“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying,
“Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”
And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’” –Isaiah 6:8
China Mongolia Japan Nepal Cambodia Vietnam
Indonesia India Malaysia Thailand Philippines
Dear friends and family,
I hope you are all doing well! I am writing to let you know about a new and exciting opportunity God has presented me. In September 2015, I will be a missionary for 11 months all across Asia on a missions trip called The World Race. My 11 countries are China, Mongolia, Japan, Nepal, Cambodia, Vietnam, Indonesia, India, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines. I will be traveling with a team, and we will be partnering with local organizations and ministries to provide a variety of ministry opportunities, such as teaching English, working in the orphanages, caring for victims of sex trafficking, outreach projects, etc. In each country, we will be living in the community and sharing Christ’s love, friendship, and compassion with the local people, and I would love for you to follow along in my journey.
I am nearing the end of my undergraduate career, and I wanted to have a plan of action following my graduation. I wanted to make the best and most logical decision that would ensure my success. Of course, as soon as I thought I had my next step of life figured out, God stepped in. Through emotional trials, God opened my heart to HIS plan versus my plan. A year ago, I never expected to be writing this letter, but God truly does work in mysterious ways.
I am so grateful and excited for this opportunity! God has placed this on my heart for a long time, and has given me such peace over this journey. All of my possessions will be in a backpack, a tent will be my home, and I will be rawly immersed in each community. I will be caring and befriending those who are considered the outcasts, the lowest strata, and the helpless of each society. This will be a very challenging journey, but I cannot wait to share God’s love and mercy with those who need Him most.
What is The World Race?
The World Race is a program through the organization Adventures in Missions, which has sent over 100,000 people into the mission field since 1989. The World Race sends young adults to travel to 11 countries in 11 months. The World Race calls individuals to get out of his or her comfort zone and exposes us to what God is doing in the world so we are not caught up in ourselves and seeing it is about the Kingdom. The World Race emphasizes the importance of interdenominationalism, unity among the body of Christ, partnership through church, and listening to God’s calls.
How can you help?
In order to make my trip possible, I must raise $16,256. This amount covers the cost of training, travel, lodging, food, and medical insurance during my year abroad. I know this seems to be an overwhelming amount. However, if only 25 people give me $50 month for 11 months, or if 100 people make a one-time donation of around $160, I will reach my goal!
World Racers must raise financial support in order to cover the expenses. I believe that just as God has called me to go on this trip, He will also call others to minister alongside me through prayers and financial support. I am wanting to develop of team of ministry partners who will minister alongside me as I go on this journey. Partnership provides the opportunity to encourage and grow in the Lord together, and I ask that you would support me in prayer through this journey and see if the Lord moves you to invest in the kingdom. I am not simply fundraising, but building a team to support me; you will become my extended family as we stay connected through prayer, faith, and encouragement.
HOW TO SUPPORT ME
Pray for Me – Prayer will play a major role of my journey. Please pray for me whenever possible. This will be an extremely emotional and tasking trip, so I ask for prayers of strength, courage, and peace.
Follow Me – Please visit my blog www.shelbybradford.theworldrace.org and read updates on my trip. I will post about each month’s ministry and what God has revealed to me each step of the way. Also, feel free to email me at [email protected]. I would also love to meet with anyone who would like to discuss all this information in further detail!
Donate – Donations will be to Adventures in Missions through me. This can be a one-time gift or a monthly donation! NO GIFT IS TOO SMALL. You can financially support me by going to blog page and clicking on the “Support Me!” tab on the left. You can donate via credit or debit card. I am a deputized fundraiser on behalf of Adventures in Missions, Inc., which is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and a long-time member of ECFA. Your donations are tax deductible based on the policies and principles detailed at www.adventures.org/policies. and are non-refundable. If any questions on payments, please don’t hesitate to email me at [email protected].
If you choose to donate THROUGH MAIL: Please make checks payable to Adventures in Missions and write my name clearly in the memo line to ensure your gift will help me reach my goal. Also, please be sure to include the enclosed response card with your donation. This response card will provide Adventures in Missions with the information necessary to send you a receipt. Checks can either be mailed to:
Shelby Bradford OR Adventures in Missions
6820 Chaucer Court PO Box 742570
Indianapolis, IN 46220 Atlanta, GA 30353-4470
My deadlines for fundraising are:
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$3,500 — Due June 19, 2015
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$10,000 — Due August 21, 2015 (2 weeks prior to trip)
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$13,000 — Due October 31, 2015 (End of 2 months on trip)
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$16,256 — Due December 31, 2015
This journey will expand my comfort zone and push me to my breaking point. I tried to push God away, but I found such peace in complete surrender. I am ready to be humbly broken in the Lord in order to love everyone I come into contact with. I am ready to leave the comforts of my home, my friends, and my family in order to trust in God’s faithfulness and spread His love. I am beyond grateful for this opportunity and am so appreciative of the support and prayers! Goodbyes will be hard, but there is so much love to be shared. I am trusting God’s plan, and I hope you will join alongside me!
Thank you and God bless!
Shelby
