Dear Family and Friends,
When I was 10 years old, I decided that I would use whatever career path I chose to participate in short term missions trips. However, as I grew up, I got good at finding excuses for why I couldn’t go. “I don’t have the time.” “I don’t want to miss ‘X’ event.” “I don’t want to get uncomfortable.” I recently made a to do list that included going on a missions trip, yet I still found excuses for not going. Nevertheless, God didn’t give up on me. He kept reminding me of my decision from when I was 10 and my to do list from this year. I had just decided to go to Mexico with my church when my cousin came down to visit. He was telling me about this missions trip that he was going to go on. It was called the World Race. I immediately felt God tugging on my heart telling me that this was the trip that I needed to go on. Of course the doubts and excuses immediately moved in. However, I know that I need to give up my doubts and excuses and just GO.
This is why I will be leaving this July to go on the World Race. The World Race is through Adventures in Missions (AIM). I will be in 11 countries over the course of 11 months. These countries span Central America, Africa, and Asia. I will be living in the villages, teaching children, working with medical aid, building houses, working alongside victims of sex trafficking, ministering to women in the red light districts, and planting churches as well as helping wherever I can with other ministry needs. Follow along with me on this journey at my blog: elizabethshouse.theworldrace.org.
I cannot make this trip alone and here are some ways that you can help:
Prayer: I will be travelling to dangerous countries that have a low percentage of Christians, even persecution. I will also be gone for 11 months. This could lead to fatigue, sickness, apathy, homesickness, and just plain burnout. These are all attacks from the devil and my prayer is that you are praying with me to keep these attacks from affecting me.
Financial Support: In order to participate on this amazing journey, I must raise $15,500 that will cover airfare, meals, and living expenses. It might sound like a lot; but, if 50 pledge to support me with $25 per month for one year, I will meet that goal! I have enclosed a response card and pre-addressed envelope, inviting you to share in this ministry. Please make checks payable to Adventures In Missions and return the response card with your donation to Adventures In Missions, PO Box 534470, Atlanta, GA, 30353-4470. The response card will provide AIM with the information necessary to send you a receipt for your donation.
Personal Finances: I will be doing this full time and will have no opportunity to work while on the Race. To cover the expenses of my health insurance, vaccinations, needed travel gear, and roundtrip airfare to training camp in Atlanta, I will need to raise an additional $4,000. If you would like to donate towards these personal expenses, please send a check made out to Elizabeth Shouse to my address at 11450 Harrisburg Road, Los Alamitos, CA 90720.
“Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples. For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods.” Psalm 96:3-4
Thank you for prayerfully considering supporting me as I start this journey to reach the world with the Gospel. I cannot wait to get started on this journey around the world. I know that God has uniquely placed this organization in my life at this time for a reason and I can’t wait to grow and be stretched, as I become God’s hands and feet around the world.
With Joy,
Elizabeth Yvonne Shouse
