This past year has been super busy! Between finishing off senior year, applying to college and getting accepted into the World race gap year program I couldn’t possibly be more excited! (I was accepted to Gordon College in Wenham, MA and deferred my acceptance for 2016).
After my mission trip to Nicaragua this past summer I really felt called towards taking a year to do more missions and ministry abroad before college. I’m not sure what I want to do yet, so the World Race is the perfect opportunity to share God’s love with others while gaining life experience and honing my interests for the future.
The countries that I’ll be traveling to, with a group of other 18-21 year olds, are Guatemala, Malaysia, and Botswana! I’ll be in each country for 3 months and I’m really excited for the opportunity to work with orphaned children, victims of human trafficking, and families stuck in poverty.
The World Race Program itself is a Christian mission trip through Adventures in Missions. The cool thing about the World Race program is that it’s not only a mission trip but also an intensive discipleship program designed to help guide my generation towards understanding God’s vision for their life. I look forward to growing through Christ with my squad as we travel to these 3 countries to serve others as a way of showing God’s love.
There will be many challenges I face throughout the World Race, but as I prepare for my departure one of my greatest challenge is financial support. Just like most Christian organizations, participants on the World Race are required to raise their own financial support. In order to leave fully funded on September 4th I need to raise $12, 491. This money will cover all my field expenses for the 9 months. My first financial deadline is to have raised $6,000 by May 22nd. The next deadline is to have raised an additional $3000 by July 21. The last deadline I have to meet is having raised the full $12,491 by August 21st.
Another way I’d love for you to support me is through prayer. There will be many amazing things I will see on the World Race, but there will also be many sad situations I’ll come face to face with. I believe that God’s love can move mountains yet it is easy to feel disheartened when you’re looking into the faces of orphaned children, trafficked women and impoverished families. I ask that you’ll consider supporting me through praying for my team’s safety, that we’ll be an example of Christ for those we encounter and that even when faced with brokenness we’ll see God’s forgiveness, mercy and love.
If you choose to donate to my missions and ministry experience, I have enclosed a donation card and envelope. If you prefer, you can also donate online through my Blog site where I will have the opportunity to post updates and photos before and during the world race: kellyleonard.theworldrace.org. You can also learn more about the countries I’ll be visiting and the organization itself if you visit my blog.
Thank you so much for considering donating and holding me in prayer over the course of the next year. I cannot wait to begin this amazing journey and I would love to answer any questions you might have.
God Bless,
Kelly Leonard
Adventures In Missions is a tax-exempt organization under IRS code 501(c)(3) and is a member of the ECFA. (Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability). Due to IRS and ECFA regulations governing the administration of tax deductible donations given in support of a particular trip/program, support contributions given on behalf of an individual will be used to offset the costs of the trip/program you are involved in. All contributions are non-refundable regardless of the participant’s success in completing the program.
Checks should be made out to Adventures in Missions with Kelly Leonard written in the memo line and mailed to Adventures in Missions PO Box 742570 Atlanta, GA 30374-2570. Please include the Fundraising Card included in this letter with each check. There is up to a 2 week processing time for checks.
