Welcome to my blog. I hope you take the time to read about
the journey I will be taking this next year. ENJOY!
What is the World Race?
The World Race is just that a race. Through Adventures in
Missions (AIM) the World Race is a program that takes Christian missionaries
away from their lives of comfort and normality to a life of uncertainty for 11
months. Through this program the group will visit 11 different countries in 11
months.
(to view my
route visit
http://theworldrace.org/?tab=routes&subtab=september-2010 or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3n_WEIx16JQ
to watch a video)
The trip I am going on
leaves September 1, 2010 and returns July 31, 2011. The countries I will travel
include: The Philippines, India, Nepal, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Romania,
Ukraine, Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya. The work that our teams will do is
completely dependent on the need of each individual location. The work could
vary from construction, visiting the hospitals, playing with children and
orphans, preparing meals, leading sports camps, and/or living among the lepers
and gypsies. Those are just a few of the things what we could be doing while on
our journey.
How did I get here?
As a recent graduate of
Lee University, and like most graduates, figuring out what I was doing with my
life was a daily battle. The past semester I was asked, “What are you doing
when you graduate?” more times than I can count. The honest truth, I had no
idea. I was trying to make my own plans happen in fear that I would be letting
people down if I didn’t have a plan. Well my plan was not God’s. I have known
for a long time that God had put a calling on my life for missions work. In my
own selfishness I was ignoring that calling in order to forge my own path
instead of the path God wanted to lead me down. My heart for missions had been
blurred by this selfishness. I was making plans, applying for jobs, and telling
people what I wanted to do instead of what God wanted me to do. It wasn’t until
I was so discouraged because none of my plans were working out when God
basically hit me in the face with the World Race.
All semester, as I ignored
all emails from AIM I was getting updated on the activities they were involved
with. One afternoon, crying on my bed, I heard my email “bling” and it was from
AIM. I actually took the time to look at this email and it informed me that it
wasn’t too late to apply for the September 2010 World Race. This was June 2nd
as I filled out an application and said, “Ok God if this is what you want me to
do and if this is the path you want me to take, open the doors.” I scheduled a
phone interview on June 7th and on June 15th I got a call
telling me I was accepted for the September 2010 World Race team. So trusting
that God has a path and plan for my life is something that I will never
question or allow myself to try to control again. This is definitely going to
be the hardest thing I have ever done, but I know that through Christ anything
and everything is possible as long as you trust in Him.
So how can you help?
There are two key things
essential in order for this journey happen: financial and spiritual support.
Financially, I have to provide my way for this trip. The total cost is $14,300. I know that this is hard economic time for
everyone, but I ask that you prayerfully consider what you and family might
give to support me through this journey. There is no set donation amount, and
there is not donation too small. Every penny will help, seriously! The simplest
way to donate is by going to my blog (chandlercollins.theworldrace.org) and clicking on the “Support Me” link in the menu bar to the left. This will direct
you to the donation page through Adventures in Missions and will ensure you are
donating to my specific fund. All donations made go directly to my account,
which in turn is simply credited. Adventures in Missions is registered with the
Internal Revenue Service as a 501 ( c)(3) non-profit organization. All
donations may be tax deductible. All funds raised go toward my total for the
trip, which in the end will be combined with my entire team to help pay for any
and all expenses during our journey. These expenses include lodging, ministries,
transportation, food, etc throughout the 11-month period. If you do not wish to donate online,
donations can also be given via checks and made out to Adventures in Missions
with the memo being “for Chandler Collins.” Checks should be mailed to:
Adventures
in Missions
P.O.
Box 534470
Atlanta,
GA 30353-4470
Please Include: If mailing
a check, please also include the following response card with your donation.
This allows my account to be credited.
http://www.adventures.org/mystuff/support/documents/sample%20support%20letter.pdf.
I am also needing a strong group of prayer warriors. These
prayer warriors will be willing to support me through prayer not only for
myself but also my teammates. This is just as important and I could never thank
you all enough for praying for me as I am on this journey for the next year.
Please prayerfully ask how and if God wants to use you through my journey. I
will be updating my blog weekly or when possible to keep everyone informed of
what is going on during the trip. All you have to do is continue going to
chandlercollins.theworldrace.org to be updated on the activities we are doing
while on the field. I know that
God has amazing plans for all those going on this trip. I will be blessed knowing you are
following on this journey along side me. May He return the blessing to you 100
fold. Thank you for your consideration.
In Him:
Chandler Collins
Here is a break down of the amounts that are due and when:
$150 Initial Donation – 2 Weeks after you’re
accepted
$1,000 – Before coming to Training Camp (July 24)
$7,000 – 1 Month before the trip (Aug. 1, 2010)
$8,500 – 1 Week before the trip (Aug. 25, 2010)
$11,500 – End of Month 3 On the Field (Dec. 31,
2010)
$14,300 – End of Month 6 On the Field (Feb. 31, 2011)
