Hi Friend!

I felt the phrase for me this year was "Great things in store for '24!", and, wow, it has already started! There is one item I need to tell you about! 

As you may know, this is my 11th year running with Team World Vision and raising money for life-transforming clean water which is the starting point for transforming the lives of women and children and their communities. Those who have supported my fundraising journey have given more than an incredible $61,450 which has given more than 1,230 people a better life now and a great opportunity for a brighter future through World Vision which tackles the causes of poverty.  

Here is the amazing announcement. As one of a few selected individuals, I was invited into a once-in-a lifetime, life-changing opportunity in June of this year to go to Africa and actually see some of World Vision's water projects that are examples of what is being done with funds that I have helped raise all these years! :)

Here are all of the life-changing opportunities I will be part of:

1. Running in an inaugural Team World Vision half marathon in South Africa along the Indian Ocean. 

2. Spending four days in South Africa spectating and encouraging runners (including some of my TWV friends!) in the world's largest and oldest ultramarathon, the Comrades marathon, a 55-mile race established in 1921. 

3. Spending four to five days in various communities in East Africa, learning about World Vision’s work in East Africa, seeing incredible water projects and development plans, and spending time with sponsored children and their families. 

4. Going on a safari in one of the most beautiful places on earth—Maasai Mara, Kenya.

For my part in this epic journey, I'll be paying my way and trusting God to provide sponsors for 20 precious children.

Children are at the heart of World Vision's work in communities. The founder of World Vision's had a powerful vision for every child: "life in all its fullness". 

Sponsoring a child is the most personal, effective way to fight poverty. When a child in need is sponsored, a special relationship is built that encourages that child with hope for the future. Plus, your monthly donation of $39 joins forces with other sponsors to lift that child and children in the community out of poverty.

Are you able to be an answer to a child's prayers?

Here is some information regarding child sponsorship:

• $39/month
  • Note: A high-interest bearing account amount with $9,400 @ 5% interest would cover the $39/month support.
    • Extrapolate that to see how many children you could sponsor without any new out of pocket payments!

• If you don't want to make monthly payments, you can pay $468 for the entire year up front.

• Because of World Vision's community focused solutions, for every child you sponsor, 4 more children benefit too!
• You can choose your sponsor child from countries all over the world. To make this more personal and engaging, you can choose to sponsor a child…
  • From a particular country
  • Of a particular age
  • With a particular birthday
• OR, you can empower a child by letting them choose you! :)

Please consider sponsoring a child for each of the children or grandchildren you have!

We sponsor two children. Larissa from Honduras, who I chose and Godsway from Ghana, who chose us!

A really cool thing is that I now know the Area Program (AP) in Ethiopia that we'll be visiting! Here is a link to the children that are waiting to be sponsored and I'll be able to meet them for you!!
 

https://www.worldvision.org/sponsor-a-child?CP=199302&campaign=400076984

To see the children that are waiting to be sponsored in the Area Program where I'll be visiting AND that I'll be able to visit, please the link just above!

If you have any questions, please let me know!

Thanks for considering being an answer to a child's prayers!

Jim