Honestly, I wake up some mornings and I don’t even know where I am! Which country did we land in? I’m sure y’all are probably just as confused, so I want to give a quick recap to catch you up.
January and February were spent in Guatemala. My first team, Stormchasers, served with New Generation in Chichicastenango. We focused on the physical aspects of building the new ministry sight. This included LOTS of concrete mixing, building projects, land clearing, and dust e v e r y w h e r e. We also had the sweet opportunity to head into town and build relationships with business owners and street sellers.
At the end of February, all the teams regathered for a debrief in Antigua, Guatemala before moving to the next country. Debriefs are a sweet, but intense time of reviewing how the teams are doing, training, and activations. Our stateside leadership fly out to meet with us for the debriefs too. Stephanie is our wise mentor and Matt and Kathy Almeter are our devoted coaches. They use this time to love us well, empower us to continue effectively, and provide vision for what’s next.
March and April took us to Costa Rica. These two months were a little different than the typical World Race experience because our entire squad was stationed at the same ministry host. We partnered with Ocean’s Edge in Jaco to do service projects, business as missions development, street outreach, and children’s ministry. Each team also spent a week+ away with another host. My team worked with the Hope Project in San Jose. It is an umbrella ministry that hosts dance and English classes, counseling, business training, pregnancy outreach, and a church. It was one of the most clear examples of biblical discipleship and Church that I have ever experienced!
The beginning of May found us at our second debrief in the mountains of Costa Rica. This debrief included team and role changes. I said goodbye to team Stormchasers and hello to team Girlz on Fire. I began the Race as a Beauty for Ashes coordinator, and was asked to step into team leading for this team. Being a team leader opened my eyes to how much I love empowering others, but also how many areas I have to grow in!
Together, we flew to the Dominican Republic where each team split off to individual sites for the rest of May. Some teams spent the month doing ATL (ask the Lord) ministry while others partnered with a host. My team joined Until They Know for an incredible month of ministering to a variety of local communities. It was a sweet 3 weeks filled with hosting Beauty for Ashes sessions, VBS style events for children, and street evangelism. I got to see the importance of simply sharing the gospel – we weren’t fixing physical problems for people at all, yet God did amazing work in the lives of people we encountered!
Once again, our squad gathered together for a mini debrief in early June. The focus of this one was to send off our beloved alumni squad leaders. Brandon, Ari, and Katie were transitioning back to the US and the new directions God was leading them to. They joined us for the first five months and raised up three new squad leaders from our current squad. With much laughter and tears, we waved goodbye and hopped on another plane.
This flight landed us on the other side of the world in Istanbul, Turkey. We finally made it into the 10/40 window, which had been our goal all along, but was delayed by COVID restrictions. The teams split off again, but all got the chance to spend some time touring the historic city before traveling to our hosts. After visiting architectural wonders of mosques, smelling mounds of spices, being dazzled by the markets, and learning more of the country’s history and customs, the Girlz on Fire rode a bus to Ankara, the capital city of Turkey where we stayed for the month of June. It was our turn to practice ATL ministry. We spent the following few weeks building friendships with fellow hostel residents, university students, and people in the nearby parks. We then visited Cappadocia (aka tourist central of Turkey) for some team adventuring. We rode a hot air balloon, hiked through valleys, rode camels, and continued sharing the truth with the locals.
We ended Turkey with – you guessed it – another debrief in Canakkale. This was a more typical one with team debriefs, one on one meetings, training, worship, activations, and squad bonding time.
July was spent in the country of Georgia for a month where all teams did ATL. Every team felt led to trek or hike for varying lengths of time. The Caucus Mountains taught us all far more and harder lessons than we could’ve anticipated! Before heading to Mestia to attempt a 4-day trek, my team spent a few days in Tbilisi to host a team retreat. It was an insightful time of team bonding and learning from each other. Once in the mountains, we didn’t complete the full trek due to an injury, but we did learn vital lessons on unity and putting each other first. We then headed to Batumi for a few days where we built friendships and shared the gospel on the shores of the Black Sea.
August began with the squad regathering in Tbilisi. Though not an official debrief, we switched teams again. I stepped aside from the role of team leading and joined team FillUp. Our squad planned to fly out to Uzbekistan following team changes. However, due to an issue with getting visas approved, those plans were cancelled last minute. God led our leadership to decide on Armenia as our next country instead. So, we booked new flights and headed east mid-August.
My team spent about 3 weeks in Yerevan, Armenia. The prophetic words “changing lanes, yet heading in the same direction” were spoken over us, and wow, did they come true! We found several amazing opportunities for ministry, and while we pursued them individually, God led us to stay in Yerevan and partner with Altar Coffee and Books. With a team full of women skilled in fundraising, marketing, photography, design, and event planning, it was the perfect fit for us to help promote and support them financially in their goal to provide Christian literature and a place of prayer to Armenia. I’m so grateful for the redirection to an unexpected country and new friends!
And finally, our current location – Kyrgyzstan. We flew here early in September and spent a week at another debrief, followed by a week in the wilderness doing a 24/7 prayer and worship event called BURN. The focus was on ministering to the Lord, but I could write pages telling you about all the ways He spoke to and loved me so tenderly. Those hours walking in the silent desert, praying in the yurt, writing poems with Him, feasting with Him on traditional Kyrgyzstan food, and stargazing at brilliant shooting stars changed my life forever. It’s already been hard transitioning back to “normal” life on the Race and facing the accompanying distractions. However, I’m also reignited with a passionate fire to share His love.
My team and I will be here in Bishkek for the next month, primarily teaching English classes. We have one more country after this, though I don’t even know which country it is yet. It’s hard to believe the end of the World Race is so near… It’s been a two-year journey for me – one that has changed my life in more ways than I thought possible. But, it’s not over yet.
Here’s to the final two months of wrecking my life and falling more in love with my Father! 🙂
Reading this, I marvel at your love for those you meet along the way and the conditions in which you’ve been living. Most of all, your walk with the Lord when He is all you have amazes me. What an experience! Onward, Victoria!
Thank you, Nana! It really is sweet to meet so many friends along the way…but also hard to say so many goodbyes! God has been faithful all along though.