Tomorrow, a group of thirteen from Uncommon Sports Group, eleven members and two staff, will take off to Jerusalem, Israel for a twelve-day Impact Trip. Each summer, Uncommon Sports Group offers a fully-funded international trip for its members to experience life, faith, and community outside of their normal context. USG members apply for international trips and are selected based on a set of criteria that the USG staff has outlined.
This year’s Israel team features members from across the sport industry, including Louisiana State University athletics, the University of Houston athletics, Jacksonville University, Florida Atlantic University, Northern Kentucky University, Florida State University, the National Football League, the University of Oklahoma, New York Knicks, and the University of Kansas. In this blog, a few of the attendees and staff share their past international experiences, as well as what led them to desire to be a part of this year’s Israel trip.
Shanya Richburg- Outreach Specialist at the Trust (Powered by the NFLPA)
Question #1: What led you to want to be a part of this trip to Israel?
Answer #1: I had such a positive experience during the Kenya trip in 2021 and that trip left me wanting more. So, for me, it was an opportunity to be impacted but also to impact lives in Israel, so why not? That was my motivation for applying.
Question #2: Have you been on an international trip before? If so, how will this trip compare?
Answer #2: Yes, I have. I went to Kenya in 2021. I think they will look a lot different, which I’m excited about. Experiencing different cultures is something that I was previously ignorant of. As I prepared for this trip by reading some of the materials that were given to us by USG, it really opened my eyes. I’m sure it will be a completely different experience [from Kenya], which I’m excited about.
Garrett Sons- the University of Oklahoma
Question #1: What led you to want to be a part of this trip to Israel?
Answer #1: Having gone to Kenya last summer, it was a great start to my own personal journey, and I learned a lot about myself and what I wanted to do, and what I wanted that to look like. Israel is a great next step to go having an expectation of what I need to bring to the trip, but then also getting to practice that with other people and get better at doing it myself along the way. I get a second opportunity to grow, and I’m excited for that part.
Question #2: Have you been on an international trip before? If so, how will this trip compare?
Answer #2: I think that it’s totally different. I’m excited to see how things are the same and also how the culture is different. I’m trying to go in with limited expectations because I don’t want to be in shock because it’s not what I expected.
Amanda Roth- Engagement Associate at Uncommon Sports Group
Question #1: What led you to seek out a job that offers opportunities for international travel?
Answer #1: I was interested in international trips because I have a little bit of background in it, and I enjoy seeing different parts of the world, and it opens your eyes to different perspectives. To be a part of that is really something that I’ve been interested in since college and it can be really powerful.
Question #2: Have you been on an international trip before? If so, how will this trip compare?
Answer #2: I’ve only been to Africa and Europe, so I haven’t experienced this part of the world. Everywhere we go, it will be a different culture and people, so I don’t know how it will compare until we get there. I’m not sure how it will be different!
Follow along on our blog and social media to see what our group is up to in the Holy Land!
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