Rachel's Reflections

This little blue book is wonderful. It's full of explanations and teachings about God, the Bible, and Bible stories. It's definitely written like a children's book, but I've been using it for other things. :) I use it to practice reading in Kimwani once a week with my language helper (no, I do not understand everything I read, but that's why I'm working on it). Our house help knows that I practice reading this with my language helper and she asked me on Thursday to read it to her while she was cleaning.  When I got to this page, talking about sin, she had a hard time answering the question at the bottom of the page and I had not understood it very clearly. "We're all sinners," I commented, thinking it answered the question. She responded in surprise and a nervous laugh, and told me that couldn't be the answer to the question because who wants to sin?! I realized there was a miscommunication so I decided to switch to the Portu...

For months I've been praying for Mama R's salvation, but also for the salvation of her family: her husband and four kids. This past month I've prayed extra for her newborn baby. That he might have the chance to grow up in a Christian family, with parents who love the Lord and teach him to walk in God's ways. A precious baby. Innocent in the ways of the world and completely dependent on others. I gaze at him in wonder and think of Psalm 139:13-16. God formed this tiny human, knitted him together in Mama R's womb, and knows what his life will bring. He often sleeps peacefully in my arms, without a care in the world, trusting that I will hold him safe. Oh that his siblings and parents could have a similar faith in God. That they might rest peacefully in His arms, knowing that He will hold them fast. On Wednesday, his oldest brother A__ was practicing English with me while we walked to the mechanics but suddenly he changed subjects: "What is Natal?...

I got to hold a jellyfish this week! My team took a four-day retreat to be together, reconnect (after team leaders had been gone for 6 weeks), talk, laugh, share meals, relax, and reflect  on how God has been with each of us during the challenges that came up in 2019. We stayed in a house on the beach. Quiet, peaceful, beautiful. It was a perfect getaway from our wet, moldy houses. The last day there I took one final walk along the beach by myself. I spent some time mulling over a myriad of thoughts and talking to God about them. As I started off, I was in a weird mood. Too many thoughts, confusion, uncertainty, etc.   But as I walked, the beauty of the ocean, of creation, of God's presence wrapping around me, brought peace. I watched  waves, like green, transparent glass, break on the shore then melt back into the vast ocean spread before me.  It felt a bit like my heart. Broken a few times last year, but always pulled back, whole, into the vast ocean of Go...

" Worthy of every song we could ever sing Worthy of all the praise we could ever bring Worthy of every breath we could ever breathe.. ." Build My Life I sang out this beautiful worship song standing next to a South African, at the same table as a friend from New Zealand, and smiling across to a young lady from China. The first Sunday of every month is always special for me. It's when the missionary and international community of believers gather to worship God. Today there were people  representing 9 different countries from around the world and multiple different languages. I always look forward to it. I always enjoy it.  It's always encouraging to me. Today it brought extra joy to my heart and a smile to my face after a long and harrowing two weeks. I sometimes forget just how significant "Celebration Sunday" (as we call it) is. I've gotten used to praising God in this multi-cultural setting. But today I was reminded how mu...