Rachel's Reflections

A big grin spread across his face as soon as he walked out the bedroom door and saw me standing there. He stretched his arms wide to give me a hug. It warmed my heart.  He's the reason I came home early. Yes, I'm back in Michigan. My grandpa on my mom's side, who recently turned 88, was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma. I came home to say goodbye to him. Al though I wasn't here for his birthday, I love this picture of him. I will always remember this smile and the twinkle in his eyes.  I remember him trying to teach me how to fish for bluegills on a small lake when I was younger. Unfortunately, I didn't have the patience for it. I also remember the many times we played cribbage and euchre, two of his favourite games. I'm thankful AIM allowed me to leave Mozambique earlier than originally planned. I'm thankful God helped me organize everything in order to leave. I'm thankful I had a safe trip back. I'm thankful for time to spend with my grandparents an

Have I ever woken up for  an Easter Sunrise Service? Not that I can remember. I'm not much of a morning person. Yet, incredibly, I convinced myself to wake up for the sunrise on Palm Sunday this year. At 4:50 in the morning. Why? Because my friends had taken me to the beach as a special farewell before my Home Assignment and I wanted to make the most of it. Roseli, my Brazilian teammate, is always awake at that time. She and I walked along the beach searching for pretty shells, talking, and watching the sun slowly rise.  Even though it was Palm Sunday I still reflected on Easter and its meaning to me.  Just as surely as the sun rises every morning, so we know for certain that Jesus has risen. He is the reason I serve among the Mwani people in Mozambique. After the sun rose I took advantage of the tranquil morning and went for a swim. Floating on the surface of the water, I soaked up the beauty of God's creation. I heard the soft, melodic tinkling of tiny shell particles brushin

"They left?!" I tried to absorb the words from Mama Z's daughter at the end of January. Mama Z had moved away from Nampula. No warning, no goodbye, just gone. I felt her loss deep within me throughout February.  (see  https://racheljwmk.blogspot.com/2022/01/worth-it.html  for backstory) --- My phone rang in mid-February. "They took my husband! I don't know where he is or if he's okay," Mama Z said. I could hear the desperation in her voice. He had gone back to visit his hometown further north and the military had taken him without warning. I felt helpless. I couldn't even visit her to offer comfort. "I'll be praying," I replied. I called to check in with her several times throughout the next few weeks. No news.  --- "You're coming back?" I asked in excitement. I had called to check in with Mama Z. She said she needed to visit Nampula to take care of a few things before going back north. "I'll come to see you in a