Wild Rice

"Eleven months ago, twenty-nine total strangers from California to Florida met for the first time in the steamy July heat of Gainesville, Georgia for World Race training camp. We showed up bright eyed and a little sweaty, with nothing but a 65-liter pack and a daypack for our daily essentials. We had little in common except for a passion to share the Gospel throughout Asia--eleven countries in Asia for eleven months to be exact..."."Three months into the World Race we arrived in Osaka, Japan for orientation before our ministry began. Our host for the month was a man from New Zealand who had moved to Japan in his early twenties to be a long-term missionary, and now some twenty years later, continues to do ministry there with his wife and three sons. He spent several sessions with us explaining the intricacies of Japanese culture, which included everything from how to place your chopsticks at the end of a meal to why Japan is less than one percent Christian. At the beginning of one session he wrote "wild rice" on the white board and asked us to say it out loud. A little confused, we laughed and said it altogether. Grinning, he then said, "that's how we say'World Race' in New Zealand..."."During our drive, I couldn't help but feel excited despite the possible lack of A/C. I was looking forward to the unknownof what was in store for me for the month. I knew nothing about what ministry was going to look like, but I couldn't help but feel like this month was going to be a fresh awakening for me. It may have been the fact of going from a closed country like Vietnam the month before to an open country like The Philippines. To feel like my voice was given back to me was invigorating. I didn't care what we weredoing for ministry. All I knew, was that I was going to tell people about Jesus this month..."."I loved how our month started off. I love first impressions and our host Dave had a great first impression on me. First he arrived at our hostel thirty minutes early topick us up. He and I began talking while we waited for everyone else to come down. The very first thing that he said to me after our greetings was, "How's the team?" I was shocked. Through my previous months of team leading he was the first host to genuinely ask how our team was doing. He then proceeded to tell me that his ministry this monthwas us. He explained to me that he wanted to put us and our desires first. If we wanted to see people come to know the Lord he wanted to help us achieve that. If we wanted to see people get baptized he wanted to empower us to see it happen. He also explained to me that he wanted to challengeus. He knew that we were in our tenth month and he didn't want us coasting. I was amazed .."." Team S.U.M.A. and Team Yabba Dabba. "This year, because of 3 AIM World Race teams, Pastor Oscar (Melanie's Brother) has baptized 15 people, and the teams have seen 50 people come to the Lord. Adult Church members have said "If these Americans can take this time from school, jobs, family and relationships then we can, and should do more. Being a Missionary is not easy. It is not for the faint of heart, but the reward is eternal and there is joy in the serving and joy in seeing others touched for Christ." Missionary David Sgro.