Dear friends and family,
Many of you know my heart’s desire to serve God in any capacity that He has called me to. This has been first through my calling to work and minister to my students in the inner city of Detroit which I truly love! I am now in my ninth year of teaching! Ahh! Another desire has been to serve over seas for short-term missions. Many of you have been my long time supporters to Brazil, South Africa, Kenya and my last trip to Malawi. The opportunity to serve and help others through building, giving medical help and working with children have all been amazing life changing moments. These adventures have been rewarding, and I feel alive when I am involved in all of these facets.
Throughout the last years I felt that if God laid it on my heart to do missions for a period of time that I would say yes. During my last trip to Malawi I felt that He was calling me to leave this coming year. So I said yes! And the search began. 🙂
Through a friend I found a ministry that made my spirit leap with excitement and joy with the mission they set out to do. The ministry is called AIM (Adventures in Missions). One part of their ministry is the program called the World Race. The idea is to take a year of your life and travel to eleven countries in eleven months joining local partners and serving them in their ministries. So in September, I will be alongside with ministries that are working with orphanages, responding to disaster needs, outreach to local communities, and church planting. To find out more info check out http://www.adventures.org/ and http://www.theworldrace.org/
Some vital aspects of the World Race are the simplicity, servant hood and disciplining that it creates. The simplicity comes with the living out of a backpack (yes! For a whole year! Not many clothing choices. 🙂 ), living in tents, and traveling to many of the countries using transportation other than flying (Riding a burro might be an option). Also the total race cost is only $13,000-I call that
REAL simple living. 🙂 As we travel our team will be honored to serve and work alongside missionaries assisting them in every way that we can. Lastly, is the disciplining process. The main vision of this program is about transformation and discovering what God has in store for me. Since my acceptance, the disciplining has begun with reading seven spiritual formation books (almost more reading than my grad school years :O ), articles and teammate discussions. This alone has already been a huge step in transforming my mind and attitude towards that of Christ. I will also be discipled and trained in two training conferences that will stretch and equip me to share the love and truth of Jesus to the people I meet.
Throughout this year God has been showing me the theme of trusting Him in all things. This whole trip, leaving my job, family, friends, and raising support are areas that I am excited about relying on HIM. I know that He will meet and supply my needs. Ultimately, my prayer is that He will do that through you. I would be honored it you would partner prayerfully and financially with me.
Through prayer partnering I am asking for fifteen people who will commit to pray for me each day until I return. (Please let me know 🙂 ) All prayer coverings are much appreciated by everyone. Some areas: Health, easy transition from my leave of absence in teaching, raising financial support, cohesiveness for team mates, my spiritual growth and reliance on God, protection for me/teammates/belongings, and discipline to get things in order to leave, ….( and anything else you can think of 🙂 ).
Through financial partnership, you may give money through a one time, monthly, or both commitments. If some people give $ 1,100($100/m), $825($75/m), $550($50/m), $330($30/m), and
any other amount then I would meet my goal! I leave in September. Starting April 1st and the 1st of every month I have to meet certain financial goals. I need to have $6,500 cash and pledges to equal $13,000 by September 1st. Will you pray about supporting me for one of these amounts? Thank You!
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. You may write “appealed by” and my name in the memo section of the check. Including the enclosed card will provide AIM with all the necessary information. In turn, they will send you a receipt. All gifts are tax-deductible. You can also make a donation via the internet by clicking on “Support Me” at http://jeanettewheeler.theworldrace.org/.
If you have ANY questions please feel free to call or email me @ 586-873-6590 or [email protected]. Please also check me out and subscribe to my blog at http://jeanettewheeler.theworldrace.org/ . Through out the year, I will be posting pictures, updates and journal entries. This is your way of being a part of “our” adventure. Comments are welcomed! You know how I love to hear from people!
Thank you for listening to my heart and the new direction that God is leading me. I am so excited to see what life changing things that God is going to do in me. I am so glad that you may be with me on this adventure. My prayer is that this experience will also be a blessing and life changing for you. Thank you for prayerfully considering being a part of my ministry.
Many blessings,
Jeanette Wheeler
