing the gospel in Africa.

I am writing to you because these three wonderful Racers are again in need of funds. Sunday they flew to Thailand to start the Asia portion of their ministry, but they will soon have to come home unless they can collectively raise an additional $5,500 very soon.

To help them out, we are posting this message and inviting you to meet their financial needs. Click here to make a donation to the World Race Ministry Fund.Type "3 in Need" in the "for" line. All money given to the fund between August 28 and September 17 will be equally divided between Christy, Brooke and Silas. You may also link to any of their individual blogs (via the links below) and give directly to one or more of them.

Please help them stay on the field! Your contribution may very well change the world forever. Because of you, these three participants will be able to take the gospel throughout Asia and beyond! For more information about Christy, Brooke and Silas, please see their links below.

With many thanks,

Hanna Miecznikowski Hanna Miecznikowski World Race Support Coach

When asked, "Why do you want to finish the race?"

Christy said, "I want to do what God wants me to do. If God wants me to finish the Race then I believe that He will provide the money. Money is no object to Him and I do believe that He is testing my faith. But, if I was going to give up I would have in January. At this point, I believe God is working wonders in my life and changing me to become more like the person He wants me to be. In that respect, I believe I have a long way to go and being on the Race helps Him mold me." Christy Linhart- Http://ChristyLinhart.theworldrace.org.

Brookesaid, "I want to finish the race because I know that the Lord is still working on me. I know that I am not done learning from this experience. God has been so faithful in providing for me thus far and also in just revealing more of who He is through the ministries we do and the people we are able to meet. God just shows up all the time and does the greatest things. Just yesterday, a taxi driver we had met earlier in the week came to know the Lord because of us riding in his taxi. How awesome is our God!?" Brooke Witt- http://brookewitt.theworldrace.org/.

And Silas said, " I have been blessed to have the chance to be a part of so many amazing ministries. God is really teaching me that you can be Jesus any where you go, all you have to be willing to do is listen to his voice. I would love to be able to stay on this journey, and see where God will take me in the next eight months." Silas Watkins - Http://SilasWatkins.theworldrace.org.

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DATE: 08/12/2007 09:36:28 / MOOD: Other

The World Race involves five teams racing around the world for a year, 11 countries in 11 months, ministering the hope of Jesus Christ as they go. Participants are a select group ranging in age from 21-35.

The Race has three components:

1. The Race: Teams compete against each other for one or two days at the beginning of each month as they go overland to their next destination. 
2. The Ministry: Once they arrive, teams join local partners, serving them in their ministry. Some work in orphanages, others respond to natural disasters, still others plant local fellowships that reach out in love to the community. World Race teams are relevant because they work through pre-existing relationships.
3. The Training: Initial pre-trip training occurs at AIM's base in Matamoros, Mexico. Thereafter, at the end of each month, we debrief teams before going on to the next location.

Race Route: The race route varies for each squad.  Here is a sample route: from Mexico, to Guatemala, to China to India to Egypt to Bosnia to Israel to East Africa to Kenya to South Africa. AIM has bases or partners in each place.

In 2006 we had five teams, three from the US and two from South Africa. The January 2007 World Race has eight teams.

Why do our World Racers love their experience? It's not just the adventure. It's much more. Here are the keys:

• World Racers abandon everything before they go.
• World Racers therefore have to depend completely on God.
• World Racers purpose is to give as they go.
• World Racers live with the poor.
• World Racers build community - a deep sense of family - with one another.

Upcoming World Race Trips:

September 1, 2007 (application deadline: June 18th, 2007)

January 1, 2008 (application deadline: July 1, 2007)

April 1, 2008 (application deadline November 1, 2007)

July 1, 2008 (application deadline: February 1, 2008)

October 1, 2008 (application deadline: May 1, 2008)

Apply Now! - Complete the Quick App...

Frequently Asked Questions >>> Why Have a World Race? >>>

The World Race Experience >>>

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DATE: 07/31/2007 09:55:40 / MOOD: Excited

From BriEllyn Widbin's blog:

It's been very interesting to watch my definition of "normal" evolve and mutate over the last 7 months into something that I probably wouldn't have considered possible just a few short months ago. I'm realizing that the consistency of my current life, although strange and 99% unconventional, has actually become quite comfortable and familiar. The things that happen on a daily basis no longer surprise me, and will probably be missed when I go home. I've slept in a sleeping bag for 207 nights straight, at least 26 people could probably identify every single item in my backpack, a tea light candle can make anywhere "home", I can recognize the voice and laugh of every teammate, spending more than$3 for a meal seems extravagant, wearing socks with sandals (even flip-flops) is a perfectly acceptable solution for cold feet, and the availability of wireless internet is more exciting than sleeping on a real bed.

I've adapted to wearing tennis shoes with skirts, using duct tape to patch the holes in my jeans, putting baby powder in my hair instead of washing it, and eating beans straight from the can. This is my life now, and I've almost forgotten what "normal" is supposed to be like. Home is still 3 months away, but I can already foresee the adjustment back to American life being difficult. I'll probably be quite an embarrassment to my family and friends if I start cleaning under my fingernails with toothpicks at a restaurant, or if I wear my airplane blanket as a skirt to the Laundromat so that I can wash ALL of my clothes together. Even things like showering everyday and driving a car will feel foreign and somehow indulgent. I'm sure I'll deal with the serious stuff later, but for now, here's a slightly humorous glimpse at a few more ways that "normal" has been redefined.

Things that have lost all shock value things just DON'T happen at home:

1. Water or electricity not working for hours at a time in the middle of the day your shoulders and try again later.
2. Seeing men peeing on the side of roads, on trees, or just about anywhere they happen to be standing. I think the U.S. is the only place where this is abnormal.
3. Hearing stories of teammates being robbed Jon. If it happens again, he'll be lucky to get an eyeroll.
4. Public discussion of all bodily functions. Apparently we think it's important to know the regularity of all teammates.
5. Arriving at a ministry site that had absolutely no clue we were coming thing we always bring our tents!
6. Wearing the same clothes from head to toe for 3 days without a second thought. Everyone else is doing it, so it can't really be that gross, can it?
7. Waking up on a travel day without any idea of how we're getting to the airport or where we're staying when we reach our destination it always works out.
8. Hitch-hiking it's so much faster than walking and so much cheaper than a taxi!
9. Public breast feeding with no attempt whatsoever to cover anything.
10. Paying $.30 to use a public toilet if you want toilet paper too.

On the flip side, there are some things that have actually gained shock value:

1. Free tap water in restaurants
2. Clean feet
3. Being given CORRECT directions from a local
4. Having elbow room on any form of public transportation
5. The affect of a new article of clothing
6. Being self conscious of ANYTHING
7. Being clearly understood
8. Being able to afford a hotel instead of a hostel
9. Plans NOT changing at the last minute
10. A clean shaven boy you seen our guys lately??

The World Race has by far been the most challenging yet rewarding experience of my life. I've learned more about myself and God than I ever thought possible, and even if I humiliate myself when I get home by wearing stripes and plaid together or taking all the sugar packets and napkins from a restaurant "just in case it was all still totally worth it!

And just because it makes me feel closer to home to talk about them are the 10 things I miss the most:

1. Wal-Mart and Target
2. A big fluffy bath towel
3. High heels
4. Carpet
5. Driving a car
6. Applebee's Santa Fe Chicken salad
7. Good customer service
8. Personal independence
9. My cell phone
10. My church

For more info on the World Race go here.

Read more stories from the Race here.

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DATE: 07/27/2007 10:11:40 / MOOD: Inspirational

From Eric Retterbush's blog:Howizit (that's Africans for a normal greeting like hello) from lovely Cape Town. Shame I couldn't stay longer. Such a place should never be denied less than a week. The friends here lended love with a steering wheel, and a warm bed in a cold beach house. The weather provided nice sunsets, only to dampen our clothes for the remainder of the day. The views provided us plenty of reason to recharge our camera batteries at night. The art drowned me in dreams of fresh visions. The God provided the oppurtunity to stay in lovely...CT.

My family of chess players and book critics.

Life as a penguin.

Hout Bay does me right

We'll name him Alan...Ambitious Alan.

Drive one of the most beautiful drives in the world...Check!

Ok this is Swaziland...but its so tough, it deserves to go into the Capetown category.

Have an adventure. Travel to 11 countries in 11 months. Experience God. Join the World Race! Fill out a Quick Application now.

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