Traveling Day!

July 31, 2010

The past couple weeks have been filled with lots of final goodbyes and packing. You would think that making a big move to another country would be stressful and overwhelming but that was not the case. Everything went so smooth. Yet another confirmation that I am walking in what the Lord wants for my life as I take this next step in my life.

As I was on the plane to Miami, I was just reflecting on the past years of my life that have brought me to this point. I truly believe that God started preparing me for this journey when I was a little girl, sitting in my parent’s dining room listening to story after story that Missionaries Mike and Mona Shields would tell. I remember so clearly thinking about how much I wanted to live a life full of adventure in Latin American for the Lord just like them. God continued to preparing, winning a free trip to visit missionaries in Mexico City, the many missions trips and prayer times as God began to stir my heart to live with and love people that may live a little different than how I grew up but so precious. There were so many people along the way to encourage and challenge me to grow and love people more. If you are reading this right now, chances are you are probably one of those people. Thank you so much for what you have meant to me.

Most of all, as I look over my life, I see how God has kept me and grown me into who I am. Though I may haven’t not always wanted been faithful, He has been so faithful. Always lovingly drawing me closer and closer to him. Words can not express how thankful I am and all that He means to me. Although, Jeremy Camp’s words in his song “My Desire” come close to describing some of what I feel.
“All my life I have seen where you’ve taken me, beyond all I have hoped and there’s more left unseen. There’s not much I can do to repay all you’ve done, so I give my hands to use.” The rest of the song express’s a desire to be emptied so in order to be used by God. As I start this next step in my journey, that exactly my desire. To be emptied of all the humanness I am so that God can fully use me in any and all ways.

Please be praying for safe travels (I have one more flight to the DR then a 45 min taxi ride) and quick adaption, as I get accustomed to my new home. You can also be praying for my host family and my future students. Like I just expressed, I want to be used by God in great ways as I learn, live, and teach in the DR.

Thank you so much for being interested in my life and this exciting journey God is taking me on. I’m thrilled to be finally creating my own crazy missionary stories and look forward to sharing then with all of you and the Shields once did with me! ☺ I will try to post updates often and try to get pics up quickly so you can enjoy the sites of the DR as well. I love you guys so much and know that I am praying for you as well!

In Him,
Rachel