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June 2010 Newsletter

Marlena Griffey
September 2010 World Race

Summer is finally here! Well, for those of us in Texas, it’s been here for about a month now. I have been busy busy busy in preparation for the World Race, despite the oppressive heat! I am officially moved back home (thanks mom & dad!), and in the process of looking for a second summer job. Well, you could really call it a third job if you count preparation for the Race as a job (which it is…practically full time!). I have already had one garage sale (look below for plans for another one!), am in contact with a few restaurants for some fun profit shares (stay tuned), and am currently partnering with Threads of Hope for an awesome bracelet fundraiser (again, see below for more info!). In between all of this, I have been purchasing some of my gear (tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, etc.) and starting my first round of vaccinations (ouch!). Amidst this process, I have been blown away by God’s faithfulness to provide for me–emotionally, physically, spiritually, and financially. Each day brings a new blessing that draws me closer to the heart of my Father. Thank you for all of your prayers and encouragement…I can’t even begin to tell you how much it means to me. Be blessed this month!


Who is Adventures in Missions?
www.adventures.org

Adventures in Missions (AIM) is an interdenominational mission organization that is based in Gainesville, GA. AIM has sent 80,000 people all over the world to be the hands and feet of Jesus by praying for the sick, bringing hope to the hopeless, caring for orphans, etc. AIM has sent out families, junior high students, high school students, college students, and adults to ministries all over the world.

What is the World Race?
www.theworldrace.org

Adventures in Missions has developed the World Race, which is an 11 month program for people in their 20’s and 30’s. While on the race, participants travel the world, ministering in a different country each month. AIM selects committed Christ followers to go and be the hands and feet of Jesus, to pray with the dying, love the orphaned children, bring hope to women trapped in prostitution, and bring the light of Christ to some of the darkest places on Earth

Thank you!

I cannot even express how blessed I have been this past month with all of the financial contributions and commitments to prayer that have poured into my World Race account. I am blown away by how Jesus has provided for me so abundantly through people like you! Thank you for SENDING so that I can GO. Every little bit helps! Some people have opted to support me monthly, which is an incredible way to keep in touch with what I am doing month to month on the Race. Others have opted to pick a country on my route and support me both prayerfully and financially for my time in that country. Both are such awesome ways to pray for the nations! 

I can honestly say that I have been so humbled in this process. It’s not the easiest thing for me to have to ask other people for help, especially in the realm of finances. If I had it my way, I would work 24/7 until I could pay off every penny myself! But, alas, the Call has been strong towards the September route, and I feel like it is exactly where God wants me for this season, even if it means there is no possible way I’d be able to work enough to pay for this trip myself. It’s funny how God does stuff like that, isn’t it? Puts things completely and utterly out of our feeble attempts to control? So THANK YOU friends, for partnering with me and showing just how generous the Lord is when I give up the reigns and trust Him to provide.

Support Update

In Account: $2,743.50 

Still Needed: $11,556.50

First Support Deadline: June 16th

Amount Needed: $1,256.50 (to meet the goal of $4,000)


How can I donate?

1. You can send a check to Adventures in Missions at P.O. Box 534470 Atlanta, GA 30353-4470. You will need to include my support card, or write “Appealed by Marlena Griffey” in the memo line. This is VERY important. If not, your donation will go to the general fund for the World Race. If you need a new support card, please let me know and I will put one in the mail immediately!
2. You can donate with debit or credit card through my blog: http://marlenagriffey.theworldrace.org. You will see a Support Me! Link on the left hand side. You will then be able to follow the directions to make your donation. On the first page you will select “support a racer” and then type in my name. Please note that 5% of your donation will be deducted from my support account when using a credit card to pay for fees from the credit card company. 
3. You can follow the steps of #2, but you will choose “bank draft option”. Please note that 3% will be deducted from the donation to pay for bank fees. 
4. Remember that ALL donations are tax-deductible!
5. Due to the cost of fees for debit, credit, and bank draft options it is best to donate with a check when making a donation of $100 or more.


Fundraisers

Handmade bracelets from the Philippines
Purpose Statement:
Threads of Hope assists the economically oppressed in under-developed countries to establish home enterprises that will provide an income, through the development of products that can be sold world-wide. Funds generated through sales and donations will primarily be used to help meet the physical, educational and spiritual needs of the communities where the products are made.


One of the current World Race teams stopped in the Philippines and met a missionary family (the Kuhlows) who connected my team with Threads of Hope. The Kuhlows, along with local Filipino families, launched Threads of Hope in order to provide income for the families by making handmade jewelry. This ministry was started when the local missionaries realized many families in the Puerto Galera, Philippines, were selling their children into prostitution in order to provide for their families. They wanted an alternative and decide to launch Threads of Hope. Many of my teammates are also participating in this fundraiser and it has been awesome to learn about this ministry in the Philippines. Each bracelet from Threads of Hope costs $2. Half the proceeds will go directly back to the families in the Philippines, while the other half will go towards my World Race account. Please contact me to purchase and/or help with selling bracelets. 

Garage Sale??

I have already had one smash-hit garage sale with Miss Patricia Dow (my roommate), but I loved doing it so much that I’d like to have another! I would most likely accept donations (furniture, books, clothes, shoes, kitchenware, appliances, etc.) from people 1-2 weeks before the sale. I then would need a few lovely volunteers to help price, set up, and work the sale :). If this is something you would be interested in, please contact me! Right now it is looking like the weekend of July 16th & 17th would work best with my crazy weekend wedding schedule! If you are interested in helping with this sale, please email me at [email protected], or just click on the “Talk to Me” tab on the left. Also, if you have an awesome location for the sale that you’d like to volunteer, that would be great too! I have a nice long driveway, but a place more centrally located in Rockwall might have its advantages.

T-Shirts

Let the sign ups begin! If you are interested in purchasing a World Race t-shirt, let me know! I haven’t ordered them yet, because I am waiting to see how many I will need, but if enough people want them then they will definitely be available! Shirts are $15.

Benefit Concert

This is a more tentative plan right now, but is definitely in the works. If you are musical, or have a musical friend, and would like to contribute your talents to the World Race by playing a set, PLEASE PLEASE let me know! I think this would be so fun, and such a great way to get the community involved in what God is doing in the nations.

How can I be praying? 

How can I be praying for you? My team has assigned ourselves a specific night of the week to be in prayer for the ministries we’ll be participating in, fundraising, physical health, preparations, team unity, and our supporters! Please let me know how I can be specifically be praying for you!

1. Please be praying for the specific countries we’ll be traveling to and the specific ministries we’ll be involved in. For example, our first month will be spent in the Philippines. My team is very excited to begin our trip in the Philippines, as many of us are selling handmade bracelets from local families!

2. Please be praying for spiritual, emotional, and physical preparation for the year. My team is now up to about 75 people from all over the United States and Canada. The Race has a way of sneaking up on everyone quick. We received a slew of information this week on malaria, living wills, international health insurance, vaccinations, and other weighty things. Reality is about to hit…fast! Pray that my team will not become overwhelmed with the amount of things that need to be done before Launch in September.

3. Training Camp: Training Camp is an important part in our preparation for the World Race. My team (September 2010) will be joining the October 2010 team in White, Georgia, for an intense 10 day training camp from July 24-August 1st. The Texas girls from my team (including myself) will be driving there to save on travel costs, so be in prayer for a safe trip to and from Georgia!

4. Fundraising. Please be in prayer for the fundraising aspect of this trip. I fully believe that the World Race is where the Lord has called me to be in this next year of my life, so I trust that He will meet all my financial needs. A lot of people have asked what I will do if I do not receive all the funds I need to make this journey possible. As far as I’m concerned, I’m committed! I have started selling my stuff, bought the gear, passed up job opportunities, and am walking in Faith that God will carry me the rest of the way! Pray, though, that I will not get discouraged in this process, as it is very scary being in a state of limbo with my future!