When Paige Burlew graduated from Red Mountain High School and continued to the University of Arizona, where she graduated in May 2013 with a degree in psychology and a minor in business, she never dreamed her life would take the turn it has taken.
Paige heard about Adventures in Missions through friends. A small voice kept coming back to this energetically positive young lady through the years, and she knew this is where she was meant to be. Previously, at 15 years old, she had participated in a two-week church mission trip to Zambia. Now, she is going to 11 countries in 11 months, all to be in service by spreading love in tangible ways.
Adventures in Missions is a nondenominational service-based organization headquartered in Georgia. Young missionaries are sent all over the world to show love in noticeable and substantial ways to help meet the needs of the people they encounter. Paige expects she will be a completely different person when she returns after seeing people who live with basically nothing and still get by.
Referred to as The World Race, these young people will start in Thailand, move on to Vietnam, and then travel to Cambodia, South Africa, Mozambique, Swaziland, India, Nepal, Turkey and Bulgaria. The last stop is Romania. As they travel the world, these exceptional individuals will teach, serve and show love to the people in all areas of these countries.
Paige left on July 3, and will be gone until May 2014. Travelling with her life in a backpack weighing less than 50 pounds, she is on a team of six girls called Team Mosaic. All teams are part of a 50-person squad. Where they stay along their travels ultimately depends on the country. They could stay in a home, a hostel or a wide-open area. They need to be prepared for anything and everything.
Being mentally and physically ready is an important component of her journey. Therefore, Paige, along with the other missionaries, participated in a one-week training camp. Together, they learned how to eat weird food, pack a backpack and worship. Basically, they went through dry runs and various scenarios.
Her parents, friends and community have been financially, as well as prayerfully, supportive of Paige. The trip costs $15,500 plus the plane ticket to Thailand. To raise this money, Paige has held various fund-raisers, such as selling bracelets and T-shirts. In addition, she has written to churches, and has spoken at various churches, all in an effort to seek donations.
Her siblings are excited for their sister. They agree this is something they would have expected from Paige. She would always announce her plans after each school year, and would be known to be spontaneous and on the go. Friends living out their faith every day, not just on Sunday, have inspired her.
Through high school, Paige had been part of Fellowship of Christian Athletes, as she ran track and cross-country. “I never thought I would be doing this, and I am open to where I will be led,” Paige said. “God has such cool plans for me…more than I could ever have imagined for myself.”
You can follow Paige on instagram@PaigeBurlew, or on her blog at