Motorcycle Dairies

One of my favorite things to do in this country is to go on a motorcycle ride.  Whether it is just a short ride around town or a day trip to a neighboring city, there is nothing like the adventure that comes from open air, and the thrill of what feels like flying through the mountain side.  Through these many rides, I have learned so much about life and the adventure I am on with the Jesus.

I have learned that no matter how well planned out a trip could be, there's a really good chane it will not turn out as planned.  Whether that is because of a flat tire, broken chain, road being closed, getting stuck in a river, or whatever other weird thing that may happen.  There are always unexpected twists and turns, but it is always an adventure worth the ride.  Life is also made to be an adventure.  We can make perfect plans on how we think our life should go, but there are always the unexpected twists and turns that Jesus brings us on.

Lord, that you would guide me through this adventure. That you would take me on your path, even if it is different than what I think it should be.

I have learned the importance of knowing the driver I go with and have complete trust in him.  Every moto trip we go on, it is always with Dominican drivers, experienced in the streets, the road conditions, and the driving patterns.  Usually any fears I may have are put at ease, knowing they will take care of me and be wise in their driving choices.  This last trip I went on, I went with a man I had never met before, didn't know anything about, and I will admit, I was nervous and a little scared putting my life in the hands of a stranger.  If I would have spent more time with him before hand, I would have had more trust in him.   Each day, I put my life in the hands of the Lord, trusting that He will take care of me.  Do I intentionally spend time with the one who 'drives' my life?

  Lord, that I would know you, the one whose hands I put my life in each day.  May I daily spend time with you to know your love, mercy and character so that I may fully trust you through each of life's adventures. 

There are times on these trips that I feel safe and secure, free to look around at the beautiful countryside of the land I live.  The mountains, flowers, houses, faces of this country.  The driver almost disappears as I trust him completely become more focused on my surroundings.

Lord, that I would enjoy the ride you are taking me on and put full trust on you, but may I never forget who is driving my life.  

There are many times on these trips that I am tempted to be full of fear.  Zooming through the mountainside, I am tempted to look at every dog, every corner, every other truck or moto and imagine the worse that could happen.  I squeeze my driver, the one I have have once trusted my life with.  My independence and need for control rages inside me as I desire to take back control of my life.  But then I realize, I have trusted him for a reason.  He knows the streets.  He knows the limits of the bike we are on.  He knows the wisest way to drive.  And if I were the one driving, I would have NO idea what I was doing and I would crash so fast. And really, these thoughts won't change the outcome, or secure me anymore.  All I can do is cling to the one I have put my trust in.

Lord, that I may cling to you as you take me through the scary times in life.  That I would not be tempted to look around and imagine all the ways I can get hurt but that I will just depend on you with everything I am.  

My first trip to Constanza

Trip #2 to Constanza

One of my many trusted drivers, Eddy

On the calles buenas

Sometimes we run into unexpected obstacles, but that's what makes it an adventure.

Flat tire... Hanging out on the side of the road

Thank you Lord, for being the best driver ever.  Thank you that I can put my complete trust in You and that I can cling to You in every situation you may take me through.

Lives Changed

The Bible is full of stories of lives changed when people met the living Jesus.  The lame man was lowered in through the roof of a house and then walked out healed, forgiven... changed.  The sinful woman, caught in adultery, brought to Jesus for condemnation, he brought healing, forgiveness.  The woman who had a bleeding condition, got close enough to just barely touch Jesus' cloak, her life was healed, and she was forgiven.  The stories continue as we see Jesus' heart, He wanted to heal and forgive the ones who sought him.  That same Jesus is alive today and his heart has not changed.  I saw lives changed this weekend, just as they were back in Bible times.

During Cabin Time, students began to open up about their own 'bleeding diseases' and 'lameness' that they wanted to be healed and forgiven from.  Abuse from family, family fighting, images that haunt them when they go to sleep, memories from things they regret, the list continues.  It was evident that the only way healing was going to take place was an encounter from the one Living Jesus.  Here is the story of two lives changed when they experienced Jesus.

Enraged from abuse 

To give you a picture of this young lady's home life, this weekend at camp, she did not want to wear shorts because the week before, her cousin beat her with a belt, the wounds still apparent.  The wounds are not only on her legs but in her heart from what I can imagine, a life of pain.  She struggles with anger, gossip, holding on to words and doing all she can to hurt those who have hurt her.  The first night at camp, words were spoken against her by another camper that hurt her.  We talked about it and prayed, but as I watched her walk in circles, I knew she was the one who needed to seek God for healing and help in letting this go.  The next day, the camp speaker did an anger seminar on dealing with hurt and choosing to forgive others.  Later that day, my friend, who had been so wounded by so many people, walked up to me with peace on her face.  She said, "Miss Rachel, you know that thing that happened yesterday, I think I forgot about it."  Smiling, I asked her to tell me about it. "I asked Jesus to take it away, and he did." And the peace on that girl's face was evidence to that statement.  I believe this is the beginning of the deeper healing that God is wants to do in her life.  A life healed, changed, only through Jesus. 

Haunted 

On our last day at camp, one of the young ladies opened up about the images that fill her head every time she tries to pray and when she tries to fall asleep.  Tears filled her eyes as she explained that she has tried everything to get them out of her mind but they come back, haunting her every night.  She struggled with if God was even real because of this.  Another girl agreed and I got the sense that they were not alone.  I asked the girls to raise a pinky if they saw images that filled them with fear.  All 13 girls raised their hand.  Some of them said they saw things from their past.  Some said they saw evil, dark images that they weren't sure where they came from.  We talked about how Jesus wants us to walk in peace and not in fear.  That those images are not from Him and He has the power to take them away.  We prayed for Jesus to come into their hearts and minds and fill them with peace.  Two days later, back at school,  the young lady who originally brought this up came running up to me full of joy.  "Rachel! I don't see anything anymore!  I have experience God and I know He is real!"  A life healed, changed, only through Jesus.

I am reminded that Jesus is the same person today as he was back when he walked this Earth.  His heart is for us to walk in healing and forgiveness.  When we encounter Him, we can't help but walk away changed.  Thank you Jesus for changing our lives.

Doulos friends... on our way to camp.

Dunk Tank at carnival night

Fearless leaders after flour toss and dunk tank

So the kids had some fun with the flour too!  :)

Thank you for your prayers for this ministry.  Please continue to pray that God would continue to change the lives of these students.  He is doing big things, it is my privilege to walk along side my friends and watch Him work mightily.