Dear Friends,
I feel as though I am writing a ridiculously early Holiday letter.
However, this is not a Holiday letter, although I do hope it finds you in good
health and good spirits. To bring you up to speed in my life, earlier
this summer, I stepped down from an advantageous job position in hopes of
finding my next big
adventure and some sort of direction. Luckily, God provided just that.
About six months ago, I first heard of a mission program known as The World
Race. The World Race is sponsored by an interdenominational Christian
organization known as AIM (Adventures in Missions), and is focused on serving
people around the world who are most in need. The ‘Racers’ travel to 11
countries in 11 months, and as it was once described to me, it is our job to be
the hands and feet of God. I am so blessed and excited to share that I
was recently accepted into the World Race and in January will be leaving to
travel for the next eleven months serving others in the poorest parts of the
world. My deepest desire in going on this trip is to simply love on
others through service. A great deal of our efforts will be focused on
physically serving those in need-in response to natural disasters, war,
sickness, poverty and prostitution-but through this service I also envision
being able to meet emotional and spiritual needs. My heart longs to see
the lost and hurting people of the various countries we will be visiting feel
loved and cared for and hear of the hope they may have in Christ.
The reason why I am
sharing all of this with you is because this trip will require a significant
amount of support; financially, spiritually and emotionally. I am coming
to you to ask for your support in whatever way you may feel called. Even
more specifically, however, Racers need to raise a total amount of $14,300 to
provide for our needs throughout this trip.
My approach to the financial aspect of this trip is that, although I
want to trust in God’s provision and the support of others, I will also be
contributing monthly to my own needs.
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
and return the response card with your donation to Adventures In Missions PO
Box 534470 Atlanta, GA 30353-4470. The response card will provide AIM with the
information necessary to send you a receipt for your donation. Please send all
donations by November 30th, 2010.
Adventures In Missions is registered with the Internal Revenue Service as a 501
(c) (3) nonprofit 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 a tax advisor.
I know The World Race will be life changing for me, the ones I will be serving
and the ones I will be traveling with. I honestly believe this could be
life changing for you as well, and want to give you the opportunity to be a
part of my vision. Consider me as a representative of those supporting me.
Please know that you can contact me with any questions before making any
commitment or decision in regards to this letter. Also, I would love for
you to follow my progress online through my ongoing blog at tabithablanchard.theworldrace.org.
Cheers,
Tabitha Blanchard
