Hello friends, family, and supporters!
I am officially home and I wanted to drop in to say thank you to each and every one of you for following along and partnering with my journey on the World Race! Together we were able to raise $18,200 and share the love of Jesus to 13 countries! I am so incredibly grateful for your contribution, prayers, and good vibes. So here is a BIG hug and Thank you!
Thanks to you, we were honored to meet hundreds of amazing people this year and share a love that knows no bounds. Here are just a few of the people you reached this year!
Paschal (Cote D’Ivoire)
A lot of uber drivers (Malaysia)
Nema (Cote D’Ivoire) Chrystine (Indonesia)
Benin (Ghana) John (Indonesia)
Charles (Ghana)
Rudy (Philippines)
Albert (Togo)
Divinea Diana (Philippines),
Kristen (Thailand-tourist from US)
Carmen and Ricardo (Argentina)
Homeless family living in abandoned airplane (Thailand)
Daniela (Chile)
Jesus (Bolivia) Jorge (Peru)
[ages 2-72]. Each name here has a face that is dear to my heart so, thank you!
We fed the hungry, handed out bibles, transformed a community center, painted houses, worked at a recycling facility, led bible studies/Sunday schools, taught about God’s heart for justice, held women’s conferences, worked at children and teens homes, reminded people of their value, shared about a relationship with Jesus and his love for us, and watched Him change lives all over the world! All of this was possible because of YOU! Thank you for choosing to impact lives everywhere.
So, what’s next for me?
During these past eleven months I have witnessed poverty, injustice, and oppression but I have also witnessed joy, tremendous love, and hope by hanging out with some incredible “street kids”, as they call them in the Philippines. I have always been pretty lucky to know my career path as a social worker and that I have a heart for helping create justice for others.
Because of this, I have recently accepted a position with International Justice Mission (IJM) an organization whose goal is to end violence against people living in poverty. I will be moving to the Philippines beginning March 2020 for their one year fellowship program. I get to use my social work skills to work alongside an incredible organization that I believe in, with the purpose to help rescue and restore children from online sexual exploitation.
There is hope, there is joy, and there is tremendous love to continue sharing with those who are hurting and broken. This year for me has redefined what it means to have a relationship with Jesus as well as what love truly is. You and I were created to be loved. That’s it! We don’t have to work or do anything for it, strive, or give anything in return for it. We get to embrace it at no cost. What a beautiful gift! When we experience that love so deeply we get to do the things we are passionate about; for me that takes the form of fighting for justice.
If you would like to learn more about this new journey and my heart behind it, stories from my race, or get to know how God is moving through the work of IJM, I would love to chat with you! I truly believe in the work IJM is doing around the world and believe you will be greatly encouraged too.
While I do intend to work part-time teaching English online, this IJM fellowship program is full time and unpaid. I must raise $20,000 in order to cover the cost of training, housing, food and transportation. If this is something you feel God is laying on your heart to continue to partner with me in either a one time or monthly gift, donations can be sent by check and made out to Vanessa Almodovar at 5674 Odessa Ave, Fort Worth, TX 76133 (until March 15th, 2020) or online at https://www.gofundme.com/f/vanessa039s-ijm-fellowship (Note: you do not have to include a tip! Change the percent to “other” and enter $0).
I am also available via Venmo, Paypal, Zelle, and Cashapp.
Please continue to pray for me, my World Race Squad, IJM, and all of the incredible ministries we partnered with this year. I am praying for lives to be radically changed by the love of Jesus and that each of you experience His love in a new way this new year!
I look forward to continuing to share this adventure with you all!
Happy New Year!
With love,
Vanessa Almodovar
