Rachel's Reflections

I used to run into the back yard, straight to the bushes, and find my chameleon friends. I would laugh as they tickled their way up my arm, to my shoulder, and into my hair. Today, I got to relive that memory a little bit (see it on my hand?). It's our day off from training and we had fun hiking near a crater, stretching our legs after three straight days of sitting in "class." Day one of training we each shared our story of how God brought us to where we are today, being His ambassadors of the Gospel in Africa. It was interesting reflecting on how God brought me from Kenya as a child (bottom left), to the experiences and training I received with Child Evangelism Fellowship and Word of Life (near top), back to Africa with my internship (center of R), to Mozambique full-time with Africa Inland Mission, and everything in between. One other special rewind to childhood was visiting the airplane hangar my dad used to work at in Nairobi. After 17 years I still reme...

Pemba, a place I have learned to call home. But yesterday I traveled to Kenya for a 3 week training. As the plane descended toward Nairobi I felt like I was coming home. I have called many places home, but Kenya holds a special place in my heart because of all my wonderful, childhood memories. I count it a huge blessing to be a Third Culture Kid. Caught between cultures, I often see the world differently through a unique set of lenses. I can flex back and forth to fit in or understand one culture or another. But at the same time, the feeling of never truly belonging hovers at the edge of the heart. Theo and Malu, my little traveling companions, children of my Brazilian teammates, are now experiencing the life of Third Culture Kids. They are really good friends and it's cute to see them together. Theo was excited to be traveling with "Tia Tachel" (Aunt Rachel as he pronounces it in Portuguese) and stuck with me most of the trip from Pemba to Nai...

"Do you understand why Jesus died on the cross?" I asked her after listening to the end of John and the beginning of Acts in Kimwani. "No," my house help answered as we finished cleaning the bedrooms. In my not-so-perfect Portuguese vocabulary I tried explaining that Jesus had died on the cross for us. We are sinners deserving of punishment, but Jesus, God-in-flesh, took our punishment for us. Three days later He came back to life again, and anyone who believes in Jesus, as God, for the forgiveness of their sins, is forgiven and has eternal life. She understood perfectly what I was trying to say and even helped fill in some of the important vocabulary words I had forgotten in Portuguese. I asked her if she knew what will happen when she dies, she responded no. I told her I know that when I die I will go to heaven because I believe in who Jesus is and what He did on the cross. I explained to her that this is the only real difference between her and I. If she bel...

Erica, a young lady from my church that I've been building a friendship with, turned 20 on Tuesday. When she asked me if I would be willing to make her birthday cakes... I had no idea what I was agreeing to. Thankfully she wanted to learn and was able to help bake one of the cakes. A double-layer, chocolate cake with chocolate icing. A single-layer, chocolate cake with white frosting. What a great way to celebrate the life of a beautiful, young lady willing to serve God with her life. Erica desires to serve in ministry in the future. Pray that God will strengthen her walk with Him, drawing her deeper into His heart. Pray that God would lead and direct her in the way He would have her go.

Life comes in phases. Sometimes it's really hard. Sometimes it's really good. In the midst of it all, God is always there. This past week felt extra busy helping get the new family settled in. It's a joy to have them here and to feel like a more complete team.  That being said, in all honesty, this week was also really challenging. It slowly sunk in that I am the only non-Brazilian, non-married, non-parent on the team right now. And I've been living alone in this big house for 6 months. It's hard to cook for one person. It's hard to have to eat alone. Yet God can use anything for His glory.  My language helper and friend, Mama R, knows everything I have faced this year (cyclone, house issues, typhoid, etc). As we were having a conversation about this week and how I was feeling I mentioned that I'm still happy with my life. She was surprised.  How could I be happy with everything that has happened and feeling lonely? I responded that's it...

Our new Brazilian teammates arrived on Thursday! When their little girl saw the ocean her big, brown eyes widened, framed by her long, thick lashes and dark, curly hair. She grabbed my pointer finger and headed towards the water, stopping right at the edge of where the waves were lapping. She pointed at the waves, at the boats, at the birds flying above, at the sand, at the seaweed, and babbled on in her cute, childish way. My heart warmed to meet this precious little girl and I'm glad she's joined our team along with her parents. Obviously they are tired from the long trip from Brazil and a bit overwhelmed. I remember how I felt when I first arrived and all the emotions that swirled around me. Our team We are all helping them through the first few days with meals, shopping trips, answering questions, and offering encouragement. Please pray for our team as we expand that our love and unity will expand beyond measure and pull us closer to God's heart...

7 months ago, at a conference in Kenya, I sat down for lunch and said hi to the others at the table. Almost everyone at the conference were missionaries with Africa Inland Mission, but I discovered that the two young ladies sitting next to me were just visiting the conference. They were Kenyans that lived nearby and were interested in missions.  The one next to me asked where I was serving as a missionary. I replied that I was going to Pemba, Mozambique to work among the Mwani people. The other Kenyan leaned forward and exclaimed "the Mwani?! I've been praying for them for three years!" I was floored.  Only God could have arranged that meeting. A fter that conference she applied to AIM, was accepted, and has been doing a few short term trips to gain experience and training. I started praying that God would open the doors for her to join my team, but told no one in AIM that I was praying for this. Fast forward to last month - my team leader started telling me a...