Adapting

We had rice left over the other day and I got to make rice pudding :)! So nice to be ablet to make home like foods sometimes. It is cool how much we have been learning. Sometimes our brains begin to just lock up. Thai classes are going well, and this week we have started our volunteering :) .
I am still indecicive on where to go, as usual when I over think things. Asking for guidance in this process.

So! Something cool that I wanted to share about what we have been learning. If a business was to go into a different country, should they keep their strategy? Or recreate it?
This exact question has been one that correlates in most of my prior international business classes at in college. It is funny. If by annalyzing the success stories, we realize that the model will need to change based on the country of context, why do would we not think that that would be nessesary for the way we talk about truth?

Good news is good news, but sometimes the highlights of the stories might need to land in a different place first BEFORE being able to understand the rest. Here, John 3:16 is not good news. Things like loving the world, or sending a son an being attached to the physical world, even having to die because of it... It seems like this person which you are telling them about must have been the unluckiest man alive! But in reality because the core values and world beliefs are different that this would seldomly--if ever--work.
Instead... I was thinking about it today. What about different stories. Ones like Esther? What about healing stories or the ones about farming and producing a crop? There are so many things! God is an AMAZING GOD! A unique and creative God! Why do I put him in a box share? He is so much bigger and better than that--or at least-- this is what I believe :).

Thought of the night. ~Influenced by business lectures~
Night~

~Rachel

Theme of the week- HT.

This week has been a bit heavy as the honeymoon cycle of culture shock has been wearing off. I am so thankful for the sisters here and thier encouragement to combat the lies and for talk times together! So many amazing speakers during our lectures, one time even the other day where something really stood out. Prayer and Intersession. Both times were times where we got to take a break and thank God for being with us, turn away lies, address issues our mistakes, and put away our imagination and ideas. After these, we listen. :)

We have been learning many things here. The spiritual warfare is huge, but God is bigger! It is good to remember that He has already won and comands armies as he pleases. We just got to ask for one step at a time and walk in Faith that He is leading us. The speaker today said something to me today that really stood out: God will not lead you down the wrong path.
What a thought. :) Fear is not from Him either. That is why, ask, walk and he will lead you, but remember sometimes the answer might be a clear wait.

Remember every tribe, every tongue, every nation, will one day glorify God! Have hope. Think about  brothers and sisters abroad as they work out thier faith in many complex situations. Pray for Hope, Truth, Strength. With open eyes.

This may be a bit of a complex blog, but hopefully it tells a snippet of what is taking place here. Blessings and love from Thailand.

"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people."

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians%206&version=NIV

~Rachel

A new take on a common thing.

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.

He guides me along the right paths

for his name’s sake.Even though I walk

through the darkest valley,

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me. You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me

all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord

forever.

I did not notice this before. There is a difference between a rod and a staff. The rod is what is used to guide the sheep and yank them to where they need to go in order to protect them. The staff is used to protect them from outside predators like wolves and other animals that would try to hurt the sheep. It is so cool how the Lord knows when and how to use both. It is so cool how even something that might hurt at first to protect the sheep (like yanking thier heads with the rod to pull them away from a hole or something) is called comforting. I will continue to repeat... There is no better place than to be in His will. 

On Sunday, got to make new friends :)!! They were very kind and inviting in the new church. After the service we eat lunch together and talk. I did not know what to do as I was waiting for a friend before eating or sitting, but a sweet lady invited me to sit and began to talk to me. She shared with me her testimony and later even her neighbor--who joined us later--got to share her's. It was awesome to hear how Dad knows how to meet us where we are at. Spiritually, though against him, he finds the unique ways to get our attention. In her neighbor's case it was running completely out of money, and DAD telling her to give her money (of which she did not know she needed prior). When giving she revealed to her friend that God told her to give this money to her. Boom! She finally gave church a chance! And now is learning more and more about true Family!! :) 

So amazing! In Grace is no better place.

~Rachel

Smile and Wai

Adventure of the weekend. Several things:
Saturday:
*Got to see Maggie! Though short I am so thankful and glad I got to see her!!!!!!! http://maggiemcdonald.theworldrace.org
*Went down town with our lovely group for touring the old city (where the mote is and remnents of the castle?)
*Got to shop at the night Bazzar to get things like pants, and a skirt, sandals, a purse, and some dinner. (Things in Thailand are really good deals for shopping! Especially if you like to bargain :) )
Really glad that we found some Thai Pants and Skirt for about 4 dollars and 8 dollars :) ).
*Bug challenge!! Challenge to try the fried bugs off the street! (I got out of it because I tried them in Korea) So funny! But to us .. umm... not the tastiest food on the market by far!!
*So many people! But it was fun. Praise God we were all safe and made it home. Most of us do not have phones yet, or a mobile form of communication. So thankfully we made it all back okay.

So why is the title smile and wai? Those are two things that you need here! Even though we can not speak the language, especially in the night market it is interesting to see so many people. But if you notice, some are serious, some tired, some sad, some annoyed. It is amazing to think that God has given us such beautiful things as smiles. They can communicate so many things. But a genuine smile can lift a heart as well. That is why here, though you can not speak the language, the joy inside can seep out a bit with a smile. Wai is for politeness and for grace. So ... what to do ? Smile and wai.

If you are wondering what a Wai is, it is the Thai greeting which encompasses a show of respect with your hand together, meeting at the center of your chest, as you bow your head. The deepnes of the head bow/nod depends on the level of respect. For most you do not need much. Just a show of effort and a smile.  :)

~Rachel

A Fruit morning-Monday week two.

Got to go running this morning! Praise the Lord for the beauty creation of plants. Remember how I found a starfruit tree? Well one of our friends loves exploring and notices the different trees. There are many starfruit, there are coconut, banana, many papaya, and JACKFRUIT trees! So cool (KP)! Papayas are so strange; they grow from the top trunks of the trees. It makes me wonder, how do such heavy things stay on the tree when their stem is connected to the tree. One thing is for sure, it works because they grow to be pretty big. Stay connected to the trunk of the tree.

Another cool thing about me and Papaya? I used to feel nausea from eating papaya, I loved the juice that my abuelita (grandma) and aunts would make, but no matter how much I tried to eat it, I think the smell got to me. So here when my friends were eating it, I tried it and Praise GOD!! No rolling stomach! Even cooler. If you think about it, it is how we are some times. We can not handle the intensity of good things that Dad gives us, but later when we step out and trust to take the first bite, we are surprised with an amazing new adventure. Things change, that way we are given the blessing of a reminder- do not put your hope in things--they will change.

"The grass withers and the flowers fall,

but the word of our God endures forever."

Isaiah 40:8 New International Version (NIV)

~Rachel

A lesson in humility...

Of course, it usually take the hard way to learn right? But even then we fall back and fall back and fall back, after mustering the effort to sprint away from the conviction of pride.

Upon arriving, I thought I would be able to pass by and create smoothness when interacting in the cultural situations, the weird part is.. though I might have understood the things to do in my head, I no longer acted in such ways. Naturally I am a loud person. Here... No No. It annoying (as it can be in many countries). I had been trained well in Japan, but though I was trained, i saw that the more I tried, the less I began to "fit in".

So frustrating! Have you ever come to that moment where you had it all planned out but nothing seemed to go the way you had planned it? I began to see my self and the ugliness of boasting! Today it hit.
My friend that I have been writing about, bless the Father for his grace, she has been taking the time to train me. Each day, especially when she sees me trying to take over and do everything on my own (aka-dishes), she stops me and reminds me to take time to stop.

The first time she literally called me out and took me outside. There she gave me five minutes, and told me to just observe around me, with out doing anything. Just you and God. Sit and be still, listen.
Wow!!! Sounds simple right?? So difficult!!! My mind would race around every topic. Did you know you can eat some Orchids?? We did at a cafe one day--because they use them for garnishes. They taste like vegetables.

But anyways... The thing that hit! Praise God for letting me see how my way will NOT work. It will not work here, or anywhere. For things to work, I have to have Him at the core. I can not take his praise unless I seek the same result as Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 4. (He was called out to be like the beasts because of his pride which caused him to fall). The pastor at the Thai church we went to today said that "just because something has not happened yet, does not mean that it will not happen". When we get caught up in pride, it will lead us to a hard fall. Praise God for his grace in these first few weeks. Better the first than the middle or rest of the time. Once we acknowledge we can not do anything, God will get glory for anything that happens. That is when you see miracles and wonders of not people but Light. That is when we will not hold on to our self worth over the worth of others. That is how we can preach a living gospel. If our Savior came to serve, how much servants should be we.

Really cool thoughts. Heavy to think, hard to acknowledge, but rich and refreshing to understand.

Don't believe it? Check it out for yourself.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Daniel+4

Update of funding to come...
Update on Pictures, also to come :)

~Rachel
Listening to :
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=C0z0mkR1kT8 How beautiful are Songs in every language. How beautiful it feels to just sing. ~*~

On a deeper note.

An idea of what impacts our thinking here. Is to begin and understand the culture. Of course we are foreigners in a foreign land. How can we understand the culture of a foreign people? We can not right. That is why some have looked to see a need and asked why. Income is a big reason for many things to go sour. The amazing part is, once you ask why instead of judge, you can then begin to pray and seek opportunities to serve and offer different life dreams. Praise God for love!

Some friends shared this video of just one of the ministries here working to reclaim hearts for Life. Check it out if you like: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=v13WyMfVnCg

Been having orientation, and tonight mr.Cunningham s poke at a local church. Things keep getting interesting. We learned about spiritual warfare this week,and in the talk we heard about the same after seven years of bible translation. Goal is that it will be in every language by 2020.


-Rachel

Good morning Day Two

"We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete." First John: Chapter 1 Verse 3-4

It is so cool. Last night, we were talking (we as is me and a few of my room mates) and the topic came about light. As my roommate E was telling her story, all the things that she spoke were so encouraging. Praise God! Her story is amazing! She is one who is gentle and kind, very talented, yet humble. Wow! So cool. Blessed be around her. We were talking about it yesterday, that the Character of God is incomparable, and those being changed by it are contagious and have an awe inspiring presence about them. Not that is it them at all, but the Life that is in them. ~something to think about~.


Waiting.
Once again another amazing talk. Many amazing talks today, and so many lessons. There are several verses that strongly apply to my life and will be ones that are reoccurring as I know I will need to grow in several areas. One of my weak ones, I have to continue to face. I want to run but it seems that it keeps being put in front of my face. Again and again. I want to share so much, but do not want to overload you. Please give me grace as I am still learning to be concise and pick and choose important things to share and when. Although physically many things may not be happening, mentally and spiritually it is like a ropes course. But... we have just begun.

Thank you for being involved! Tonight I was encouraged to learn to ask and wait. Often times I am the type that needs to be and acts on spontaneity, but there are times where we are taught to ask, then wait. A thought or a call might be clear, but the question is to ask when and how.
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PS> It is hard for me to get on facebook with the time we are given. But pleae feel free to email me! I might respond quicker. Rmuno003@odu.edu.

PS.S> Still Pictures to come. And for those whose of you that I have emails for, I will try to send out a newsletter hopefully monthly. :) Topics you would like me to address/talk about ? Comment Please:)

~Rachel

Official Day One

Today is supposed to be the official day :)

"This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you. God is light: in him there is no darkness at all." First John : Chapter 1 verse 3

Got to have a Jam session this morning of which was an awesome time to reflect and enjoy being in His presence. Orientation began soon after. I love waking up to the sunrise here. It is truly amazing. The sun rises and sets in the same place every day, whether or not we see it, it rises and sets. It is mind-boggling how constant it is. It is so cool to see such beautiful things and know that there is some one that made it, some one who placed it to do that, to set out a purpose for it so that it can provide light to the world. Neat thought.

We had our Thai lessons today!! I was looking so forward to it. I get a bit funny about how I react when learning a new language, really shy and hesitant that is. It was okay at first, just repeating words, and sounds--mimicking the teachers lips as they spoke. It was not until after the break that my brain felt as if it was about to burst! My mind was having a hard time keeping up. We did not do much, but even such simple things threw me. Things like... my name is.. or i am ____years old. Crazy right!!?? Anyways, day one. :) I am so excited but embarrassed to learn. Thai is a beautiful language once you get used to hearing it. One step at a time. Patience. Patience for the things that are worth it. Patience :) I am excited!

Till tomorrow :) Sorry I am trying to figure out the situation with the pictures still. I hope to find another way to post since the pictures will no longer show up on blogger for some reason??...

Good night/Good morning friends.
~Rachel

P.S. By the end of the Month I hope to create a newsletter to send by email. If you would like to be added to the list please email me or comment thank you :) rmuno003@odu.edu.
Also by the grace of GOD and the sacrifices of all who have been praying and supporting financially, I have been able to cover the cost of just the program itself. I am still praying for the rest of the funds to come in as well. This is a rough estimate of funding so far.

Funds Raised :
About 6,500
Still need about $5,500 more to go to reach the $12,000 goal!

The power of a four letter word.

Pray.

So often we forget that the even the simplest things are power-ful. Wake up call. I have been forgetting my brothers and sister. I live comfortable, some days more than others, maybe I have some challenging days but still, comfortabley. It is not until I am in distress that I begin thinking of my brothers and sister right? Maybe to compare. 

This Sunday I wanted to challenge and call all my brothers and sisters back at home, or where ever you are to pray for the Middle Eastern countries and in Saudi Arabia. For Egypt and Siria. For Jordan and Jerusalem. 

Please. Pray. 

It is so strange, as I looked through an old note book this morning ( of which I have many that I do not usually re-read) I found a verse that I found this: 

All this I have told you so that you will not go astray. They will put you out of the synagogue, in fact a time is comming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God". Intense right? It hit me this morning because it is so true. That is why we pray. We need to pray for out brothers and sisters who are fighting the good fight, but are far from us. Who are enduring trials, to reap a greater benefit, God's glory and the salvation of hearts, even hearts of thier persecutors. 

Pray for strength and for grace to over flow! 

Hopeful Sunday!

~Rachel

The second journey: next stop Paris

This is a continuation of Today is the day. On my journey to Paris from IAD (Dulles International Airport) I sat around the three ladies, two infront of me and one besides me. The one beside me only spoke French but was reading her bible. How I wanted to know French!! Once boarding... The lady in front of me on my right was actually the lady next to me on the plane!!! Wow!! So cool right! Not onle that, but she was a Ukrainian Sister in Christ !! :) SO COOL!!! God's heart reaches the World!!!
We talked a lot and share a little bit of our hearts and stories. It felt like a push/confirmation, God is with us, he will not send me alone! He goes before me :).

Would love to hear thoughts and ways that you have been encouraged throughout the week or moments of challenging caliber.

~Rachel

Hi there!

Just wanted to let you all know that by God's grace, I arrived in Chiang Mai! :)
I am still editing posts about the trip before I post them, so please bear with me.
Right now it is 12:17 am here, but electricity is one of the more expensive utitilies, so I will go to bed soon. I have not been really jet lagged before. But my room make K pointed out that I must be because of my waking up after slept a few hours and thinking it is morning already. It was crazy.
Wish all of you are well. Thank you so much for your prayers and support, I can truely tell that your prayers are being heard. Go in the grace of the Lord. A man we met today sayed something really cool, inspite of persecution or risk of being a Christian, the is no safer place than to be doing His will.


Good night <3 p="">
~Rachel

Unexpected blessings

God continues to provide!

At church on Sunday the Pastor spoke about Saul, Samuel and David. It was an awesome sermon and was about talking in Faith, and asking God to direct our paths instead of heading into something by ourselves. It was an awesome day. As we sang many came to the front for prayer. God provided, again and again and again.

That night, I got to see a dear friend... I have not asked to name her yet but she has been like a mentor since I was in Middle school--rough years. Another thing on top of getting to see her was that I got to meet her friends, other brothers and sisters in Christ who, even though they did not know me, prayed for me and listened to my story about why Thailand. This might sound odd, but I was shocked and touched, I could see that they genuinly cared and that they were passionate about missions themselves. God is so good!  One blessing after another. It was a long night, but left me with packing to do. One step at a time. One step.

Though the morning was crazy, God provided for everything. My childhood bestie and I hung out as we went to Target to get some last minute essentials. We later attempted to finish paking, or unpacking and weighing the luggage which was 17 pounds over the maximum weight limit.
After sorting what to take off, Praise God! Got to decrease the weight to meet the weight limit.

As of Monday 12th, 2015
Fundraising Status:
Raised: $5,807
Needed left: $6,193

Today is the Day!

Today is the day that the LORD has made :)! It is also the day that I leave for Thailand!!! Still fundraising and pray that God will continue to provide support through every willing heart. I just want to thank my awesome team of prayer warriors and supporters who have sacrificed many things. I can not forget another PRAISE!

On Saturday after getting back,
God provided a tablet for me to go, and used my brother to fix my camera!!!! I have been without a working camera since the GSF Picnic in September. PRAISE GOD!! Wow it was a miracle how he continues to provide. Even then my attitude was horrible because of stress and things, I felt like griping about my problems, although God provided in each situation. He provided yet again! Thank you for all your prayers.

Please also be praying as I will be traveling on AirFance. I will be in Thailand tomorrow, but in Thailand it will be the day after tomorrow. In the airport waiting. So cool! God watches us where ever we are.

I am in the Airport waiting and IjJust got to hear a story. The plane got delayed an hour and a kind lady came to sit down and was saying how it must be her fault. She went on to explain. See I asked God that I would make my plane because my husband didnt want to take me to the airport. Not only did she make it.. but with time to spare. Praise God!

Learning to Listen

After the craziness of the last night, and grace shown to me, although undeserved, I felt a distance to read the bible. Weird right? Instead when asking where to read from today, a thought of John 1:1 came to mind. I flipped to the page and read only the first two verses:

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning."

 Heading back on the road, after debating whether on stopping by Faith's again because I forgot to give her some important things, strangely I felt that I should not go. Getting back on the road, I turned the radio and GPS on to listen to Klove :). After several hours of driving, it was time to change the station. I felt to go backwards, not sure why but for some reason was looking for something particularity that I did not yet know. I landed on a station which had a man preaching. That's when I heard:

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome[a] it."

Wow! How crazy! I listened carefully and it was Ravi Zachariah. He was speaking about seeing people. How he would go through the streets of India seeing the Delites, thousands and thousands of poor adults and children, just because of a label. 

He went on to tell a story. 

He walked sternly, trying to avoid the approach of beggars, he was on his way somewhere. That is when he heard a voice from behind him. Sir please, I do no have any one. My father is dead and my mother is sick, and my brother and I do not have even food to eat. He looked behind him to see a face of a little girl. One of the most beautiful faces he had seen of a little girl, it shocked him that she was a beggar. That is when he felt a tug that this was too the face of God's daughters. He got out all the money he had out of his back pocket and gave it to her. By the time he had finished, the green light had turned red and he had to wait again. This is when it hit him. Where the poor and broken are, that IS where GOD IS! He had not know what to do about all the Delites but asked that God will give him eyes like His. And a heart like His. 

As I listened to this sermon, streams of water began falling down my face. I felt such a sorrow and truth that hit. How often have I been the one to put on a stern face. How often! The same things have run through my mind, how can one person reach so many, if you help one, will there not be another? All these things have battled in my heart before. 

The problem that suck out to me this time was, have I been asking God for his heart and eyes? 

I was quickly confronted by the reality that I have been trying to do things myself, plan things my self, by just sympathetic or empathetic is not enough. How will we love if we do not see things like the God of the universe that created each person with a purpose.

I want to challenge you as well. Try asking God to give you his eyes and his heart. 

I think it has been since High School that I used to ask this, and those are the moments that I remember and wonder, what has happened since then? Why have I changed? Now I know. 

Praise God for grace! For reaching out and speaking even through something as old as a radio!

Praise GOD!

Praise GOD!
Fundraising Update:
Provided: $5,707

Left to be fully funded: $6,293

~Rachel 

The Journey Back-- pt.3 Cliff Hanger

This is a continuation of the last post (The Journey Back pt.2)...

Praise God! We found a shopping center. It was in South Norfolk. God is so good. So.. some of you may know how I react in stressful situations, and planing is not my forte... instead I am reactant and do not think things through. Soon we realized that time was quickly running out (for open stores). Auto Stores actually close around 7pm / 8pm.

Just the week before, the main tire ran flat in D.C while I was with my dad. Now... the spare was on and it blew out as well! The tires had already been ordered but were waiting to come in on Monday.
This complicated matters because there was no spare to switch tires.

After calling around. A friend was kind enough to go to Walmart to get the tires. Thinking that because Walmart was open, the auto parts must be as well. Sadly, they closed at 8pm too. I thanked him for the trouble and went back to the action plan.

While freaking out again. Faith reminded me to ask God for help. We prayed and asked for His help and provision. It was calming to ask God for help. It reminded me that He is GOD! Not just in church or on the good times, but he IS God! He loves us and will work out every thing for his children.

Quick sum up...
Faith and I got to talk a bit while waiting, I am so thankful for her!
While I called the tow truck, she called her parents to come and get us. It was really embarrassing. I easily fall to pride and control issues; this is why asking for help is very uncomfortable and hard for me to do. Praise God for grace!! In spite of my pride, he cares so much that situations like this one strip us of our pride before we can grab it again. Thank you JESUS!

Her parents showed up and we waited together for the tow truck.
When they arrived, while talking to the tow man, I found out that he grew up in Mananas--close to where I live in NOVA. So cool! He quickly switched the tires and agreed to drop off the car at a tire place near Faith's house.

Faith's parents were more than hospitable, as well as Faith being very patient! I thank God for the three of them and the tow men.
The next morning I prepared to leave and also got to see the Coleman's again before leaving :) . Faith's mother very kind to make me coffee and breakfast to go. Faith dropped me off at the tire place and I headed home after finishing some letters and my tire finished. Praise God we did not have to replace the rim, just the tire :).


Quick Funds Status:
Amount Raised: $5,447
Left to reach fully funded goal: $6,553



~Rachel

The Journey Back Pt. 2 :Grace abounds

Quick Funds Status:
Amount Raised: $5,447
Left to reach fully funded goal: $6,553

After a restful night, got off to an early start...
Had some downtime in the morning and got to revisit my Co-workers from the summer and then Afghani friends to pick up mail. It was refreshing to also meet up with APU and Kansai Guidai friends before leaving--I missed them a lot. I am so thankful that they got to come and study at ODU and for our time spent together. I can not believe how brief it was, as it was Thursday and parking would most likely be patrolled. The best spot had a limit on 1 hour parking time slots.

After parting again...
Praise God, got to hear from one of the dear friends from FISH who has been serving with our Global Student Friendship team to Internationals for Jesus. Got to have yummy tea together and talk as well as share about this trip (I am sure you are familiar with how much I can talk... ). She was very kind and listened tentatively to my story, as well as shared part of hers. So thankful :)!!

Next Stop...
Those whom I call my dear Indonesian Family or Second family. I got to see Ehoni, Big brother, and the boys!! I missed them so much! But it was a joy to be reunited and see how every one was, the boys are getting so big now! (Twin babies :)) ). Their friendship and family have been such an encouragement over the past year and through very difficult times have reminded me that God's got it. We got to pray together!!! I am so proud the boys are memorizing scripture and speaking boldly of Christ with his joy!

Second to last stop...
Chick-Fil-A time!! Life group!! The awesome groups in which we live life together!! Well not literally, but we share and challenge/encourage one another. It was so nice to see all who could come. But those who could not come were missed. I came late (surprise surprise.. ?? ), I really need to learn to be on time. But... got to hang out for a bit then left with Faith.

Now it gets interesting...
We picked up a guitar that I let a friend borrow. And headed to Suffolk, where I would stay with her for the night. We drove around and upon getting only a little bit lost near the Tortilla West restaurant, we were headed the loop (avoiding tolls) to get to Suffolk. Guess what.... we began to wonder why the roads where so bumpy...
Flat tire!! Again, the same--back drivers-seat back tire. Wow! Can you believe it. Thankfully Faith was in the car with me and she was wise and calm to tell me to find a well lit place, I was about to just pull over anywhere. We found a shopping center and...  (This post is getting to long. Read the next to find out :) ) . <3 br="">

The Journey Back Pt.1

Over the past few days, I have had the pleasure of meeting with people and sharing about this quickly approaching trip. By God's grace plans changes, but have been undoubtedly for the better. I was able to stay with a friend (whom I have not asked permission to name yet) , on my way to Norfolk, as parents though it unwise to drive in the dusk while roads iced over. At first I was very frustrated that my plans forcibly changed, of which called me to submit, but upon reentering my house my brother comforted me and was thankful for the fact that I would be around a bit longer. It hit me. I did not realize it at first but it began to sink in later, life is too short to run about planing things our way. This change in plans now gave me the chance to spend much more time with my friend and dear sister in Christ as well as learn to obey.

After a wonderful night of sleep--we were able to sleep in due to school delays. We had breakfast together and I departed for Norfolk. Little did I know that I would end up taking a longer route than planned. I was using the GPS this time, and ended up on back routes the entire way. Thankfully God protected me the entire way until an errand spot in Hampton. I got to meet a kind lady and some kind folks in the small town setting, as I had to get car parts for my dad.

Later upon arriving to Norfolk, it was perfect timing to get some other errands done and see dear friends, one of which I was not expecting to see--which was a pleasant surprise.

Now at my Big Sis N's. Praise the Lord for fellowship and the grace to have Hope in a God who is good and is preparing the way for truth to shine. I see it growing in her and our talks as we share about life. We also got to watch Jeremiah the movie. It was really good and refreshing to be reminded of the call we have, to speak truth, in-spite of the cost. Thank you all for reading my blogs and for praying for our team! About FOUR MORE DAYS! Four more days until I leave.

I am $5,047 raised!
Which means I need $6,953 left to be fully funded!!!!!
Only God can raise such an amount in such little time. To Him be the glory!!

Here is the movie for those of you who have not watched it yet :)

~*~Good night / Good morning ~*~
~Rachel

Just wanted to share- A neat story

"I could see all the continents, and waves were crashing onto their shores. Each Wave went onto a continent, then receded, then came up farther until it covered the continent completely.  I caught my breath. Then, as I watched, the scene began to change. The waves became young people--kids my age and even younger--covering all the continents of the globe...talking to people on street corners and outside bars...house to house and preaching the Gospel. Everywhere...caring for people" ~Cunningham, Loren 

What a cool vision! What would it look like if everywhere we went we did the same? How quickly would it change our communities, one person at a time. Wow! What an awesome thought!! What is even cooler is that it is not the people, but the Gospel that changes people. The truth that Jesus came, died--paying the penalty of death, so that we can not only be united, but freed if we give up our chain to Jesus, and follow like him. Free!


Can one truly understand what some thing free is or even value it unless they see the price of the cost attached? Can some one know freedom, unless they have been captive by something? Love.

"Love is fire, passion, desire, love is demanding as the grave... The grave demands everything and so does love... He is the potter and sometimes we feel the pressure of the potter...as he is forming you and fashioning you into the image of love."
~Misty Edwards
http://www.ihopkc.org/resources/asset/2014_07_18_1000_MSG_FCF/auto/true/


One week left before Thailand!! 
Minimum to go Needed: $7,000
$4,957 raised!! 
= $2,043 minimum needed.

Fully Funded Need: $12,000
=$7,043 left to raise

~Rachel

It's 2015!!! Happy New Year!!!

(Love this! Sing praises in every tongue and every language!For English watch at 5:00) 

Happy New Year! 

Wow 2015!! Can you believe it? This morning I went with my Dad to pick up the Visa which I will be needing for Thailand! I can not believe it! Another step closer!
As of Monday, I have only one week left before leaving for Thailand.
On our trip into D.C we were headed to meet up with my brother and we were waved down by another driver. She alerted us that our back tire was completely flat--some how we did not notice it-- and not only that but she offered to show us the tire place. Praise the Lord it was just around the corner and in the perfect timing.

UPDATE:
I will have to pay for insurance before leaving (approximately $1,000).
The cost of the program ($6,000). This updates the minimum to at LEAST $7,000 to leave.

Praise God for all your sacrifices and prayer! 
So far subtracting visa, application fees there is a total of $4,915.00 raised!!
To reach my fully funded goal of $12,000 I still need $6,675.00 left to be fully funded!!

=Minimum Needed: $2,085
  Fully Funded Needed: $6,675
____________________________________________________________________

To continue the story about today...

At the tire shop, thankfully it was so close and was open. But there was a young man about my age in front of us. After getting out of the car so that the men could take off the bad tire, I feel an urge to ask the young man about Jesus. I debated it in my head and the randomness about what I would say, in the end I remained silent, regretting it terribly. Thinking now, what a moment, the time for the perfect flat tire, behind another, couldn't that be a reason for the flat to have occurred? But I chickened out. I know that I am not needed to be used, if I do not obey, God will send another. How heavy is the call on my heart? How heavy if I become worried about awkwardness/randomness. Even deeper, the fear of rejection... pray for boldness, you will get the situations in which you are called to be bold.

There are two books that we were asked to read before our trip. Is That Really You, God? by Loren Cunningham; The Missional Entrepreneur by Mark L. Russell. My Dad has been kind enough to let me borrow his Kindle (which is cost efficient and immediately accessible). And today I have been reading the first one today; which has been encouraging.

"Hearing God is not all that difficult. If we know the Lord, we have already heard His voice--after all, it was the inner leading that brought us to Him in the first place. But we can hear His voice once and still miss His best if we don't keep on listening. After the what of guidance come the when and how." 

~Cunningham 

God is so good! This year has already been heavy, but it is a year full of Grace and Humility. Wish you well, and may peace be with you. I can not thank God enough for you all who have been a tremendous support.

P.S. I am still praying and ask for prayer for this upcoming trip. For the hearts of our team members and myself as we embark on an entirely different culture and lifestyle for the next 5 months and learning the language.

~Rachel