Dear Friends and Family,
I hope I am reaching you in good spirits. I am writing to catch you up on recent happenings and share some exciting news with you! Last spring I graduated from Point Loma with my Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science. The plan was to apply to graduate school to pursue a career in physical therapy. However, this past fall as I became increasingly involved with my church, Christ’s Church of the Valley, I began to feel a deep desire for community and in return, the Lord placed in me a heart for ministry. My new plan is to abandon my plans and follow God blindly, seeking His Kingdom first.
After much prayer and consideration, I am overjoyed to share with you that come July 2014 I will be embarking on the journey of a lifetime! In less than four months I will set off on an 11 month mission trip around the globe to 11 countries to serve the “least of these” through a program called the World Race— put on by the Christian organization Adventures in Missions. In my journey I will travel to 11 countries across 3 continents. I will begin in South America serving the countries of Colombia, Bolivia, Peru, and Ecuador. From there the journey continues in Asia serving the countries of Thailand, Cambodia, Japan, and Malaysia. Finally, I will finish in Africa serving in Swaziland, Botswana, and South Africa.
In these eleven months my team and I will partner with hundreds of local churches and ministries with the mission of enabling long-term missionaries to extend their reach and deepen their impact. Our ministry will look different every day, depending on the country and the needs that must be met in that area. Some days will be packed full with construction, VBS, orphan care, HIV and AIDS victim assistance, praying for the sick in hospitals, care point feedings, human trafficking prevention, prison ministries, teaching English, etc. Some of the ministries I look forward to the most will bring hope to the forgotten people living in the garbage dumps of South America, love the sex-trafficking victims in Southeast Asia and share that they have worth and value, and celebrate with African prisoners as we remind them of their redemption in Christ!
A trip of this magnitude is a big commitment and cannot happen without support from friends, family, and community. There are two main ways you can support me: in prayer and in giving. There is power in prayer and I would love your prayerful support for my funding, ministry, health, safety, and growth. Throughout the Race, I will be updating this blog so that you can remain updated on my funding status, how I’m doing, the work that’s being done around the world, and how you can be praying for me and those I come in contact with. If interested, please subscribe to this blog by entering your email address and clicking the “Subscribe” button to your left.
In addition to your prayers, I am also in need of financial support. The total cost of this trip is $16,252; some serious coin I’m sure you’ve noted. However, these costs will cover everything for 11 months of ministry and 11 months of living. Thankfully this amount is not due all at once. The following are the deadlines I will meet:
- $3,500 due May 2, 2014
- $7,500 due June 20, 2014
- $11,000 due October 1, 2014
- $16,252 due January 1, 2015
If you feel led to give monetarily to my Race, please click the “Support Me!” tab on the left hand side of this screen. If you would like to write a *check, you can do so by contacting me so I can send you a printable download of the Adventures in Missions support card in which you will need to fill out and send with your check to the following address:
Adventures in Missions
P.O. Box 742570
Atlanta, GA 30374-2570
*Please make all checks payable to Adventures in Missions and add “Danielle Anchondo” in the memo section.
You and I have been given an incredible opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others around the world and even in our own hearts. The price is high, but so are the rewards. As I take this leap of faith, would you prayerfully consider partnering with my ministry through monthly giving or a one-time donation of an amount of your choosing? (Fun fact: If 55 people give $50 for the next 6 months, I will be fully funded!)
I am ecstatic to be sharing this exciting news with you! I look forward to being in community with you throughout this journey. If you have any questions regarding the World Race or my decision to go, please ask me! I understand this trip is far from the ordinary and arises many questions, so if you’re a skeptic and worry that your questions may be too blunt, ask them anyways! I’d love to talk about it, answer your questions, and swap stories. Thank you so much for your support, this mission would not be possible without it.
Blessings,
Danielle
