Dear Friends and Family,
As
most of you know God has called me to work in missions. In these couple
of years I have been serving in missions in any way possible. I started
orphanage trips for a local church in the year 2006 in order to reach
orphans in Mexico. And recently this summer God has really opened the
doors for me to go on two missions trips. The first one was in Guatemala
which helped me realize that God was calling to the mission’s field.
In Guatemala I had such an amazing time serving and teaching English
at local school in Lake Atitlan. I loved indulging in the culture and
experiencing it, but mainly serving others through God. My other mission’s
trip was to Coahuila, Mexico that I went to as a translator and to teach
English. One thing that really touched me about the trip was when we
were putting concrete on the floor, so that the church can have somewhere
to congregate outside or have celebrations. When we were done with the
slab of concrete on the floor I was walking by getting ready to go and
I saw the pastor crying, so I asked him if he was ok? And he said that
he is really happy that now his church has somewhere to congregate outside.
That really touched my heart just to see how such a little thing to
us can mean so much to someone. That is why I have a passion to work
in mission, seeing people impacted and touched because of the love of
God. It is the best gift anyone can give to someone, to love the way
Christ did. However, I know God has called me to mission’s because
I heard his voice saying to me “you are right” You are right, you
are called to be a missionary. This happened to me while I was at a
retreat and I was pouring out my heart asking Him “is mission where
I am supposed to be”? He said “you are right”. That is how
I know and am certain that God has called me to missions.
Recently
I have been struggling to know what exact country God wants me or what
ministry. I was going to go to Guatemala in January, but I was not sure
if that was the right place God really wanted me. I have never been
on any other missions trip that have lasted over 3 weeks and Guatemala
was my first; like you can say my first love and my first everything.
However, it helped me realize that God was calling for missions. It’s
a funny story and so God obvious when I found out about The World Race.
Okay, so I was looking through YouTube videos about Guatemala because
I had a question in my head “God is Guatemala the place you want me
to go”? So, I kept looking through videos and asking God that question
until I found a Guatemala video, but it was with The World Race. Then
at the end of the video it had the web address, so I went to it and
it said travel to 11 countries in a year! It blew my mind! I was like
“is this for real”. It was for real! This was the answer to my prayers.
Going to 11 different countries working in different ministries and
serving God!!! What more can you ask for. So, I applied and went through
an application process and interview, and I got accepted! So, that means
I will be leaving the 1st of June 2009. I will be working
in Central America, South America, Asia, Africa, and many more. The
different ministry’s that I will be working in are Teaching English,
working in orphanages, church planting, disaster relive, Aids relive,
reaching out to prostitutes, working in trash dumps where people live,
community development, and many more. Throughout this trip, I
will be living in churches, tents, and villages within the community
where we are ministering. I will be surrounded by a core group of teammates
who will help disciple and encourage me to go deeper in my relationship
with Christ. Prior to leaving the country I will undergo training and
discipleship through AIM’s direction. Around the month of April I will
be going to training camp in Georgia to help me get ready to go out
in the missions’ field and to get me ready spiritually.
I
would like to invite all of you to share in this journey with me. Throughout
the trip, I will have an interactive personal blog in which my team
and I will share about all we experience. I would love many of you to
commit to praying for me and my team from now until we return. The cost
of the trip is approximately $16,000 which will include all transportation,
food, and lodging throughout the race. I will also need to raise funds
for things such as: visas, international medical insurance, vaccinations,
and travel to camp for training, the race start point, and the way back
home. Money can be received in one time gifts and monthly pledges. If
I have 5 people giving $200 monthly for 10 months, 10 giving $100 monthly
for 10 months, and 5 giving $50 monthly for 10 months then all my cost
will be covered. Any help no matter the amount or method is greatly
appreciated.
I
have enclosed a response card and pre-addressed envelope, which invites
you to share in this ministry. Please make checks payable to Adventures
in Missions. You may write “appealed by” and my name in
the memo section of the check if you wish. All donations should be mailed
to Adventures in Missions, P.O. Box 534470, Atlanta, GA 30353-4470.
Including the enclosed card it will provide AIM with all necessary information.
Adventures in Missions is registered with the Internal Revenue Service
as a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization. Donors will receive receipts
for their gifts with the understanding that the disbursement of those
gifts lies completely at the discretion of Adventures in Missions and
that the gifts are non-refundable and non-transferable, per IRS regulations.
Gifts may be tax deductible; please consult your tax advisor. You can
also donate online through my blog.
Now
the question is Will You Join Me On The World Race??
“There
will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be
openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your
land.” Deuteronomy 15:11
In
Christ,
Contreras
