UTM alumna Jena Bea Haney from Hickman, Ky., joins UTM alumna Mary-Katherine Hill and UTM alumnus Brent Acker in running The World Race on Sept. 10.
According to The World Race website, “The World Race is a stretching journey into 11 countries in 11 months to serve ‘the least of these’ while amongst real and raw community. This unique mission trip is a challenging adventure for young adults to abandon worldly possessions and a traditional lifestyle in exchange for an understanding that it’s not about you; it’s about the Kingdom.”
Young adults who decide to take on the challenge of running the race are required to raise funds to pay for their travel expenses and meals. He or she must raise a minimum percentage of the total amount before beginning the journey. The exact dollar amount varies depending on the particular route the squad he or she is assigned to will be taking.
Haney, who was assigned to the X squad, needs to raise $16,200 and to date has raised a total of $9,277 through various fundraisers and donations. Her 11-month-journey will take her to South Africa, Swaziland, Mozambique, India, Nepal, Thailand, Cambodia, Philippines, Haiti, Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. During her journey to each of these countries, she will be living among and working with the people within each individual community.
“I am going to fulfill the calling God has placed on my life to love the people who don’t know the love of our Father and have a year of realizing it isn’t about me; it is about Him,” Haney said.
Haney attended UTM from 2008 to 2010 as an Elementary Education major. She was both a sister in Alpha Delta Pi and a little sister for SAE. Haney now freely admits that her time at UTM played a very important role in shaping who she is today; even though originally she only attended UTM to please her aunt. Her aunt raised her and her younger siblings after her mother’s death in 1997.
“I loved everything about being at UTM, the friendships I made and the growing up I had to do. I worked at Brandy’s while I was a student there and I loved working for people who cared about us as students,” Haney said.
One such friendship was with fellow World Racer Mary-Katherine Hill. Hill gave Haney the extra encouragement needed to make the final decision to run The World Race.
After leaving UTM, Haney later went on to fulfill her lifelong dream of becoming a cosmetologist. She graduated in Sept. 2011 from Paul Mitchell the School Nashville. She has recently been working selling hair tools and traveling all over the U.S. doing shows for a traveling hair show company.
Traveling to work with those in need in 11 different countries in 11 months while only being allowed to take along what she can carry on her back is definitely not the type of traveling Haney has been used to, but she is very excited about the opportunities being a part of The World Race allows. She will be given the unique chance to live with and love orphans and prostitutes.
Before beginning her momentous journey, Haney left behind a few words of wisdom to be shared with current UTM students.
“Work hard and love every minute of your time there. It will fly and your best memories in life will be there. Keep following God’s plan for your life; it is the most important and He will be there with you every step of the way,” Haney said.
Follow Haney’s progress on her 11-month-journey at www.jenahaney.theworldrace.org. Go to www.thepacer.net/the-world-race-is-on-utm-alumni-make-difference/ to read more about fellow World Racers Hill and Acker.
