America the beautiful. A land of opportunity…so why am I
leaving again, you ask?
It has been just over two months since I have returned from
the World Race. I traveled to 11 countries in 11 months, including Guatemala,
Nicaragua, Costa Rica, the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Kenya,
Uganda, Tanzania, and India! We were able to partner with local ministries and
organizations along the way, serving in whichever way we were asked, for each
given month. It was an incredible year for me to love on people literally all
over the world and see the Lord grow my heart for specific ministries and
nations.
When I arrived back in the States, my transition was almost
eerily smooth! I had been transitioning to new countries every month for almost
a year, so I think it was just like another transition…just more comfortable.
My plan was to be in the US for about a year or so and then maybe take off to
Thailand to work with Burmese Refugees, who really captured my heart. As I soon
found out though, my timeline was a little off.
I spent some time with Adventures in Missions during the
month of October to help out with a training camp for an upcoming World Race
group. It was during that time that I started feeling like the Lord was calling
me to Thailand even sooner. After much prayer and nudging of the Holy Spirit, I
decided to join the Thailand Initiative
team with Adventures in Missions!
(My little buddy in Thailand)
The Thailand Initiative is a two-year project that I will be
starting in January 2012. For the first six months, I will be living in
Gainesville, Georgia with my team as we plan and fundraise for the project.
Tentatively, we are planning on moving to Chiang Mai, Thailand in the late
spring or early summer.
In Thailand, we will be partnering with Ray and Candace Ward
with Outpour Movement (www.outpourmovement.com).
Our main focus will be working with Burmese Refugees near the Thai/ Burmese
border. We will be building a safe house for at-risk youth coming across the
border and helping educate them and prepare them to make a permanent transition
to the Thai culture and systems. In order to do that we will be purchasing land
and also creating sustainable developments which will eventually be able to
pour funding back into the home. Some ideas are a hostel, B&B, agriculture,
eco-tourism, etc. More details will be established when we all put our heads
together in January.
During the 1.5 years in Chiang Mai, we will be working with
the Karen hill tribe people of Burma. There have been huge problems in Burma
for years, but it seems as though the world is unaware of many of them. The
military is basically determined to carry out a genocide, murdering innocent
people from many of the ethnic groups within the country. To learn more please
watch the short video at the bottom of this message, which also describes the
vision for Outpour Movement and some of what we’ll be doing.
While working on the Thailand Initiative project abroad,
I’ll also have the opportunity to work with local ministries combating Human
Trafficking, working with orphanages/ schools, starting Bible studies, and
spending time in the refugee camps.
Going back to last December in Costa Rica, I wrote a blog
titled, “Breaking My Heart With Dreams.” I had been asking God to break my
heart for the things that break His heart, and it seemed like I was given an
answer in a dream. It is crazy how everything works out. I felt as though God
was pointing me to work with at-risk youth and here I am almost a year later,
signing up to do just that! In fact, in my dream there were two boys with guns,
and part of our ministry will be working with ex-child soldiers.
So now you know why I’m moving to Thailand J
(Burmese Refugee children I worked with at a UN sponsored school in Mayalsia)
I would absolutely love your support as I enter this new
ministry for the next two years. I believe that what is going on in Burma is
horrific and the problem cannot be ignored. Someone has to do something and I
believe that God is calling me to be an instrument for His will. First and
foremost, I would love your prayers, not just for me, but for the people who
are facing tragedy in Burma and those in our community in Chiang Mai.
Second, I would love to ask you to come along side me to
support me and this project financially. I am required to raise $10,000 for the
first 6 months in Gainesville ($3,500 which is needed before I can start
January 1st). The budget for the rest of the project will be
determined once planning is underway in Georgia. One-time donors are welcomed,
but I would really love to establish a solid foundation of monthly supporters
for the next two years. If you would like to support me, all donations are
tax-deductible and you can follow the instructions below to donate:
- TO
GIVE ONLINE, simply visit my blog site (www.aimeedhondt.theworldrace.org) and click on the
“Support Me!” tab on the left-hand side of the page. (If you would like to
be a monthly supporter, there is an option to do so on that webpage and it
will walk you through the process.) -
2.
TO GIVE BY MAIL, please make checks payable to “Adventures in Missions”
with my name in the memo (Aimee D’Hondt) and send it to: Adventures in
Missions, PO Box 534470, Atlanta, GA 30353-4470
Other ways that you can get involved:
- Pass
this information on to people who are passionate about praying for and
supporting missions! (or give my info to your church’s missions pastor) - Host
me in your Bible Study/ Community Group or church to share videos and
information about what I’ll be doing- even if its just a few minutes J - Host
an open house so I can share at length about the World Race and the
Thailand Initiative. I can even send you a DVD with videos and information
if you would like to share on your own. - Help
me by buying or selling friendship bracelets (threadsofhope.com) that were
made by women in the Philippines as part of a ministry that also partners
with A.I.M. (each bracelet
will be sold for $2. This is a great fundraiser that young people can help
me with at school, youth groups, or wherever!!) - Host a
fundraiser- this could be a garage sale, car wash, spaghetti feed,
or anything you come up with. - One time love offering
Please help me make a stand against what is happening to the
Burmese and help bring hope and the love of Jesus to a dark place with brokenness.
Thank you so much for your time, support, and for being a
part of my life. Be blessed…
Love, CONTACT _Con-3706185D1 c s l Aimee D’Hondt
