Rachel's Reflections

"How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard."  A.A. Milne (Winnie the Pooh) Thursday my friend Macy left South Africa permanently to start her internship in Uganda. Saying goodbye to her was hard, but it reminded me of how much God has blessed both of us through our friendship.  When we arrived together in South Africa in January in my mind we were casual friends, but to her we were mere acquintances. Little did we know at that time how closely God would knit our hearts to each other. The experiences and memories we have shared together only dim in comparison to how much we have grown in our relationship with the Lord through the other person. Through thick and thin, through trials and triumphs, through tears and smiles she has been a dear friend. Never afraid to tell me like it is, always excited about something she has learned from God's Word, and bringing a vibrant joy to my life. I will miss her terribly but know she is where God wants h

Story Time:  The week I stayed with the Silva's I learned and grew a lot in my Portuguese. The highlight of the week was being able to tell them a funny story about my brother and I when we were younger ALL IN PORTUGUESE! It was a huge blessing to put months of practice to use and enjoy a new level of fellowship with my host family. I also had the privilege of sharing my testimony in Portuguese twice for discipleship groups with young ladies. Triechardt School:  Life-Saving, Soul-Satisfying Faith was the 3-part message I got to share with the Grade 11 girls at Triechardt school on Wednesday mornings. It was such a joy to watch them learn more about God. Next year I will have this privilege of pouring into a grade of girls every Wednesday morning,  (*Triechardt is an English school) . I am really looking forward to this opportunity.  One Friday afternoon I had the chance to talk to Miriam, one of the girls I know from camp in April. It was a great time of encouraging her. I a

Tent Camps Passionate music, bucket showers, sleeping on the ground, cold nights, warm hearts, dancing, no English, heaping plates of rice with whole fish, thatch/bamboo church buildings, curious children, and very receptive people.  Just a few things to describe what the two tent camps were like that I helped with here in Mozambique. Very different from everything else I have done so far but one of my favorites by far. I loved experience a whole new side of the ministry and be deeply immersed in the African culture. God worked in the hearts and lives of the youth who attended. Several placed their trust in Jesus Christ and others were further challenged in their walk with the Lord. Sometimes I felt like a bystander because of the language but I count it a privilege to have been a part of God's plan.  (pictures to come at a future date) Portuguese Praise the Lord for His help in learning Portuguese! I have been stretched, especially this past week and though it was hard an