Dear Family and Friends,
I hope that as you read this letter you are able to see something that has been dear to my heart for some time now. Years ago when I was in high school, I went on many mission trips with my church to help out in many different areas. I always had a heart for helping out, whether I was building a church, fixing people's homes who do not have to money to pay someone to do it, ministry, or just being there for someone.
Now, almost five years later I'm going follow the passion that God has put in my heart for helping others. The way I'm going to fulfill this dream is through an organization called Adventures In Missions, thru their World Race program. The World Race is an eleven month Christian mission trip to eleven different countries around the world. This organization gives other people who enjoy serving others the chance act out. Some of the areas of ministry my team and I will be doing are partnering up with churches and ministries in local communities to preach the Gospel, plant churches, work in orphanages, and bring hope and love to those who have lost it.
Here is a brief story on how I heard about this organization. One night a good friend of mine and I were having a heart to heart conversation about life in general and I brought up how I've been wanting to attend another mission trip. He mentioned that he had a friend who was currently in the process of going on a mission trip herself. When introduced to his friend she told me that she was going on a mission trip called World Race that will be departing January 2013. After hearing about this and a lot of prayer I knew it in my heart that I had to go, no matter what it took.
With this trip being a voluntary eleven month mission trip I will have to leave my job to be able to attend. I will also be responsible for raising money for the trip, which will cost $15,500. I'm grateful for this opportunity that God has given me, and although big sacrifices will have to be made for me to attend, I've committed myself to doing it. I'm writing to ask you if you would consider partnering prayerfully and financially with me in my ministry. I know economic times are hard on families these days, but if you could find it in your heart to help me, help others less fortunate than us, I would greatly appreciate it.
I'm excited to see how God will move in my life and in the lives of others though this mission. A friend of mine once told me that, "Good things in life take time, but great things happen all at once." Through God ALL things are possible, and He will use people as His tools to touch other people's lives. I want to thank you in advance for your prayers and financial support. May God bless you as you consider helping me reach my goal in this ministry.
Thank you,
Mary Smith
