June 2010 Newsletter
Bridget Clare McNamara
September 2010 World Race
Summer is here! I just finished up my first and only year teaching 3rd grade at Living Word Christian Academy. It was a bittersweet week of packing, cleaning, grading, and saying good-bye to staff and students. I am very excited for the summer and the World Race! However, it was also difficult saying good-bye to teachers and students that I only knew for one year! This summer I will be doing a bit of traveling, a lot of relaxing, tutoring, etc. I will be teaching summer school for my 3rd year at Pui Tak Center in Chinatown this summer for a few weeks. Otherwise, I will be enjoying a very relaxing summer, while getting ready for the World Race!
Who is Adventures in Missions?
www.adventures.org
Adventures in Missions (AIM) is an interdenominational mission organization that is based in Gainesville, GA. AIM has sent 80,000 people all over the world to be the hands and feet of Jesus by praying for the sick, bringing hope to the hopeless, caring for orphans, etc. AIM has sent out families, junior high students, high school students, college students, and adults to ministries all over the world.
What is the World Race?
www.theworldrace.org
Adventures in Missions has developed the World Race, which is an 11 month program for people in their 20’s and 30’s. While on the race, participants travel the world, ministering in a different country each month. AIM selects committed Christ followers to go and be the hands and feet of Jesus, to pray with the dying, love the orphaned children, bring hope to women trapped in prostitution, and bring the light of Christ to some of the darkest places on Earth.
New Race Route
A common word we hear while preparing for the World Race is �gchange�h. As we travel the world, our plans are going to change constantly! We still have three months to go and our Race Route has already changed! Our new Route is: Philippines, India, Nepal, Thailand, Cambodia, Pioneer Southeast Asia, Romania, Ukraine, Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya.�@
Thank You!
Thank You all SO MUCH for you continued prayer and financial support! There is no way that this could happen without all of you and I�fm so thankful! I am learning so much about the three-fold method of missions. One person is called to GO, the other is called to SEND, and another is called to MOBILIZE those that GO. I would not be able to GO without those of you who SEND me. I would not be able to GO and you would not be able to SEND without those who MOBILIZE. Thank you, once again, for your faithful support!
Support Update�c.
In Account: 4,032.00
Pledges: 1,850.00
Total: 5,882.00
Still Needed: 8,418.00
According to AIM�fs fundraising policy, I need to have $7,000 IN my account by August 1, 2010. In order to launch with the September team I have to have $8,500 IN my account by August 22, 2010. The rest can be raised within the first 3 months of the trip. Ideally, it would be best to have all money raised and/or pledged before I leave, as internet access may be sporadic once we are out on the mission field. God has provided in so many ways thus far and I am continuing to trust that He will provide all the funds in HIS timing!
1. You can send a check to Adventures in Missions at P.O. Box 534470 Atlanta, GA 30353-4470. You will need to include my support card, or write “Appealed by Bridget McNamara” in the memo line. This is VERY important. If not, your donation will go to the general fund for the World Race. If you need a new support card, please let me know and I will put one in the mail immediately!
2. You can donate with debit or credit card through my blog: http://bridgetmcnamara.theworldrace.org. You will see a Support Me! Link on the left hand side. You will then be able to follow the directions to make your donation. On the first page you will select “support a racer” and then type in my name. Please note that 5% of your donation will be deducted from my support account when using a credit card to pay for fees from the credit card company.
3. You can follow the steps of #2, but you will choose “bank draft option”. Please note that 3% will be deducted from the donation to pay for bank fees.
4. Remember that ALL donations are tax-deductible!
5. Due to the cost of fees for debit, credit, and bank draft options it is best to donate with a check when making a donation of $100 or more.
Fundraisers
Handmade bracelets from the Philippines
Purpose Statement:
Threads of Hope assists the economically oppressed in under-developed countries to establish home enterprises that will provide an income, through the development of products that can be sold world-wide. Funds generated through sales and donations will primarily be used to help meet the physical, educational and spiritual needs of the communities where the products are made.
One of the current World Race teams stopped in the Philippines and met a missionary family (the Kuhlows) who connected my team with Threads of Hope. The Kuhlows, along with local Filipino families, launched Threads of Hope in order to provide income for the families by making handmade jewelry. This ministry was started when the local missionaries realized many families in the Puerto Galera, Philippines, were selling their children into prostitution in order to provide for their families. They wanted an alternative and decide to launch Threads of Hope. Many of my teammates are also participating in this fundraiser and it has been awesome to learn about this ministry in the Philippines. Each bracelet from Threads of Hope costs $1. Half the proceeds will go directly back to the families in the Philippines, while the other half will go towards my World Race account. Please contact me to purchase and/or help with selling bracelets. You can find pictures of the bracelets and additional information at http://bridgetmcnamara.theworldrace.org
Garage Sale
June 18-19, 2010 (Friday-Saturday)
I will be having a garage sale to raise funds for the World Race on June 18 and 19 from 9:00am-6:00pm. I will also be selling the bracelets from the Philippines. I am also looking for donations towards the garage sale. I am collecting clothes, kitchenware, small appliances, household items, gently used books, sports equipment, etc. I am able to pick-up your donations during the first two weeks of June. Please contact me at (708) 927-9056 or [email protected] The garage sale will take place at my parents�f house at 9525 S. Richmond Ave. Evergreen Park, IL 60805.
Walk-A-Thon
I am organizing a Walk-A-Thon to raise funds for the World Race. On Saturday, July 10, 2010, a group of my friends and family will be walking along Lake Michigan in Chicago. We will be doing a 10K (6 mile) walk. Each walker is currently raising support for each mile they walk. All funds will go directly towards the World Race. I would love to have as many people as possible participating in this event! Would you like to join us on July 10 and walk? Are you interested in sponsoring one of the walkers? The details are still being worked on out. However, we will be walking in the evening to avoid the some of the Chicago heat and humidity during the day! Please contact me at (708) 927-9056 or [email protected] to sign-up to walk or sponsor a walker!
How can I be praying?
How can I be praying for you? My team has assigned ourselves a specific night of the week to be in prayer for the ministries we’ll be participating in, fundraising, physical health, preparations, team unity, and our supporters! Please let me know how I can be specifically be praying for you!
1. Please be praying for the specific countries we’ll be traveling to and the specific ministries we’ll be involved in. For example, our first month will be spent in the Philippines. My team is very excited to begin our trip in the Philippines, as many of us are selling handmade bracelets from local families!
2. Please be praying for spiritual, emotional, and physical preparation for the year. My team is now up to about 75 people from all over the United States and Canada. Often I here World Racers say “I got so caught up in getting ready to go, that I forgot that I was going”. Now that there are less than 3 months until we leave, my teammates and I are feeling the truth of that statement.
3. Training Camp: Training Camp is an important part in our preparation for the World Race. My team (September 2010) will be joining the October 2010 team in White, Georgia, for an intense 10 day training camp from July 24-August 1st.
4. Fundraising: Continue to pray for the fundraising aspect of this trip. I believe that God has called me to this mission for the next 11 months. Therefore, I know that He will provide what is needed! People often ask me what will happen if I don�ft raise the necessary funds. I honestly don�ft think about that too much! I know God has called me to leave in September and I am walking in Faith that He will provide! I have quit my job, started selling off my stuff, have purchased supplies, etc. I am planning on leaving in September!
What will you be doing?
We will be participating in a variety of ministries�c.From door-to-door evangelism in Tanzania to sports camps in Ukraine�cCheck out my blog at http://bridgetmcnamara.theworldrace.org to find out more about each country and ministry opportunities.
A sneak peek�cTanzania has a one-third split between Christianity, Islam, and indigenous religious groups. This diversity creates a colorful landscape of people and beliefs. Whether you are doing open-air crusades, door-to-door evangelism or visiting hospitals and orphanages the people of this diverse country will capture your heart.
