Dear Friends and Family,
I have exciting news about what God is doing in my life! First of all, I would like to tell you how truly thankful I am to be blessed with so many awesome people to share this news with. You have all changed my life in tremendous ways. When I think of you, I am overcome with humility and gratitude. As most of you know, I have made the decision to leave my job and go overseas for one year to serve God. I would like to tell you a little more about this trip, the World Race, and how I came to the decision to participate.
Those of you that know me well know that I have difficulty making decisions! I often know what I should be doing, but have trouble following in faith. Recently in my life, there has been a series of events that have really challenged me to look at the way I was living my life, and specifically, to examine this stirring in me towards missions. What followed these events was a time of intense work and prayer around this topic and what it could possibly mean for the next part of my life. As I began to look at my life as a whole, and many of my experiences that led to this point, I could no longer deny this calling I feel has been placed on my life. The reality is that this calling has been present in me for a long time, most of my life actually. However, I can honestly say that for most of my life, I was too afraid of the implications of this to even acknowledge it, let alone pursue it. After a tremendous amount of examination, I now know that this is something I HAVE to do. Now, I have only great peace and passion about it!
During this process, I also heard about a trip called The World Race by an organization known as Adventures in Missions (AIM) through a friend that is also participating in the program. The premise of this trip is that I will be traveling with a team for 11 months, to 11 of the world’s most impoverished nations, to participate in 11 different mission opportunities. The mission work will range from serving women working in the Thai sex trade, to the population suffering from AIDS in South Africa, to cleaning up garbage in Nicaragua. I will be living among the people I’m serving. I will either stay in their homes, local churches, or tent. I will be living as closely as possible to the local customs and way of life found in these countries. Fundamentally, this organization is trying to ignite a new generation of people to serve physically, minister spiritually, develop leadership, raise awareness in North America, and leave everything behind in order to gain all that is of true value. I believe that this organization suits me on many levels including embracing God’s Will, a desire to serve others, and an excitement to experience this awesome world.
The date of my departure is July 2008. Over the next few months, I will be looking to develop a strong partnership and support network of people in my life who are willing to help me prepare mentally, financially and emotionally. What I am asking is that you consider supporting me in this. Specifically, I am asking for three types of support. First, I am asking for 15 people to become my prayer support team. This team commits to praying for me EVERY DAY while I am away-for my health, my safety and my ministry- so that every step I take is covered.
Secondly, I am also requesting financial support. In leaving my job for a year, I will need support in order to serve in these countries. My total expenses for all of my food, shelter and travel costs is $13,800 USD. Support could be a one-time offering, or an amount pledged per month, for every month I am away. I have calculated that if fifty people will pledge to give $25 every month of my ministry, I will practically meet my goal! I hope that your resources will be multiplied by my work! If this is something you could do, 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. Please do not put my name in the memo field of the check. Including the enclosed card will provide AIM with all the necessary information and indicating that your donation is for my participation in the World Race. All donations should be mailed to Adventures in Missions, P.O. Box 534470, Atlanta, GA 30353-4470. AIM is registered with the Internal Revenue Service as a 501c (3) non-profit organization in the United States. Donors will receive receipts for their gifts with the understanding that the disbursement of those gifts lies completely at the discretion of AIM and that the gifts are non-refundable and non-transferable, per IRS regulations. Unfortunately, for Canadian supporters, this gift is not tax deductible as AIM is a U.S. based organization.
Finally, I am asking that you partner with me in order to follow my journey around the world through my web address, emails, blogs and pictures. This alone would mean a lot to me. Please check out the websites I’ve included with this letter. Once again, thank you so much for everything you have already done for me in this journey!
In His service,
Anna
What is the World Race? www.theworldrace.org/index.asp?filename=what-is-the-world-race
A Sample Itinerary: www.theworldrace.org/index.asp?filename=world-race-sample-itinerary
From World Racers:www.theworldrace.org/custom/worldrace/updates/byteam.asp
