May 27, 2008
Dear Family and Friends,
Hello! I pray all of you are doing well! I know many of you may not be aware of what has been going on in my life lately so I’d like to take the opportunity to share that with you. For the last 19 months I have been living in Florida and working for an Eckerd Youth Alternatives wilderness program for at-risk teenage girls. I am a camp counselor and spend 5 days a week living and working with 10 girls, most of who have gotten in trouble with the law. It has definitely been a challenging job, but has had its rewards as well. Although it isn’t a Christian organization I have been able to share Christ with several girls who have approached me about the subject. It amazed me how some of them have never even heard the story!
Over the past few months I have felt drawn to the idea of dedicating a year to serving God in missions and sharing His message of love to others who haven’t had a chance to hear about it. That led me to researching mission trips. I stumbled upon the Adventures in Missions website and was immediately drawn to the World Race missions trip. It is an intense 11-month journey around the world! I prayed about it, applied for it, and have now been accepted. I will be leaving January 1, 2009.
I thank God for this opportunity and am hoping that you will consider being a part of my ministry team. Most of you know, missions work is volunteer and so I will need to raise support for my trip. Some of you may be in a position to contribute to my team financially. For each month I’ll be gone I will need to raise $1,255. I have calculated that if I could get 50 people to donate $25 a month (or equal to a $275 one time donation) I would meet my goal. Don’t feel obligated to give a certain amount, remember God blessed the widow’s 2 coins (Mark 12:41-44) and I believe He will do the same with whatever you may be able to contribute.
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 if you wish. All donations should be mailed to Adventures in Missions, P.O. Box 534470, Atlanta, GA 30353-4470. Including the enclosed card will provide AIM with all the necessary information. Donations can also be made online by going to my webpage clicking on “Support Me“. Adventures in Missions is registered with the Internal Revenue Service as a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization. Donors will receive receipts for their gifts with the understanding that the disbursements of those gifts lies completely at the discretion of Adventures in Missions and that the gifts are non-refundable and non-transferable, per IRS regulations. Gifts may be tax deductible; please consult your tax advisor.
Although the money is necessary for me to go, I do believe that there is another important role I’d like to give you the opportunity to play. I would like to ask for at least 15 people to commit to praying for me daily while I am on the trip. I truly believe that prayer is such a vital component to ministry and knowing that I have people praying for me will help give me peace while on the mission field. James 5:16 tells us “the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective” and I say “Amen!”
I am very excited about how God will use me and what He will teach me through this experience. I hope not only to be a blessing to those I serve, but also to you. My desire is to go as your representative of Jesus Christ. I hope you will prayerfully consider being a part of my ministry. Thank you so much!
In Christ,
Jessica Bauman
