Dear friends and family,
Over the past four years I have had many experiences that have grown my love for the Lord and my love for serving. I was able to travel with my youth group on several life-changing mission trips that really opened my eyes to the need here in America and around the world. About 2 years ago I began to feel as though my path for after graduation may be different. I felt that God was calling me to step out of my comfort zone and investigate the idea of making missions a long-term thing in my life. College was not the number one on my radar and I had no idea (and still have no idea) what sort of major I would be interested in. Instead of spending my first year out of graduation in college, I will be spending it serving God through missionary work. I have a love for travel and adventure and I knew that if I was going to be serving, I wanted to serve God all across the world. After lots of internet research, I discovered the World Race Gap Year through Adventures in Missions (AIM).
AIM is an organization designed to plan and support mission trips and missionaries. They have sent thousands of missionaries around the world since 1989. The World Race Gap Year is a program designed for people ages 18-21. The Gap Year is a 9 month trip to 5 countries. I will be traveling to the Philippines, Botswana, South Africa, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti. During the Race, I will serve, alongside my team, in partnership with churches, orphanages, women and children ministries, girls and women trapped in the sex slave industry to bring God’s love and hope to people around the world.
The Gap Year will be a year of adventure, joy, heartbreak, and challenges. I will be stretched spiritually, mentally, and physically as I am fully reliant on the Lord. One of the biggest challenges, that must be completed in order to successfully launch on September 6, 2017, is funding. I must raise $14,951 in order to go on the World Race Gap Year. This money will cover all expenses for the entire duration of my trip (food, transportation, housing, etc.) Giving my fundraising up to the Lord is one of the biggest steps of faith I have made so far on this journey. I encourage you to prayerfully consider joining me in my journey, whether through monthly donations, a one-time donation, or your thoughts and prayers. You are able to donate by mailing in the attached card or through my web page at emmakoestner.theworldrace.org and clicking the DONATE button.
I will continue to remain in touch to answer any questions you may have. You can follow my adventure through the next year and a half at emmakoestner.theworldrace.org and contact me directly at [email protected].
In Christ,
Emma Koestner
