Two teams of South Africans arrive in America on January 29th to participate in the World Race. They flew all night and day, arriving in Houston. From there, they will catch a Greyhound to Brownsville. They’ll meet AIM staff who will hand them the keys to an AIM van and a map. Then they’ll drive for 24 hours straight to Palenque, Mexico to join their American brothers and sisters in this adventure. After resting a day, they’ll all race to Guatemala, crossing a lake, and hiking to the top of a volcano.
This race began as a partnership between two ministries: MXP, or Missions Expeditions. from South Africa, and Adventures In Missions new ministry called The World Race. Anna-Marie Franken, of Missions Expeditions had envisioned a trip around the world where teams could study the Bible and minister as they traveled. AIM director, Seth Barnes, envisioned a combination of ministry and overland races that would capture the imagination of the Church at large as it was transmitted over the web and in the media. Together they combined forces, with the South Africans recruiting two teams to race alongside the Americans.
Initially fund raising and visas were a source of logistical difficulty. Planning began last April, but signups weren’t complete until the fall. They have worked hard to raise funds and to plan for their round-the-world trip.
The team’s colors are lime and yellow. You can read their blogs and pictures here every day.
About MXP:
Missions Expeditions (MXP) is an offshoot of
UCSA, a South African ministry that Andrew Murray founded a hundred years ago. They are associated with
Service Year for Christ, another ministry founded by Anna-Marie. MXP offers a variety of mission trips and discipleship experiences. MXP staff member Anita is participating as one of the members of their global pilgrimage.
Service Year for Christ partnered with AIM in 2004 to lead one of the largest and most successful mission trips ever attempted, canvassing the high schools of the entire country of Swaziland with 900 participants conducting one week campaigns in 192 high schools using the Beat the Drum movie.
