Due to my new launch date (read about that here) and my new route (read about that here), I felt it necessary to update my Support Letter! The letter as a whole is essentially the same, but the details have been edited to reflect the changes!
Dear Friends & Family,
I hope you are doing well! I am excited to tell you about a new endeavor in my life. For the past six years, my childhood dream of being an elementary school teacher was my reality. I am currently teaching third grade, and I love being able to make a difference in the lives of my students, but in the last year, I started to feel like I was not fully using my gifts and talents. As much as I love teaching, I knew God was pursuing me to be open to what He had in store for my life outside of my classroom. I asked and even pleaded with God to show me His plan. With a small spark of curiosity, He ignited a fire in my heart for a different type of service, one that would require me to be incredibly brave and fully dependent on Him. So, in July, I will be leaving Charlotte and my comfort zone to follow His call for the next phase of my life.
I have committed to The World Race, a program of Adventures in Missions. For 11 months, I will be serving the people of 11 countries across 3 different continents alongside other Christian adults. Service can vary from country to country, but could include working with orphans, teaching English, planting churches, building or repairing homes and ministering to victims of sex trafficking. As we serve others in an attempt to meet their basic needs, we will also be spreading the love of God and the hope found in Him and His Word.
I will be carrying my belongings on my back, sleeping in a tent, and living with the people of India, Nepal, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Botswana, Swaziland, South Africa, Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Jamaica. When I asked God what the next phase of my life would hold, this was not exactly what I had in mind! But here I am, stepping out in faith that the Lord will equip me to spread His love and truth.
I would be honored if you would commit to pray for my team and me as we leave our sense of normalcy and comfort to follow God’s call. We will face many personal challenges throughout our journey on The World Race. Please pray for the people we will meet along the way; pray for their hearts to be open to the love of God and not hardened by the ways of the world.
As I prepare for my departure, one of my greatest challenges is my financial support. Like most missions organizations, World Race participants are required to fundraise financial support. I need to raise $16,277 to be fully funded. This money will cover all of my field expenses for the 11 months of the trip. Those expenses include travel from country to country, medical insurance, food, etc.
As I take this large leap of faith and fully trust God, would you prayerfully consider being a part of my Race? If you so choose, there are three ways you can financially support me. Through my blog you can make a one-time donation or a recurring donation with a credit/debit card or e-check/bank transfer. Visit my blog at www.marycatherinegrant.theworldrace.org and then click on “Support Me!” There are no processing fees! If you choose to support me with a recurring donation, please make sure the end date is January 1, 2016, as I must be fully funded by then! The third way you can financially support me is to mail a check directly to Adventures in Missions. Checks should be made out to “Adventures in Missions” with my full name in the memo line along with the Fundraising Card that I have printed on the back of this letter. Please mail checks to Adventures in Missions, PO Box 742570, Atlanta, GA 30374-2570.
I will be blogging as I prepare for departure and while I am on the field. Please visit my blog at www.marycatherinegrant.theworldrace.org and click “Subscribe for Updates” to receive an alert when my blog is updated. Thank you for prayers and your financial support; both will equip me to share God’s love with others!
Joyfully yours,
Mary Catherine Grant
PS: Please share this letter and/or my blog with others that may be interested. The more the merrier! 🙂
