It is with great excitement that I write to you about a new opportunity the Lord has brought into my life! I’ll write a separate blog(s) about why and how I got involved – but those who know me well know that I love to serve others and show them the love of Christ. Through a lot of prayer and seeking the Lord’s will, I have decided to serve as a volunteer coach for a group of missionaries as they undertake a trip called the World Race.
The World Race is an 11-month Christian mission trip to 11 different countries. Four “Squads” of roughly 50 “racers” each launched in September 2013, each Squad on a different itinerary. As of now, the route our Squad (“U” Squad) will follow will take them to China, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Japan, Albania, Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey, Malawi, and South Africa.
This life-changing experience for the racers is under the umbrella of an organization called Adventures in Missions. Through adventure, ministry, community, and self-discovery, World Racers have a unique opportunity to see the nations and have their hearts broken for the Gospel. On the World Race, the racers will come alongside churches and ministries in local communities to preach the Gospel, plant churches, teach English, work in orphanages, minister to women and children who are trapped in prostitution as a result of human trafficking, and bring the hope of Christ and His love to the nations. I am so excited to not only serve God and partner with the racers and the missionaries overseas, but also to travel and have my worldview challenged and reshaped.
As with any mission trip, support for this endeavor is essential. Each of the racers must raise $15,500, which covers all their expenses as well the coaches’ travel expenses in the field.
While we’re in the field Karen and I will have meetings with the racers and those meetings may include a meal at a restaurant or coffee at a coffee shop. And as it turns out Karen already has established a “chocolate-from-home” precedent. (You can only imagine how she spoils our grandkids!) In general, although we have a budget we need to be mindful of the fact that the World Race is a frugal experience by nature.
Since coaches may incur reasonable and ordinary expenses in excess of budgeted amounts, we also have the ability to voluntarily raise support in order to offset extra costs incurred by coaches as a group. So, as a matter of stewardship and in keeping with the desire to manage finances well, I am seeking support to enable us to be a bit less frugal in lavishing attention on our Squad.
I am humbly asking you to consider supporting me and the rest of the coaches through prayer and finances.
If you feel led to help support me and the other coaches financially, you can do so one of two ways:
You can click on the Support Me! button on the left to make an online donation.
You can write a check payable to Adventures in Missions. On the memo line, please write “ShogrenDan&Karen” so that the donation makes it to the coaches account. Be sure to include your return address which will allow Adventures in Missions to send you a receipt for tax deduction purposes. Please send all checks to:?Adventures in Missions?PO Box 534470?Atlanta, GA 30353-4470
Being new to raising support, I’m not setting a goal. I know that our God is a God of provision, and He will provide!
Thank you for partnering with me on this journey! I am excited to see what God has in store in the year to come, and I’m thankful for the community that I supports me. Please subscribe to this blog so I can continue to share this important part of my life; I’m honored to share this experience with you!
Your friend,
Dan
