Olivet grad Abby Borland of Peoria traveling the globe with World Race

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Abby Borland (far left) with World Race in Ecuador (Photo submitted by Abby Borland)

BOURBONNAIS, IL (07/24/2013)(readMedia)-- After graduating from Olivet Nazarene University in 2013, Abby Borland decided to serve the world's citizens by joining the World Race, a ministry sending mission teams on a journey to 11 countries in 11 months. She just passed the halfway mark of the journey with seven months under her belt.

Hailing from Peoria, Borland began the Race in January, 2013 - the same month she graduated from Olivet - serving in Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Romania, Ukraine, South Africa and currently Mozambique. Thus far, her experience has been primarily focused on relationships. She has also enjoyed applying her political science knowledge to the history and cultures of the different countries where she has served.

"My studies from Olivet have been really helpful, especially when I was in Eastern Europe," Borland said. "I'm so glad I knew the history of communism because it helped make it easier for me to understand their culture - why things were the way they were or why things weren't as advanced as in the U.S. or Western Europe. It was really cool to see how much their history came into play and how they live currently."

Understanding that history has impacted relationships she has built with individuals like her host mom in Ukraine.

"One of my favorite moments was sitting with my Ukrainian host mom as she shared her story," Borland recalled. "Her family started an underground church in the 1930s and has kept it going through all the decades and even through communism. She was sent to prison three times for being a Christian and sharing her faith. She was so open and willing to go the extra step because she feels so convicted by her faith. I haven't met a lot of people who would risk going to prison just to tell someone about Jesus. It's awesome to meet people like that and to get to share daily life with them.

"Coming on the World Race is probably the best decision that I've ever made, and I'm really thankful I've had this opportunity. Even in the six months I've been on the Race, I can tell that I'm not the same person as when I left. You transform so much when you actually listen to what the Lord is telling you and try to live the way that He tells us to."

Olivet Nazarene University is an accredited Christian, liberal arts university offering more than 100 areas of undergraduate and graduate study, including the Doctor of Education in ethical leadership. Olivet has one main campus in Bourbonnais, Ill. - just 50 miles south of Chicago; three additional sites: Rolling Meadows and Oak Brook, Ill., and Hong Kong; and more than 100 School of Graduate and Continuing Studies learning locations throughout Chicagoland and the Midwest. From Oxford to Tokyo, hundreds of Olivet students also experience the global classroom each year, whether through study abroad opportunities or worldwide mission trips.

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Contact:

Laura Warfel

Public Relations Specialist

Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais, Ill.

www.olivet.edu

815-928-5403

lwwarfel@olivet.edu