Hey friends! Thanks for visiting my blog! (Blog title creds go out to Deb Smith- thanks, Mom.)
First and foremost – I’m going on a mission trip called World Race Gap Year. What is that?
Like I said on Facebook, I recently got accepted to go on a mission trip called World Race Gap Year. (The World Race is a program sponsored by an organization called Adventures in Missions, which is out of Gainesville, Georgia.) This trip will take me to 3 continents in 9 months to serve the least of these among real and raw community. I will be serving alongside a squad of about 45 people from all over the US. I, along with this wonderful squad of people that I have yet to meet, launches in less than 6 months! Wow! To be more specific, I will be leaving the good ‘ole US of A in early September of this year and I will be returning sometime in May of 2018!
The five countries that I’ll be going to are: Nicaragua, Swaziland, Lesotho, India, and Nepal!
While we are out in these countries, my squad and I will be doing our best to live out Matthew 10:8 – Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.
Here’s a little story for you on how I came to apply for WR Gap Year:
One Friday night about a month and a half ago, a few of my good friends were in my dorm room. Since I am undecided in my area of study, they had me take a bunch of tests to figure out what majors might suit my interests so that I might be able to declare one (They did this for a few hours – Bless their patient hearts.). While there were a few that I thought might interest me, I was still at a loss. I didn’t really feel like any of them were quite right for me. I went to sleep that night undecided in my area of study and wanting to remain patient in waiting for God to make it clear to me. Little did I know that God wasn’t going to reveal a major to me, but was going to reveal something completely unexpected and AWESOME.
The next morning, as I sat at my desk in my dorm room, “World Race” randomly popped into my head – out of nowhere (Well, not out of nowhere. God definitely put it there.). So naturally, as young people do, I googled it. I had heard of the World Race before – after all, my wonderful friend Abby Nass did it – but I wanted to learn more. After a while of reading through what it was all about, listening to and reading other Racers’ stories, praying about it, and then realizing that this was what God was calling me to do, I decided to apply.
I strongly believe that WR Gap Year is what God has called me to. He has placed a strong passion and love for people in my heart, along with a love for traveling to new places. It also makes complete sense that I haven’t figured out a major yet – God is simply waiting to show me my next step in life because He wants this to be my next step for now. Also, I believe that He has kept me single for the time being because He wants my focus to be completely and undividedly on Him and His Kingdom. WOW. What a cool Father I have. He constantly reminds me that He is in control and He always holds all things together for my good.
Colossians 1:17 – And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.
He is good and He is sovereign, friends. That fact makes me even more excited as I prepare to go out into the world- parts of the world that are completely unknown to me.
“How will I know what you’re up to and how God is impacting you, your team, and your ministry while you’re on the World Race?”
While I am on the Race, I will be blogging at least once a week to keep you all updated. I will be sharing these blogs on Facebook, as well as sharing pictures to visually show you what I am experiencing. If you would like to get email updates every time I post a new blog, feel free to click on the link on the left side of my blog that says, “Follow me,” and type in your email. I would love to have you walking alongside me on this journey!
Here’s how you can support me in my journey:
Friends, while this trip is going to be amazing and life-changing, it comes at a cost. I will need to raise about $15,000, which is quite an amount, but I know that my faithful Father is good and He provides for His children. I ask that you would prayerfully consider coming alongside me in this journey by supporting me in any of the following ways:
1. Online Payments: (One-time or recurring giving)
–Click on the little button above that says, “Donate!” From there, it will direct you to a page. When you get there, the program is already chosen for you (“Support a World Racer”) and my name is already in the box. In that box, though, please put my middle name (Elizabeth) too. There has been another Megan Smith on the Race and this way will ensure that your donation will go towards my Race. Then you may move on and do your thing (aka donating) and can decide if you want to donate as a one-time thing or monthly.
–You can also go to adventures.org/give if you’d prefer. Once you get to the site, click on “Participants” under the large picture that says “People.” Under “Choose Program,” select “The World Race.” Then put my first, middle (Elizabeth), and last name. Then, go from there!
2. Checks By Mail. If you wish to write a check, first: make it out to “Adventures in Missions” and then: put my name (first, middle, and last) on the memo line. (If the check is written out to me, they aren’t able to process it/it won’t be tax-deductible – it will be returned to you and you’ll have to write another one.) Then: you may send it to this address:
Adventures in Missions
PO Box 742570
Atlanta, GA 30374-2570
Just a couple of things about checks:
–If you would like to write more than one check, please put them in separate envelopes because they use an automated processing system.
–Again, don’t write it out to me, but to Adventures in Missions, with my name on the memo line. Technically, donations go to AIM (Adventures in Missions) and then goes toward my Race funds. AIM does not accept cash donations.
–Please let me know if you do send a check to AIM so I can keep track of my fundraising total. Checks can take weeks to process, therefore it can take weeks to show up in my account.
3. Electronic Funds Transfer (only for those who wish to give monthly). Go to adventures.org/dynapay. Fill it out as normal and then make sure you put my first, middle, and last name into the box that says, “Which Person or Purpose to Support.” If you do wish to donate monthly, the last month (if I have not reached my goal yet) to donate is December of 2017. Just 9 months from now!
—Please read this in regards to donating to Adventures in Missions:
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.
4. There is also the option of sending support directly to me. There are things that the $15,000 doesn’t cover, such as personal hygiene products, the costs of gas/flights to and from Georgia (which is where I will have training camp and also launch onto my Race from), vaccinations that I will need to get, and other stuff. If you would like to do this, you may either write a check out to me or send me cash. The address to send these donations to is:
102 Arrowhead Ridge Rd.
Denver, IA 50622
5. PRAYER. Friends, I believe that this is so important. God is sovereign over everything and I believe that He calls us to be interdependent with one another. Whether that be with finances or prayer, He wants us to be in community with one another and depend on each other. And that doesn’t just mean the support only comes from one side. I would love to support you as well- by praying for you, keeping in touch with you, and communicating with you about what is going on.
Last Notes:
Friends, I would love it if you would join me in this. I ask that you would pray for God to open your heart to this and that you would consider helping me out financially and prayerfully. Also, please pray for me as I prepare to leave this country to go out into the world.
If prayer is all you feel called to give, I will appreciate it just as much as I will donations. Seriously. Any support, big or small, is going to help me out so much.
I know this was a super long post with lots of information, so if you have any further questions or simply want to talk to me about anything in regards to the World Race Gap Year (or anything at all, really), don’t hesitate to contact me. You can email me ([email protected]), message me on Facebook, mail me a letter, text me, or call me up if you’d like!
Thanks for reading, and thank you for your support!
Blessings,
Megan
