http://katiebischoff.theworldrace.org Katie Bischoff - The World Race 2007 en-us Mon, 8 Sep 2008 14:21:29 GMT 30 http://katiebischoff.theworldrace.org/?filename=im-coming-home http://katiebischoff.theworldrace.org/?filename=im-coming-home I'm leaving for home on Monday and am so excited.  I can't believe this thing is almost over.  I'll be writing blogs soon summarizing our time in China (preview: I loved it) and thoughts on this experience as a whole.  Right now I'm trying to spend as much time with my friends from the race and preparing myself for coming home.  Please pray for me, it's going to be an adjustment leaving these amazing people I've traveled the world with and assimilating back into western culture. :o) Sat, 17 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://katiebischoff.theworldrace.org/?filename=more-recent-development http://katiebischoff.theworldrace.org/?filename=more-recent-development Okay, so I just found out that we're not going to be able to communicate for one month! I will not be blogging, e-mailing or making phone calls. AIM should post an update for us at some point though.We'll be traveling to a country in Asia where we'll be doing a cultural exchange program. I'm pretty excited about it. Please be praying for all of us as we finish out the last leg of the trip and especially as we prepare to go back to the states. I'll be getting back to North Carolina on November 20th. I can't believe this trip is almost over, it's been amazing. Thank you all for reading my posts, for your prayers and for your encouragement. It means so much. Fri, 12 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://katiebischoff.theworldrace.org/?filename=he-believes-in-me http://katiebischoff.theworldrace.org/?filename=he-believes-in-me Cambodiaso here's how it went:   Beginning feelings: Totally freaked out   Our first day with our ministry, we pulled up to the church and were shown right away where we'd be sleeping.  I tried to muster a positive attitude as I was shown a small apartment that would hold 8 girls, 4 of whom would be sleeping in the living room, pretty cramped, without air conditioning.  Usually I can deal with heat, but we had been an a place previously for a few days where I was always hot and felt so lethargic.  After seeing the room we were whisked away for a meeting with our contact for a briefing of ministry opportunities.  I was beginning to feel overwhelmed and was doing a lot of silent praying.  As they were listing out the ministry options, nothing seemed like a good fit for me.  We then went to each department at the church to get a little more info...the anxiety was mounting.  My teammates told me later they could reco Wed, 10 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://katiebischoff.theworldrace.org/?filename=church-room-makeover http://katiebischoff.theworldrace.org/?filename=church-room-makeover Here's the before and after pictures of the project and then some before and after video (for some reason the video isn't showing up on the home page, so if you'd like to look at it, click on the article title).  And in case you were wondering, no I'm not a giant, the room has a very low ceiling: BEFORE AFTER Wed, 10 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://katiebischoff.theworldrace.org/?filename=super-blog-day http://katiebischoff.theworldrace.org/?filename=super-blog-day I've written 3 blogs today, that must be some kind of a record. This one I copied though (thanks Annie) because I'm not a big fan of writing and why reinvent the wheel? Tomorrow we head to Asia and there are a few things I need to tell you about our time there. It is illegal to convert people in the country we're going to. We do have several Christian contacts that we will be working alongside. In order to protect the security and anonymity of the contacts I will not be able to access The World Race site. I may be able to send blogs to my parents to post, but they will need to be free of any Christian words or phrases. I will not be able to tell you specific places, names of people, or post pictures that would give away location or identity. The government watches sites visited on the Internet and e-mail, so if you contact me please refrain from using any Christian phrases (God Bless, Praying for You, In Christ, etc.). Please continue to pray for our group, but especially p Wed, 10 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://katiebischoff.theworldrace.org/?filename=were-famous http://katiebischoff.theworldrace.org/?filename=were-famous Okay no not really BUT Relevant Magazine, one of my favorite magazines, has an article on the World Race.  Jeff Goins eloquently sums up what this experience has been for me and so many of my friends.Check it out: http://www.relevantmagazine.com/life_article.php?id=7488 Wed, 3 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://katiebischoff.theworldrace.org/?filename=an-average-blog http://katiebischoff.theworldrace.org/?filename=an-average-blog I realized that I usually only write blogs when something big is going on or if I'm struggling, so I thought I'd write just an average blog.  Let me preface it by telling you I am now in Phnom Penh, Cambodia and am working with this awesome church, New Life Fellowship.   They really have a heart for the community and offer programs like free computer classes, English classes, street kid programs, slum outreaches, and a bunch more. Today I went to the church and started working on a project to decorate a Prayer/Mother's with Babies Room as well as a Nursery (I love this type of thing).   I had a meeting with the woman who's giving me specifics about the project.   Then I spent a few hours in a coffee shop brainstorming.   After that I met up with her again, hopped on her mo-ped (don't worry I didn't drive), and went to check out what they sell in the local markets. Tue, 11 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://katiebischoff.theworldrace.org/?filename=the-killing-fields http://katiebischoff.theworldrace.org/?filename=the-killing-fields Here's my friend Michelle's account of what we saw one of our first days in Cambodia: "While in Phnom Phen, we were able to tour the city and learn a bit of the history of Cambodia.   It is hard for me to wrap my mind around the fact that only 30 years ago a genocide occurred here but what is more astonishing is the fact that I had never even heard about it.   The Khmer Rouge the Killing Fields 1975-1979 over 2 million Cambodians murdered.   In his insanity and drive towards creating a Communist Cambodia, the leader of the Khmer Rouge, Pol Pot, killed off anyone in his way - the educated class and their families, doctors, teachers, students, engineers, Buddhist monks, foreigners, etc.   He believed that by having an uneducated mass of followers, he could more easily create a working class which would help to establish the Communistic "equal" society that he dreamed of for Cambodia.   Tue, 11 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://katiebischoff.theworldrace.org/?filename=it-only-takes-a-spark http://katiebischoff.theworldrace.org/?filename=it-only-takes-a-spark I have hope again!  :o)  Thank you all for praying, for real.  One of the next few days after I wrote my previous post, I had a chance to sit in Starbucks, pray, and think.  Here are snippets of things I was pondering in my journal.  I had just seen some poetry written on a piece of Starbuck's art on the wall and it inspired me: "There's hope.  I see glimmers of it everywhere, even in the darkest places.  I've seen it in the sweet smiles of the prostitutes I've chatted with... The exciting truth with this is that God is everywhere.   Psalm 139:7 says, "If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths You are there."    I love that about the God I serve!  He doesn't leave anyone out.  He loves the victim, but also loves the perpetrator!  There's nowhere we can go, nothing we can do to separate us from His love. There's this song that India Arie sings ca Sat, 25 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://katiebischoff.theworldrace.org/?filename=depressed http://katiebischoff.theworldrace.org/?filename=depressed I've been feeling mildly depressed the past few days. I think all I've seen this year has started to weigh on me.  It's been hard seeing children who've been abandoned, people dying of AIDS, prostitutes being abused, friends believing lies about themselves...hard realizing that I often have evil in my heart.  What's been harder though has been realizing  to a new degree how evil and suffering is widespread.  Not only is it prevelant in Thailand and Swaziland, but also in my hometown.  While I still don't know how to process through it all, I do know: *God is good, He really loves, and He can redeem ANYTHING *There are many amazing people who stand for Truth, Love, and Justice; people who'll sacrifice their own comfort for the good of others. *We've been given an example of how to live and the power to do it through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. *God promises a new heaven and a new earth without the evil and suffe Mon, 20 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://katiebischoff.theworldrace.org/?filename=stacys-blog http://katiebischoff.theworldrace.org/?filename=stacys-blog Stacy, my teammate, wrote a great blog to explain what it feels like going into the bars: Sex for Sale 80 girls, 2 stages....XXX Shows....Dancing girls...."Come here, beautiful women!"..."Hello, Hello, Come here for lady boys!"  More than just the neon signs shout at me as I walk past.  It is my first night to walk the open bars and I am overwhelmed by a sense of darkness.  With each level I climb, I feel more and more heaviness laying on my chest.  At points, it is even hard for me to physically breathe.  There is really nothing you can do to prepare yourself to see the Red Light district in Thailand.  It is even hard to piece together a thought, muchless a prayer for these girls.  But I am broken.  Men are scattered inside and outside the bars.  Men that look like they could be my father, my grandfather, or even my college buddies.  They are there for one reason; to take home a girl to do with them whate Fri, 17 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://katiebischoff.theworldrace.org/?filename=light-a-candle http://katiebischoff.theworldrace.org/?filename=light-a-candle "I would rather light a candle than curse the darkness." Eleanor Roosevelt This month we're working at NightLight,  "a ministry in urban Bangkok, which reaches out to women and children working in the bar areas of Nana/Sukhumvit. Located in a neighborhood with a growing sex trade, Nightlight's vision is to share the Light of the world in both word and deed to those who live in darkness." Specifically our team will help at the office where former prostitutes make jewelry for a living (you can buy some on the website, it's really good quality) and then go to bars to build relationships with the girls. I'm so excited about this organization, it's awesome!  From their website... Through life-on-life ministry, NightLight's goal is to meet the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of women in p Fri, 10 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://katiebischoff.theworldrace.org/?filename=life-at-the-farm http://katiebischoff.theworldrace.org/?filename=life-at-the-farm Last month was the best time I've had all year! I told you guys briefly about the place we stayed It's a division of Lighthouse Care Centers (www.swazitc.com) that cares for orphaned and abandoned children.  I thought I'd fill you in on what our day-to-day looked like: We'd wake up to the sweet voices of  childr en leaving for school.  I'd stumble into the kitchen for breakfast, grab some coffee and toast and head back to my room.  I'm a bit grumpy in the morning, so it's good for me to avoid people as much as possible.  We'd then have individual time to read, pray and get ready for the day (that rhymed).    At 8am, some of the kids on the farm who aren't healthy enough to walk to school come to our house for home-school.   We'd either leave then or sneak out the window later so we wouldn't disturb class. Our morning activities varied from day to day.   For a few d Mon, 6 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://katiebischoff.theworldrace.org/?filename=childrens-stories http://katiebischoff.theworldrace.org/?filename=childrens-stories In Swaziland, I was broken by some of the stories I heard.  Meeting the children, you wouldn't know what they had suffered. One child, who we'll call Sarah was left by her mother when she was really young, I believe 2 years old.  The family used her as a slave girl and probably sexually abused.  People at Hawane farm found out about her when she was near 8.  The day they came to rescue her, all Sarah had was a school uniform with missing buttons, a t-shirt, and a little plastic bookbag.  Before she left, they took her by her school to say goodbye to her teacher and friends.  As they were pulling away from the grounds, she asked the driver to stop, got a coin out of her bookbag, and ran to give it to her friend.  A man from Hawane involved in the rescue told me this story and how  it showed him two things:  one, her precious heart to care for her friend and two, that little Sarah knew she was goi Mon, 6 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://katiebischoff.theworldrace.org/?filename=hope-in-africa http://katiebischoff.theworldrace.org/?filename=hope-in-africa You guys must have been praying because we are in such a cool place! Our team is staying on a farm where some children were orphaned because their parents died of AIDs and others have had pasts of slavery, abuse, or neglect.  The children are brought in and put in a family with house parents and brothers and sisters.  They are given an education, good nutrition, and medical attention.  They also are learning skills for their future, are regularly taught about their own culture, and have chores around the farm like cooking, gardening, etc.  At first when I arrived I wondered how we could ever come in and help with anything, the kids already seemed cared for.  I felt that the Lord was quickly impressing on my heart what a great opportunity it was!  I would be able to see God's redemption.  I can't wait till I have more time later to tell you of some of the children's stories.  I cry to hear what they have experienced, but then I cry beca Tue, 10 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://katiebischoff.theworldrace.org/?filename=sometimes-i-want-to-go-home http://katiebischoff.theworldrace.org/?filename=sometimes-i-want-to-go-home As much as this year is super awesome, it is really hard sometimes.  We move from place to place, country to country, ministry to ministry and I often wonder what in the world is going on.  Here's a snippet from my journal the other day (I'm talking to God): "I'm craving stability.  Maybe You have me like this so I find stability only in You.  Is that what You're doing?  I don't have...the languages to communicate with...a home...a job...money...sometimes ministry...any clue for the future." Yesterday I had some time to just rest, to take a Sabbath and I feel like God really spoke to me.  I went to the chapter that God continually speaks to me through over the years, John 15.  It talks about abiding in God and love.  I was reading in the Message version and Jesus' words jumped out to me in a new way: "I've loved you the way my Father has loved me.  Make yourselves at home in my love.  If you keep my c Mon, 25 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://katiebischoff.theworldrace.org/?filename=the-day-to-day http://katiebischoff.theworldrace.org/?filename=the-day-to-day We've finished our midyear debriefing and now are in that limbo phase where we're  figuring out our next steps.  We've had several options placed before us and our tentative plan is to: visit care points this week (temporary solutions to caring for orphans and the poor by providing a meal and if possible education during the day), to go to Mbabane next week and visit an Abandoned Baby Hospital, and then on to Cape Town, South Africa for a ministry opportunity down there.  It sounds good, but I'm feeling a little disjointed (this type of stuff stresses me out, so I'd love your prayers). One of my highlights last week was visiting a care point with Tom Davis, the president of Childrens Hope Chest.  It was great learning about what the organization's vision and what is currently taking place.  They are doing some awesome things.  If you'd like to learn about it or be a part, check out the website a Mon, 25 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://katiebischoff.theworldrace.org/?filename=mozambique-happenings http://katiebischoff.theworldrace.org/?filename=mozambique-happenings I'm kind of frustrated because I finally wrote a good blog to update you all and my flash drive isn't working.  Argh.  Please read Becca's Blog (http://rebeccatharpe.theworldrace.org/) to get a general idea of what we've been doing.  If you'd like a bit more, look at my other teammate's, http://stacyutecht.theworldrace.org/. Sun, 17 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://katiebischoff.theworldrace.org/?filename=into-the-bush http://katiebischoff.theworldrace.org/?filename=into-the-bush We arrived in Mozambique about a week and a half ago only to find that most of the disaster relief had already been done!  Our teams have been looking for other opportunities to help and it has been a bit challenging, mainly because of the language barrier.  My team, Team 61 will most likely be heading out into the bush tomorrow.  We don't really know what to expect, but that just adds to the adventure of it all!  I'm personally doing well.  The anxiety issues that I was struggling with so much last month aren't really even an issue!  Praise God.  I've really enjoyed the village our team has stayed in since we've been here.  It's a real African village with reed huts, African singing (their music is just amazing), and some beautiful orphans running around making mischeif. I hope to tell you more later!  My time on the internet is pretty limited.  Thank you all so much for your prayers.  :o) Sun, 20 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://katiebischoff.theworldrace.org/?filename=letters http://katiebischoff.theworldrace.org/?filename=letters You can send letters or packages if you'd like up until July!  (wink, wink) Here's my address: Adventures in Missions care of: Katie Bischoff P.O. Box 1366 Ifafi 0260 South Africa    If you send a package, please send some money to cover a tax I must pay to retrieve the package (I'd pay but I don't have lots of money).  It may be better to send an envelope because those you don't have to pay a tax.    Sun, 20 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://katiebischoff.theworldrace.org/?filename=mozambique http://katiebischoff.theworldrace.org/?filename=mozambique Hey everybody!  Tomorrow we're off to Mozambique.  Mozambique is the 4th poorest country in the world.  I heard a recent statistic too that said 2/3 of the children die before the age of 5 for diseases that are preventable.  Recently the country was hit by a cyclone and flooding that caused devestation.  People are left without food, shelter and clothing.  The exciting thing though is that people are hungry to know the love of Jesus and lives are being changed! Squad A will be in a town called Villanculos (sp?).  There we will help with disaster relief and just loving the people.  I'm not sure of the specifics yet, but will fill you in when I can.  There's a possibility I will not have internet access for the next month. Please be praying for our strength as we face hard life issues.  Pray that the Lord will reveal His love for us and those we come in contact with...and for you guys at home too!  I'm really amazed at God' Wed, 9 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://katiebischoff.theworldrace.org/?filename=dirty-feet http://katiebischoff.theworldrace.org/?filename=dirty-feet The past month in Peru was crazy and flew by.  Things were changing all the time, but one thing that remained a constant was our dirty, sandy feet.  I wish I would have taken a picture.  We had a nightly ritual of going to the bathroom to wash...it made me understand a little bit more what it meant when Jesus washed His disciples feet.  I thought I'd give you some snippets of what went on in Peru.  Id like to do a Day in the Life but, things were different almost every day.  I can start though with where we lived.  Here's a shot Annie took outside our home: Interpreters We had interpreters this month and they were AMAZING.  1. It was nice that I wasnt one of the main translators this month 2.  They were so much fun and fit right in.  The first picture from left to right is Rober, Jorje, Dana, and Mary.  The second one is me, Amalia (an interpreter), and Meagan.  They were all very special Sat, 28 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://katiebischoff.theworldrace.org/?filename=anxiety http://katiebischoff.theworldrace.org/?filename=anxiety When Paul says to the Phillipians in Phil 4:6 "Do not be anxious about anything..." does that include not being anxious about our relationship with God? I'm currently in the home of Cooleys, some missionaries in Peru, because I need rest.  I realized before I left on the World Race that I often struggle with anxiety and a couple days ago it seemed to be getting worse.  When this happens, my chest gets tight and my breathing is irregular.  I told teammates about it, feeling stupid because 1)maybe it was all just in my head and 2)if there was an issue, there didn't seem to be any real catalyst.  I didn't have an answer for the way I was feeling. I love God's timing, because  lately I've been meditating on the idea that Jesus enters into our mess and loves us just where we are.  I've heard countless stories of people whose lives have been changed because they had an encounter with Christ at their lowest points...prostit Tue, 17 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://katiebischoff.theworldrace.org/?filename=learning-to-live-large http://katiebischoff.theworldrace.org/?filename=learning-to-live-large What Im doing: Squad A has been busy bees this month. Were partnering with a church and have a loaded schedule, reminiscent of youth group days. Weve been holding childrens festivals, visiting families, holding church services, building a church, playing with children, and more. Here I am being a clown...I know its pretty scary but kids like it for some reason: My favorite parts of it havent been as much the tasks as getting to know people. Ive loved having conversations with our interpreters and local chuch members as we walk around town. Ive loved sitting with teammates and hearing about their experience on the World Race and getting to see snippets of God through their eyes. Im finding that a lot of what I do in life is listen and ask questions...and I absolutely love it. I love when people get to express things that theyve been mulling over in their heads. I love helping people sort through whether their believing truth or lies, and I L Sat, 14 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://katiebischoff.theworldrace.org/?filename=wrapping-up-guatemala http://katiebischoff.theworldrace.org/?filename=wrapping-up-guatemala My Favorite Day There was this one specific day in Guatemala that I loved.   I got to hang out pretty much all day with a girl Elizabeth whose dad is a pastor (see picture).   The day was great because it was filled with things I love like spending time with people, sharing stories, crafts, cooking, etc.   People people dropped in and out during the morning while we worked on various tasks.   We started out looking at photo albums and telling each other about our families.   There were women of all ages coming in periodically together to crochet hackey-sacks (the main source of income for women in San Pablo).    I tried making one and what took me 30 minutes to do literally took them 2 minutes.   I loved sitting with them and hearing them talk and laugh.   Another pastor's daughter in the community stopped by to visit Elizabeth and her mom. Mon, 9 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://katiebischoff.theworldrace.org/?filename=paulina http://katiebischoff.theworldrace.org/?filename=paulina Heress a video I took a few weeks ago of a woman named Paulina. The living conditions youll see are typical of many of the people around Lake Atitlan in Guatemala. I told Paulina that I would have people back at home pray about her living situation and that her family would be able to stay together. Thanks. Wed, 4 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://katiebischoff.theworldrace.org/?filename=happy-birthday-kelly http://katiebischoff.theworldrace.org/?filename=happy-birthday-kelly I have learned so much about love from my sister!  Weve been together through every step in life, weve seen each others ugly sides, we know everything about each other and our love has only grown.  She is beautiful and full of life and fun.  We talk about everything from our love of food to the deep troublesome things about life and humanity.  Im so grateful for her and how shes helped me to be the woman I am today.  This may sound cheesy, but I really feel like shes a gem!  Im so blessed to have her in my life.  She makes life rich.  So heres to you Kelly!  Happy Double Deuce!  Cheers. :o) Mon, 26 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://katiebischoff.theworldrace.org/?filename=life-in-lima http://katiebischoff.theworldrace.org/?filename=life-in-lima So here's what daily life is looking like so far: My team lives with another team in a family's house from the church.  The family owns a business selling flan, so the house always smells good...it makes me hungry.  It's kind of cramped quarters, but I like it.  We were afraid that so many people in a small area could cause a lot of stress, but it seems to be going well.  In the mornings we wake up, read a bit, and hang out until it's time to go to the church for breakfast (the church is making all our meals!  I'm so thankful!).  Then we head out to various ministry sites...visiting children in their classrooms at school, meeting people in the market, helping out a new church plant, etc.  Then we eat lunch and go to a specific neighborhood Lomo de Corvina.  This is a pretty poor area where the homes don't have running water.  The vision from the pastor of our church is to plant a church their.  There are currently two small g Tue, 20 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://katiebischoff.theworldrace.org/?filename=im-in-peru http://katiebischoff.theworldrace.org/?filename=im-in-peru Hey everybody!  We all arrived really early this morning in Lima, Peru.  We got off the bus after mucho hours of travel and there were a ton of people from the church waiting to welcome us and give us giant hugs.  It was so precious.  I was super tired but felt touched by the love of the people. So...right now I dont have a huge amount of time to write.  Ive got some blogs coming your way soon to let you know about the end of our time in Guatemala.  Tomorrow well have an orientation for Peru where well find out what life and ministry will look like.  We raced today and it was my favorite one yet!  Our team came in 4th, but it was still cool.  We had 10 destinations to reach with specific activities including lots of running, swimming in the Pacific, eating cow heart, and looking at skulls in the catacombs of SanFranciscos Catherdral.  Ill post a blog about that with pictures. Anywho, Im doing well.  Our debrief t Fri, 16 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://katiebischoff.theworldrace.org/?filename=team-sickyone http://katiebischoff.theworldrace.org/?filename=team-sickyone I think that's a pretty witty title.  I'm proud of myself.  Our team's been sick for awhile but I think today we're all better.  I was the last one to get hit and was stuck in bed for about 2 days.  I think at this point most of you know about my teammate Jennifer.  Her ex-husband Jerry passed away and Jen had to leave the World Race to go home and care for her son Christopher.  It was really hard for us, but we know that the Lord has a plan for Jennifer and that He is good!  Here's her website if you want to read more about it: jennifersmith.theworldrace.org.  I'm so glad for the time I was able to spend with her, I learned so much and had A LOT of fun.  Jen's an amazing woman. So life for me at this point...I've taken over cooking responsibilities, which I'm pretty excited about.  Team Salt came to San Juan and is staying with us, so I'll get to prepare a lot of food.  Good thing I had a lot of practice with our Family Thu, 1 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT