Support Letter for my upcoming International Journey- written awhile ago but just published now.

November 25, 2009

I would like to let you know about a journey that God is taking me on. In the past several years, I have pursued my interests in nutrition and international development through my academic studies and short-term trips. An opportunity has arisen that will allow me to continue this pursuit. For two weeks at the end of May 2010 I will be joining a team of 13 Messiah College students in partnership with Food for the Hungry (FH) to work in the village of Rodeo, Bolivia. FH is a Christian relief and developmental organization active in over 26 countries around the world. It is also the same organization that runs GoEd, a semester-long program in eastern Africa which I participated in during the spring of 2009.
Rodeo is a rural community about 34 miles from Sucre, the constitutional capital. It is high up in the Cordillera Oriental Mountains, and the native language is Quechua. The community struggles with domestic violence, alcoholism, lack of safe drinking water, insufficient sanitation, and poor nutrition. Our team will be developing a project based on our personal strengths to improve the community in one of these areas. I was able to observe the betterment of various Ethiopian communities as an FH Assistant Water Technician, and I hope to be a part of the same type of work in Bolivia.
My team meets weekly throughout the school year in preparation for our trip. My hope is to make maximal use of the cost of airfare, and spend an additional six weeks partnering with Food for the Hungry in some sort of ministry, although I do not yet know exactly what that will look like. I am excited to be able to spend more than two weeks in a country where I will be able to use my Spanish. Although Quechua is the main language in Rodeo, I will hopefully be able to communicate in Spanish during my additional 6 weeks.
Primarily I would like to ask for your prayer support in this endeavor. I could not go if I did not have such a strong support system of friends and family who partner with me through prayers and financial support. The monetary cost is $2,600 per participant for the 2 week trip. If you would like to support our team through financial giving, please go to http://www.messiah.edu/external_programs/agape/. Click the " Donate to Student Service and Missions Trips" button and follow the easy instructions. You don't have to create a profile. Messiah College would appreciate receiving these donations by April 1, 2010.