Sep 2017 — May 2018

Cambodia Ethiopia

Name: 2017 Christian Gap Year - The World Race | Christian Mission Trips
Brand: The World Race
Price: $14000

Join us on the adventure of a lifetime.

Route Completed

5 countries

Route Guides

Hope Mendola

Program Exec

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I thought I was a Christian, but when I was 19 my view of everything (Jesus, the Bible, Church, Christianity) came tumbling down. I found myself angry and confused as I questioned what I had been told all my life. Little did I know I was on the path to making my faith my own. I spent the next few years figuring out who God was and what I believed. By the time I was 21, I decided Jesus was the answer. Since then, God has taken me from the slums of India to the mountains of Africa. He's transformed my heart, strengthened my faith, and given me purpose beyond myself. My story has given me a passion for the next generation because I know firsthand how influential those first few years out of high school are. I can't wait for you to join us on this journey!

Hope Mendola

Elder

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Jodi Owens

Squad Mentor

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I grew up always knowing who Jesus was. My Grandmother made sure of that. I knew I wanted to live for Jesus and made the decision to follow Him when I was 8 years old. Once I was in my later teenage years, through a series of life events and my own selfishness, I stepped away from following Jesus to pursue what the world had to offer. When I was 20 years old, I realized I was miserable. I wanted more from life and I knew there had to be a source of real, pure joy somewhere rather than chasing what felt ȦĨŒgoodȦĨœ in the moment. I turned to Jesus and everything changed. I made the decision to commit my whole life to Him. I worked at a church in their youth/college ministry for about 5 years. I loved it a ton and thatȦĨœs where God grew my heart for the generation below mine. Rounding out my time there, I knew in my heart I was called to go and do more but I wasnȦĨœt sure how. I found out about the World Race from a friend, decided to take the chance and launched in January of 2016. I was absolutely blown away! The journey was hard but it was also so beautiful. Never did I imagine that I could grow so much in my relationship with Jesus while having the opportunity to serve Him outside of America. Because of my own journey, God has given me a passion for leading this next generation to Him. I am passionate about seeing young people know Jesus and choose to follow Him forever. My heart is to help teach this next generation how to get outside of themselves and choose life in the Kingdom of God.

Eileen Fires

Coach

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Rich and Eileen Fires have been married 23 years and have 3 sons: Caleb (21) studies at Penn State: Zach (20) was a Gap year Racer and currently studies at Northampton Community College: Stu (20) studies at Rochester Institute of Technology. We also have 3 "bonus" kids (20,21, and 24) living with us...we love our large family! Rich is a VP of HR at a pharmaceutical company and Eileen has been a stay at home mom; she was also the Executive Director of a faith based counseling center for 4 years but recently resigned to be a coach full time. We have been actively engaged in ministry since before we were married and love living life on life with those around us.

Richard Fires

Coach

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Andrea Perez

Alum Squad Leader

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Daniel Sprando

Alum Squad Leader

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Esther Houser

Alum Squad Leader

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Lauren Massey

Squad Logistics

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Where They Went - What They Did

Southeast Asia

Cambodia

Southeast Asia