It’s been a while since I’ve given an update on this crazy adventure I’m coming to know as the World Race. Truthfully, I’ve been avoiding talking logistics, fundraising, etc. because there has been so much uncertainty surrounding this mission trip to which the Lord has called me. To say I have answers wouldn’t be completely accurate, but I do have an update for you all.
RECAP
First, let me give a little recap of everything World Race that has happened over the last few months. Our squad never stops amazing me. Looking back, it’s becoming harder and harder to view COVID-19 as anything but a blessing. This pandemic that halted all of our lives in an instant opened the door and gifted time for this squad to build itself into the community we’re experiencing today. The last few months have been filled with countless hours on zoom calls, both random and planned meet-ups at members’ homes, and so many unforgettable memories. I’ve had the opportunity to meet over 20 of my squad members (and some of their families) and it has been life changing to say the least. Whether it was a spontaneous road trip to Florida over the 4th of July weekend, the Pride family opening up their lake home in Virginia, or camping in the Great Smokey Mountains, these last few months have been filled with each of us pouring into each other, sharing our stories: past, present, and hopes for the future. It’s truly amazing the community you can build and how quickly you can become family when relationships are built on the foundation of love for the Lord.
OPTIONS
One day after our lake/camping shenanigans, on August 3rd, our squad received an email update from World Race leadership giving further details on our trip scheduled to leave in October. To say this update rocked our worlds would be an understatement. For the most part, I had already built myself up to receive news that we wouldn’t be able to begin our international mission work as planned in October 2020. For me, this email update was expected to look something like this “We are unable to launch you to the international mission field as originally planned in October. Your trip will be pushed back pending the open of international travel.” However, what we got was the furthest thing from these expected instructions. This update faced each racer on our squad with three different options on how to proceed with their World Race journey.
Option 1: Begin your Race as planned in October, but your mission work would be here in the United States until international travel is permitted (hopefully January).
Option 2: Defer your launch date until January 2021 and choose a new route.
Option 3: Defer your launch date until August 2021 and choose a new route.
These options have led to what feels like a squad break-up as members began choosing between the various options. It was very easy to ask God “Why?” in the midst of these decisions. “Why did you put us all on the same squad in the first place when you knew we wouldn’t ultimately be racing together? Why did you allow us to spend months pouring into each other and building this community just to tear us apart?” In reality, however, God really wasn’t at all tearing us apart. If anything, it’s been very clear that He’s still using this community and is now only expanding it further. In fact, how truly amazing is it that I get to serve a God who is telling me that He can use me in any of these different scenarios to do His work and is giving me the freedom to choose?!
DECISION
With that, I’ve chosen to defer my World Race launch until January 2021. As difficult as it was to say no to starting this mission as planned in October, I felt I needed to hold true to why I decided to embark on the Race in the first place: international missions. I’m still hoping and praying that the Race will be a way for me to explore what missions looks like around the world and find my calling to the next step in living life on mission for the Lord. I’m extremely excited that many of my original October route squad members have also chosen this same option! I’m also ecstatic to get to know and meet so many new squad members (I’ve actually met one already! Surprised?)! As there is still some uncertainty around international travel, World Race leadership was unable to share the specific 11 countries we’ll be traveling to on this new route but were able to share the regions they are hoping to send us to and hopeful starting countries in each region. Those regions are: Central America – starting in Costa Rica; Southeastern Asia – starting in Thailand; Southern Asia – starting in India; Southern Africa – starting in Eswatini.
WHAT IF?
Deferring to January may only be a temporary solution. There’s no certainty that international travel will allow us to launch in January. So what if we can’t? What happens then? In the event we are unable to launch in January due to COVID concerns, similar options will be presented: begin mission stateside or defer to an August 2021 route.
WHAT NOW?
I’m still 100% that the World Race is the part of this crazy life journey the Lord is taking me on. I couldn’t be more excited to do the Lord’s work around the world, spreading the news of His great love for us, especially in this prolonged time of uncertainty. More than anything, I would love your prayer support. Prayers for our world and our nation as we battle through pandemic and injustice. Prayers for myself, my sqaud (both old and new), and for World Race leadership that God would give us the wisdom and tools to follow His calling. Because of your support I’m so close to being 50% funded for this World Race journey and would really appreciate any financial support you’d be able to give!
Can’t wait to share life’s next update!
Micah
