Sep 2021 — May 2022

Development | 2021

Name: 2021 Gap Year Mission Trip From Eswatini To Costa Rica | World Race
Brand: The World Race
Price: $15800

Partner with local ministries to build sustainability and give hope to their communities.

Squad I is in the Field

3 countries

Route Guides

Hope Mendola-Wong

Elder

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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!

Kirsten Overholser

Squad Mentor

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Drew Petersen

Coach

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We are Drew and Marie Petersen from Minneapolis, Minnesota. ȹƑƉWe got married over 24 years ago when Marie was a single Mom to her 5 year old son Chris (who is now married to Lindsey). Drew graduated from Luther College in Iowa with a music major and a dance minor. He uses his music talents leading worship at church ȹƑƉbut provides for our family by finishing concrete with Hage Concrete. Until recently, Marie has been homeschooling our 3 younger children: Kyle (21) - currently attending CGA after being on the Gap F Squad, Ellie (20) - in her junior year of college, Levi (18) taking a gap year working full time at Trader JoeȹƑƉs. ȹƑƉWe also are MN parents to Grace (16) so she can attend high school in the USA and spend summers with her Mom in Japan. Our oldest jokes that while some people collect animals we seem to collect people. It has been our prayer that our home would be a place of refuge and God has answered that prayer in a variety of ways over the years. ȹƑƉWe have lead many small groups over the years and currently are discipling a young adult group. We are excited to be involved together with the World Race because it combines 2 passions we have - missions and young people. We love meeting people, connecting deeper and encouraging them in their faith. Marie works at Trader JoeȹƑƉs and also writes a blog (Happytobeahousemama.wordpress.com). ȹƑƉWe like spending time outdoors, especially if there is coffee and a fire.

Marie Petersen

Coach

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Gretchen Waters

Alum Squad Leader

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Isabel Salazar

Alum Squad Leader

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Jason Esh

Alum Squad Leader

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Deborah Ulsh

Advisor

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My name is Deborah Ulsh, and I have worked with Adventures in Missions since 2015. I started in Admissions, served as a Gap Year Mentor for 3 years, and am now back in Admissions! I went on the World Race in 2014 and fell in love with this ministry, discipleship, and missions. I met my husband here at Adventures, and we got married in November of 2018. I am passionate about seeing people walk out their identity as sons and daughters of God! And I'll never say no to a good cup of coffee.

Cal Herrmann

Squad Logistics

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Where They're Going - What They’ll Do

South Africa

Eswatini

South Africa

Eswatini

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Location: Nsoko, Eswatini (formerly Swaziland)

Ministry: Adventures in Missions Eswatini base

Focus: Children’s Ministry, Community Development, Leadership

Step away from modern life in the rural village of Nsoko, Eswatini, where you will fall in love with the incredible sunsets and the simple pace of life. During the last three months of your Gap Year journey, you will partner with the Adventures in Missions Eswatini base, which is bringing hope in this country where thousands of children have been orphaned by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. At Carepoints around the country, local staff are providing these children with food, clean water, education, healthcare, and discipleship. Our base staff will equip you to holistically care for these children and teach them about Jesus. Watch God transform your life as He continues to transform this country.

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Southeast Asia

Thailand

Southeast Asia

Thailand

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Location: Chiang Mai, Thailand

Ministry: Network of local ministry partners

Focus: Children’s Ministry, Teaching English, Community Outreach

This nation’s friendly people have earned Thailand its suitable nickname as the Land of Smiles. Here you will have the opportunity to reveal the truth of Jesus to a deeply unreached country, whether you are prayer-walking through the red-light district, ministering to tourists, playing with street kids or teaching English to local Thai people.

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Southern Central America

Costa Rica

Southern Central America

Costa Rica

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Location: San Jose, Costa Rica

Ministry: Adventures in Missions Costa Rica base & partners

Focus: Sports Ministry, Community Outreach, Children’s Ministry, Manual Labor

Journey through Costa Rica, where misty volcanoes stand guard over bustling San Jose, home to our Adventures in Missions base. During your time in this tropical country, you will work with a variety of our ministry partners who are showing the radical love of Jesus to this city. Your team might be teaching skills like dance or English, or teaching neighborhood kids about the Bible. Or your team might do community projects in slums devastated by gang violence and poverty. As you grow in your spiritual gifts through weekly teachings from our local base staff, walk out your faith by showing this pura vida nation the true source of Life.

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*Routes may change if unforeseen issues arise.

Active Squad

Squad is the term we use at the World Race to describe the 30-45 people traveling with you on your route this year!

Squad

Team Name: Team Anav

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Harlie Crawford

Selah, Washington

Grace Harang

Sitka, Alaska

Savannah Pledger

Fayetteville, Arkansas

Delaney Rice

Northport, AL

Caroline Stark

Bucharest, Romania

Team Name: Team Boaz

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Caedmon Russell

Clarksville, VA

Zach Sedmak

Falls Church, Virginia

Colin Sullivan

Tega Cay, SC

Kirby Watts

San Francisco, California

Team Name: Team Eden

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Amy Lucas

temple, TX

Emily Pomphrett

Sudbury, Massachusetts

Kalyssa Safley

Meridian, Idaho

Amelia Tabatt

Champaign, IL

Abby Utsinger

West Alexandria, Ohio

Team Name: Team Lydia

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Mackenzie Albright

Kansas City, Missouri

Abby Clapp

Colorado Springs, Colorado

Grace Smith

Amarillo, Texas

Team Name: Team Olive Branch

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Kaili Farnsworth

Marionville, MO

Kayli Holden

Covington, Louisiana

Cassie Lashaway

Meridian, Idaho

Abisha Oberholzer

San Angelo, Texas

Evelyn Raspa

Edgewater, Maryland

Team Name: Team Rooted

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Libby Bickford

Marietta, Georgia

Ally Krick

Lake City, Michigan

Avery Lackey

Southlake, TX

Lucy Rickers

Marietta, GA

Team Name: The Samsonites

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Carter Abney

Lubbock, Texas

Caden Adams

Colorado Springs, Colorado

Hayden Lacy

Franklin, Tennessee

Grant McLane

Moores Hill, Indiana

Jordan Schmidt

meriden, Kansas

Gus Spence

Fredericksburg, Texas

Application Closed

Stories From the Field

Want to know what it's really like to go on the World Race? Check out our most recent updates from World Racers about life on the field and how you could be a part of it!

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