Five Countries. One Yes. A Life That Will Never Look the Same.

World Race Gap Year isn’t just nine months of travel. It’s nine months of becoming.

From August 28, 2026 to May 12, 2027, you’ll journey through Guatemala, South Korea, Thailand, South Africa, and Eswatini. Five countries. Five cultures. Countless moments where God meets you right in the middle of it all. And somewhere along the way, you start to realize, you’re not the same person who left home.

Guatemala: Where You Learn to See

In Guatemala, beauty and brokenness exist side by side.

You’ll meet families who have very little by the world’s standards but carry a depth of joy that doesn’t make sense until you experience it. You’ll serve in communities where relationships matter more than schedules, where people welcome you in before you feel like you’ve earned it.

And slowly, through this gap year ministry experience, your perspective shifts. You stop seeing people as projects. You start seeing them as people God deeply loves. This is where compassion stops being an idea and becomes something you live.

South Korea: Where You Discover Rhythm

South Korea moves fast. It’s innovative, structured, and constantly in motion.

And in the middle of that, you learn something unexpected… how to be with God in the middle of a busy world.

You’ll experience a culture that values excellence and discipline, and it will challenge you to examine your own rhythms. What do you prioritize? What are you building your life around?

Here, you begin to understand what it looks like to walk closely with God, not just in quiet places, but in the middle of movement.

Thailand: Where You Step Into Boldness

Thailand stretches you.

Whether you’re engaging in ministry, building relationships across language barriers, or simply learning to navigate the unknown, you’ll find yourself in moments where you don’t feel fully prepared.

And that’s the point. You’ll pray for people when you don’t have the perfect words. You’ll share your story even when your voice shakes. You’ll take steps of faith that feel bigger than you.

And you’ll watch God meet you there, again and again.

Confidence starts to grow, not in yourself, but in the One who goes with you.

South Africa: Where You Witness Resilience

South Africa holds both wonder and need.

You’ll step into communities where stories are layered with history, pain, hope, and perseverance. You’ll serve alongside local leaders who are committed to long-term change, and you’ll begin to understand what sustainable ministry actually looks like.

This is where your faith becomes tangible. You don’t just talk about hope. You carry it into real situations. You see how the Gospel meets people in practical, powerful ways.

And it changes how you define impact.

Eswatini: Where You Learn to Love Deeply

Eswatini slows you down.

Here, relationships take center stage. You’ll spend time with children, families, and communities who invite you into their everyday lives. You’ll laugh, sit, listen, and simply be present.

And in that space, something shifts.

You realize that love doesn’t always look like doing more. Sometimes it looks like staying. Like noticing. Like choosing to care when no one else is watching.

This is where God softens your heart in ways you didn’t know you needed.

Your Transformation Over 9 Months

Somewhere between airports, team dinners, long conversations, and quiet mornings with the Lord, you begin to change.

You become more aware of God’s voice. You become more confident in who you are. You become more willing to say yes, even when it feels uncertain.

This Is Your Invitation

This international missions program is for those who are ready for more than just the expected path after high school. It’s for those who want to grow in their faith, experience the world, and step into a life that feels aligned with purpose.

Gap Year | 9 Months | August 2026
Runs August 28, 2026 through May 12, 2027
Traveling to Guatemala, South Korea, Thailand, South Africa, and Eswatini

World Race Gap Year Application Deadline: June 22, 2026

Start your World Race Gap Year application today and see what happens when you say yes to the missions adventure God has waiting for you.