Morning in an Elephant Camp

Woke up to be at the Norwood house by 7 am.

The Sungtao took the eight of us there and we got to see the elephants! 

So sweet and exciting! Especially once we arrived. But if did not sink in until the elephant show that, these elephants constantly are required to perform. How tiring it must be... Even more, the people who took care of them appeared to be the same, their eyes sad yet stern. Of course they were polite and wai (a way to politely greet or say thank you) after doing things with the elephants.

Stuck--stuck because I cannot ask, can not speak the language. It is funny because the past few weeks we have been learning many things in our increased lecture hours--as the IBAM students are here with us these two weeks. We were taught last week by David Skew and Landa Cope. Landa Cope addressed many issues in business and challenged our worldviews. 

--Worldview is a belief or idea at the core about life that one is taught or is deeply rooted in the belief that it is true.--

Her book the Old Testament Template was assigned weeks prior, and has very similar content to what we learned in class. One of the issues that were addressed is our Superior Complex. 

We have this idea that we need to "help" people. Poor them... idea, but the thing is--they already have wealth. What takes that away is when we come in trying to fix something that may not be a problem. If you convince some one that they are poor, and they need your help (by helping them), you are actually creating a dependency and crippling societies for life! 

At the elephant camp, I realized I can not fix it--or at least not with money or objects. Second, as I reflected on the adventure to the elephant camp, I realized that I am ignorant. I am assuming things that have not been proved true. 

I do not know the situation, thus who am I to judge or look at someone and assume such things. 

It is a hard challenge and balance, but now to ask and learn is another. Language is so important. 

It can create or destroy societies. Culture is another. Each valuable and unique. Each person has a gift, it may not look like ours but each is rich, not because of money, but because God created them with talent that are unique, and a purpose. I can not do anything if I forget who God is and how he created value from the tiniest atom. Want to solve a problem? Just ask how. 

"For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected, if it is recieved with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer. If you point these things out to the brotheres, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesuss, brought up in the truths of the faith and of the good teachings of what you have followed."

~1Timothy 4:5-6

For Pictures and Video's Check out Instagram!

Nicamamii13

*Blessings and thanks for your support and prayers*

~Rachel

Key Lesson from the last Week- know yourself

Stop trying to get better at your weaknesses, and focus on your strengths!

We got to take the Birkman Test, and have been dissecting it as a group.

A really awesome speaker from this week has been coaching us through learning how to make a team and business successful. One of the easiest things that we can start creating successful teams and players is: utilize and fine tune your strengths!

What are strengths? How do we know what they are? And what does this have to do with business as mission??

When working as a team, it is important that each know their strengths, and weaknesses. It is not a bad things to have weaknesses, we all do. The cool part is, if somethings is my weakness, maybe i should not be doing it, instead, let someone who LOVES doing that thing, which allows me to live out my potential with the talents I already have. So cool right?

Snippets for this week. Sorry for not writing in so long, Internet was inaccessible for a while here at home and then once it came back, have spent little time updating. Hope to share so much more about what has been going on here. Thank you for your prayers! I can not express how much it has shown. Praise God! Things continue to come up now, but different problems, and some times revisiting old ones. This past weekend I turned up ill with fever and all and spent the weekend recovering. After it being pased around to the room, praise God we all have been able to mostly recove and have had an intense week of lectures.
Many blessings and sending my love from Thailand.

P.s I have also written up the newsletter, after battling with it, but have not finished compiling emails. Please forgive my negligence and procrastination in this matter. It has been rediculous! If you have prayers requests, please email me :) I would love to hear back! Also suggestions a out the blog are welcome too :).

Good nights/Good morning
~rachel

?Back on track?

Powerful thought of the day:
No matter what you do, if behind it--is not love, then it means nothing.

"If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge,and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing."

Last week even struggling to do cleaning or any duty with out being sour, every time I keep being reminded 'my thoughts'. What is the point if i am picking at things, grumpy at people, and controling? It begins with the thoughts. Capture them and ask why does this bother me so much?  Deep Thought. Good morning :) Or Good evening. :D! 
 Check out Instagram :) 
hope to post again. Thank you all for your hearts and prayers. 
~Rachel

It has been a while!

Wow! It has been a week since my last post! Sorry for the late updates. I have been able to post a few pics on insta find me at: nicamamii13
Got to go on a late night run! Feels so good.it is so cool simple things that help make the ,place we are feel familiar and homie.

Wow! So much has happened. Where to start?
Summary of last week:
Strong .spiritual warfare!
Lost my journal (praise God one of the fam. Found it :)! )
Had intercessory time for a place downtown. Please keep praying for the stream to flow! It is moving, but that it will gush out and bring life to its neighborhood; restore and cut out lies! That it will flow onward.
Need prayer!
Last week was a nice topic on the nature and character of God!
Scripture which will be important : Isaiah 46 and part of 49.

This week is pretty awesome already. Praise God my journal came back and I am beginning to learn about confronting the tiring dreams that i keep having with truth. Many dreams just drain. About things heavy and disturbing, but claim truth over them and the strength of truth dissipates the burden of them. Learning not to pay attention, but instead, just begin praising God.

This week's theme is World Views! SO INTENSE!!! And it is only the second day!!! I want to share many things but before I can I will need to check with people to make sure it is alright.
~*~TTFN
It's night/morning here. Pleasant day/dreams, Blessings and encouragement from Thailand. God loves. I am not kidding. Even those we do not consider worthy of love. ---> But really, who is worthy of love? So pure so selfless, but so strong and protecting? So responsive and understanding, patient to what we call a 'fault'. Wow. How great is our God!
Okay.. off my soap box. :P. NIGHT/ Good Morning!!


~Rachel


P.S- Thai class is kicking my butt! One day at a time. *_*

Monday's Thai Class

I am so thankful that Thai class no longer makes my brain feel like bursting!

During one of our breaks, I played a Thai song shown to be by one of my close friends. At first I was a bit shy to play it too loud, but my friend E turned it up. To my amazement, one of our teachers, Cruu, knew the song! She showed us others songs too! This is one of the songs that she showed us: 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Tv8-0-cx1fA

So cool! :) She explained what it was talking about, since we do not understand Thai; it was a story about having to keep walking on, even though life gets rough, you have to keep walking pick your self up and keep walking because God will be with me. Even until death, he is with me. The hope of one day getting to be with him forever! So cool! 

There are so many things I want to share. But I am trying to keep it simple for now ;) . 

Excited to see more and more how amazing the living God is ! How truly wonderful the character of Jesus. They are the same. Consistent, and freeing!

Thanks for all your love and prayers! Walking with Jesus, will never lead you to regret!

Only have one up now but: Posting pictures : check out : nicamamii13 on instagram! 

~Rachel

Break through

So cool! So recently we have been learning a lot about intercession and not just being burdened down by the weight of Human trafficking and societal norms but that God wants to bring people out of it. He is in the restoring business.
Restore. Such a powerful word. Such an important word.

Love my God so much!

So... over this past weekend, have been blessed with the time to think a lot and research only a bit :P, but about these topics. I learned about the importance of identity and its part on holding out oppression. What does this mean? Many Thai residents who lack the official ID card, can not become citizens and are at high risks and are manipulated out of fear. They might even be forced into decisions just to avoid involving police. Can you imagine? Not being able to prove you exist or belong?
Just another thing. There are many fighting to assist in this process but the struggle is still strong.

Hold
On to
Pratchao (God)
Every day


P.S
Please be praying for our group here. Many of us want to be apart of what God has planned for this nation, but internal things easily arise to create division. Please be praying for our group. May our Savior increase and us decrease. Also against the spirit of confusion, bitterness, comparison, laziness, complaining, and the like. Thank you all for your support and prayers!

Also GREAT NEWS:) . Just got an Instagram! So... for you visual people (like myself) Check out the pic of the day, or even reel of the week :) . Nicamamii13

Humbling comes before movement happens.
My God has a plan! <3 46="" a="" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+46" in="" isaiah="" israel="" just="" like="" nbsp="" show="" to="">https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+46
or John's acknowledgement of God's greater plan in John 3:30.

~Love covers~
~Rachel