Rachel's Reflections

Three blonde kids sat around me on the floor that evening. They leaned against me as we watched the short video about the people I will be living among in northern Mozambique. Question after question came at me about the people and why I was going and what would I be doing. One still haunts me: " You mean they don't obey Jesus? !" he asked incredulously.  He asked with such innocence and surprise. His tone stated the importance of obeying Jesus, the Son of God. He could not imagine why they would live in disobedience to Jesus.  "No," I replied, "they do not obey Jesus, they do not even know who Jesus really is or what He has done for them. That is why I am going, to tell them about Jesus." He and his sisters were satisfied. They had asked their questions, they understood why I would be moving to Africa. They accepted why they will not see me again for almost five years. They gave me big hugs before they went to go get ready for bed e

On Monday I had the privilege of participating in a very special occasion called a mentor walk . This particular mentor walk was for Cassandra Brandenburg, a young lady in my church I've disicipled, who recently turned 16.  Month's in advance Cassandra's mother secretly informed eight of us, who had an impact in Cassie's life, of this surprise event. On the long-anticipated day we gathered, a few of us participating in a mentor walk for the first time and others who knew what they were doing. We staked ourselves out along the planned-on boardwalk and sat waiting until Cassandra would arrive.  Each of us had been asked to prepare a piece of wisdom we wanted to pass on to her. To go with that piece of wisdom we each had an image or picture on a charm so Cassie could keep it as a reminder of that special day and the wisdom passed on to her.  I looked up from my position on the boardwalk and spotted Cassie coming towards me. She broke down crying when she saw me and g

(Following is a story from this time last year during my Cross-Cultural Internship with Word of Life) I sat dumbfounded as I read the email explaining the mystery that had baffled me for more than a week. " This is a donation from the man you sat next to on the plane. That was his description to us !" Three weeks prior to receiving that email I'd had a conversation about lowering my salary because of low funds. Shortly after that conversation a donation appeared in my account from a man I did not know. I asked around trying to figure out who he was so I could thank him. I asked my mom. She has always explained who people are that give to me because they used to support my parents as missionaries in Kenya. She had no idea who this person was. Maybe it was someone from the recent missions trip group that had come to help with a few projects? Nope. Then I received the email: "... the man you sat next to on the plane ..." " The man on the plane ?!?&