Daniel Cook Enters the World Race
Daniel Cook is a Blackman High School alumnus who graduated in the year 2012. We recently interviewed him about his participation in The World Race.
Daniel Cook is posing next to a child in India during the first month of his mission trip.
Q: How did you find out about the World Race?
A: About two and a half years ago I studied abroad in London per semester. I really enjoyed that and when I got back from that I was researching post-graduate mission opportunities. [And] My sister and I were researching, and that was the first thing that popped up. I looked at it and thought it was pretty cool, but I dismissed it because I didn’t think I was able to afford it. I thought about it for a year and a half and then one of my other friends from UT posted last October on Facebook that she was going to go on the trip. So I went and talked to her about it and realized that fundraising really was possible. I did a little more research into it, trying to figure out if this is what I really wanted to do, if this is something I’m called to do, if it’s worthwhile, and if it’s a good mission trip. Efficiently using my money so after that, around New Years, I was full committed to doing it.
Q: What countries are you going to now?
A: I’m going to India in the fall, then Vietnam and Cambodia.
Q: Do you get to know people beforehand?
A: From August 10th to 20th, we did a training camp down at their headquarters in Gainesville, GA, about an hour NE of Atlanta. We got to know everybody in our squad, the leadership with the adventure missions, and kind of know more about how to organize. We already organized our teams, so I already know the 6 others people that I’m going to be doing the majority of my mission work with.
Q: What exactly are you trying to gain in experience in doing this?
A: When I’m fundraising, I’ve had people ask me a few questions. I’ve had some ask if this an investment in you as well. It is definitely an investment in me. Adventures- it is about helping those people in the countries we are going to. It is also about my spiritual journey as well. The people on our squad, we come from all different backgrounds; this is an non-denominational organization. I think that’s really powerful because it provides a lot of opportunity for growth. And a lot of people coming from different backgrounds, you know, they’ve seen things one way their whole life, but they are put into a situation where they have to work with people who see things differently. You know that’s a struggle, but that’s how you grow. It’s definitely an investment in me and my spiritual growth.”
Q: What does the cost of the World Race include?
A: The cost, $6,961, includes all food. We’re eating on about $4 a day, which includes all lodging, if there is any, it also includes insurance. For lodging, we’re backpacking and we have tents. Not every month we will be in a tent, some months we will be in a dorm. We found out India is our first stop; we will be in the same type of dorm situation, but not all of us will have beds.
For more information, follow http://danielcook.theworldrace.org/.
