Dear Friends,
Happy New Year! I hope this note finds you well. I’d like to update you on some exciting developments in store for me this year. In July I will be embarking on an extreme missions adventure. Growing up as a missionary kid has given me a heart for other cultures and countries. Each of my previous missions trips has been a wonderful and stretching experience as well as an amazing outreach opportunity. The more I experience, the harder it is for me to simply sit back and do nothing. So, my next step is to participate in The World Race.
The World Race is an 11 month, 11 country missions trip. Two years ago, Adventures in Missions launched this extreme missions trip as a way to mobilize young Christians. The World Race takes groups of 30+ young people to destinations around the globe; spanning South America, Africa, and Asia. The participants are taken out of their comfort zone and given the opportunity to follow God’s mandate in Matthew 28:19. Some of the various ministries of The World Race include working in orphanages, engaging in street evangelism, aiding in planting new churches, teaching English, working alongside organizations that fight human trafficking, and much more. To find out more about The World Race you can go to theworldrace.org.
The traveler in me is overjoyed at the possibility of adding new stamps to my passport and visiting new cultures. But I realize the most exciting and important part of the trip will be the people, the relationships that are established, the conversations that are shared, and the lives that will be changed. Whether it is through one-on-one conversations or through demonstrations of Christ’s love, I know that God has many wonderful plans in store for my team.
I would like for many of you to come alongside me as I embark on this journey. I know that most of you do not have the opportunity to drop everything for a year. But I hope that through me you will be able to see what God is doing all over the world. Here are the ways you can experience the trip with me…
Pray – As exciting as The World Race sounds, it will be the most challenging experience I have ever faced. I need you to pray for me, the ministry, the people I will encounter, and for the welfare of my entire team daily.
Follow – In order for you to follow my expedition as closely as possible, Adventures in Missions has set up a webpage for each team member. Beginning now and through the duration of my trip, I will post stories, observations, prayer requests and photographs on my page. Please bookmark my site at shandadodd.theworldrace.org so that you can journey with me through my regular updates.
Enable – The cost for the trip is $13,800, which includes airfares, accommodations, meals, and on-site transportation. Additionally, I need to raise approximately $2,000 to cover the cost of vaccinations, medical insurances, and visas. The amount seems a bit overwhelming, but with both one-time and monthly donations I am confident I will be able to meet my deadline of June 1, 2008. If one person gives $3,000, five people give $1,000 each, ten people give $500 each, and twenty people give $100 each all my expenses will be covered! Please pray about partnering with me on this journey. Any donation, whether $5 or $5,000, will be greatly appreciated.
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 checks should be mailed to Adventures in Missions, P.O. Box 534470, Atlanta, GA 30353-4470. Including the enclosed card will provide AIM with all necessary information. 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 disbursement 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. Donations can also be conveniently made online by clicking the “support me” link on my webpage.
I am becoming more and more excited with each passing day and I know that many life-changing experiences are in store for me. Please pray about being my partner during the course of the next few months of preparation and during my 11 month journey. Thank you for your consideration.
Shanda Dodd
