Dear Family and Friends,
We are writing to you because we have been given the exciting opportunity to go on a mission trip! This trip will take us to 11 different countries in 11 months. We will travel to: Ireland, Ukraine, Russia, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, India, Nepal, Cambodia, Asia, and Malaysia. In each country, we will be able to experience a different type of ministry; we will be helping widows, young children, homeless, those affected by sex trafficking, and whoever God might put in our path. We are so looking forward to what God has in store for us with each of these experiences.
We have been married now for a year and have moved in to a three-bedroom house just bordering Council Bluffs, IA. We are renting this beautiful house from a church. It has been a blessing to live in a place where we can see so much of God’s beautiful creation! This has also given us the opportunity to spend time with friends, and host several special events. We are both working, and enjoying what we are doing, but feel that God has so much more for our future.
Abby has spent the last year as a nanny for a family with three children. She is really enjoying her job working with these kids, and has certainly gained some good experience being a parent. This year has also allowed for Abby to spend a lot of time with her friends, which has been her ministry.
Joe is a teacher’s assistant in a 6th grade classroom and has been there for a year. Joe was in a 3rdgrade classroom last school year, so this year has certainly brought new challenges. He is able to help with the Language Arts and Math each day as he splits the day between the two classrooms. Joe graduated with a degree in Camping Ministry in 2010. After he completed his internship, we really wanted to get back into Camping Ministry, but the opportunities were very limited. Since then, we have patiently waited to see where God was leading us. We believe that this is the next step He wants us to take together.
In order for us to take this leap of faith, we are going to need to overcome the large financial obstacle that lies in our way. Because God has given us a peace about taking on this challenge, we know that nothing will be impossible with Him. However, we are not going to be able to do it alone. Our team will be leaving July of 2012 and returning May of 2013. We will need to raise a combined total of $31,000 in order for each of us to go. These expenses will cover all of our meals, lodging, air, land, sea travel, administrative cost, coaching costs, debriefing costs, set-up costs, and training camp cost. We would ask that you prayerfully consider partnering with us as we seek to meet this goal. Although we are greatly in need of your financial assistance we would also ask that you consider supporting us in prayer as we do not yet know what all this trip will entail. We are also planning to have a meeting, in the near future, with you to show just what is in store for us, so you should expect to hear from us again very soon! Please feel free to contact us anytime and be sure to check out our blog at: joeabbybeard.theworldrace.org.
Thanks and God bless,
Joe and Abby
402-297-6851- Joe
651-387-4580- Abby
