Indonesia Zambia

Your first month on the Race begins in Indonesia, the biggest island nation on Earth and home to the largest Muslim population in the world. Most Racers are asked to build trust through relationships in order to share their faith, and many will have the opportunity to disciple new believers by leading Bible studies and discovery groups. This is still relatively a new country for the World Race, but whether you’re in the densely packed cities, the thick jungles, or the long rural stretches, you’ll have the opportunity to find local Christians and continue to build on the relationships we’ve already established.

Your next month in Southeast Asia will be in Malaysia. This nation is the melting pot of Asia with large people groups from India and China. Each group brings their own culture, language, food, and religion. Motos and people crowd the streets along strings of open air restaurants and roti stands. As you walk down these streets you will likely see a temple next to a mosque, next to a church. Many Racers work with refugees from all over the region, teaching them English and sharing that Jesus is our provider and protector. Evangelism is illegal to the local people in Malaysia, so building relationships will be the foundation of everything this month.

Next your journey will take you to Thailand. This nation is known for its stunning beaches, friendly people and bustling outdoor food markets. You will feel welcomed here, but you’ll quickly take note of darkness that plagues this region: human trafficking. In Thailand, you might find yourself under neon flashing lights, sharing a Coke with women in between their dances in night clubs. You might find yourself having difficult conversations with the tourists partaking in the industry and spending hours covering your teammates and the streets in prayer.

Your last month in Southeast Asia will take you to Myanmar. Myanmar’s story is of a struggle for independence. Political groups have fought an ongoing war in this country for over 60 years. Commonly called Burma, but officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, political unrest and human right violations have led to nearly 200,000 refugees residing within Myanmar and neighboring countries like Thailand. Will you share hope and freedom with refugees, the lost, and the broken, in a country hungry for peace?

Your journey will take you north to Nepal, home to Mt. Everest, the tallest mountain in the world! Nepal is a very spiritual, breathtaking, and mountainous country. Most of our work in Nepal is about sharing the Gospel with marginalized people, especially those in rural areas. Whether you’re in the cities outlined by the Himalayas or trekking through the hills yourself, you’ll most likely find yourself walking long distances to share your faith over a cup of milk tea.

Next, you will continue on to a nation like no other, India. Most Racers live and serve in Southern India, where the villages are bustling with activity and the streets are filled with horns blaring and tuk-tuks whizzing by. Most of our activity in India is partnering with a local movement to plant 100,000 churches. You’ll become a part of the local culture as you travel from village to village while preaching and praying for families. Expect to be invited into someone’s home and offered chai often as people invite you to simply sit and talk.

Next you will journey to the large and diverse nation of South Africa. This nation is incredibly multicultural and it still healing from it's dark and painful history of racism and segregation. This country has 11 official languages, coastlines on two oceans and world famous mountain views. Racers in South Africa focus a lot of their time on evangelism through the school systems. You might find yourself discipling middle and high school students through sports ministry, teaching life skills or assisting with academic classes.

Next you will head to the small but incredible nation of Swaziland (its name was recently changed to eSwatini). Swaziland has the highest HIV/AIDS rate in the world and as a result, 1,000 children have been left without parents. We have had a long-standing presence in Swaziland and have built a base there run by local and international staff. We partner with Children’s Hope Chest to operate large system of care points serving local orphaned and underserved children.

Your journey will take you next to a tiny little-known nation called Lesotho. This country is landlocked inside South Africa and is full of stunning mountains and valleys. This nation is very focused on agriculture, and during the day you will meet all kinds of livestock and regularly see young shepherd boys pass by with their herds of cattle. At night you will be dazzled by bright stars and the crystal clear views of the Milky Way. Your team will likely be off the grid for the month, regularly visiting villages and building relationships with locals.

Next you will continue north to Zimbabwe, home to the Zambezi river that feeds into the world-famous Victoria Falls. This nation is still in transition after being colonized and suffers from large unemployment rates. World Racers in Zimbabwe focus on coming along the local church and join in with everything the churches do, helping with their services, meetings, outreach and offering uplift and encouragement. Community and relationships are central to life in Zimbabwe, your month here will be all about discipleship through sharing life together.

Your last month on the World Race will take place in Zambia. Our partners in Zambia are focused on church planting and evangelism. Most Racers will settle into a specific town or village and work with our ministry hosts to share the Gospel and plant Christ-centered communities in a focused area. There will be lots of opportunity to work with children, leading camps and events. Our partners have expressed a growing need for ministry for women. Women deeply want to share their voices in a new way, and you could be a part of empowering them to share their stories.