Hi everyone!
Yes, I am writing a blog after a good year or 2 of no updates!
I’m sure many of you forgot you were still subscribed to this link, surprise!
Well, now that you are here…
I am excited to tell you about something that happened.
(…Other than getting married! Which has proved to be the best thing that’s ever happened to me.)
It started happening on quiet mornings watching the sunrise, journal and coffee in hand.
It happened in long prayers, when I found myself asking for things I wasn’t sure what meant.
It happened while dreaming with my husband about our future.
It happened when eternity was planted in my heart, and no matter what I could do to stop it, it kept growing.
It happened mainly when I thought of others. When I thought of you, my friends and family, the people in our nation and around the world who need friendship, who need the basics of community, the truth in their language, honesty, more Jesus and less fake emotions and feelings.
It happened when I heard God ask me to quit my job to serve Him more.
It happened when I found an opportunity to lead the generation rising up under me, and I had to listen and obey.
What happened was I heard the call again. This time it’s for a much shorter time overseas, and much closer! (and much cheaper, can I get an AMEN?!)
I have been chosen to lead a team of passionate young men and women to to the slums of Jamaica to work with local churches, ministries and children.
As many of you know, Jamaica isn’t only home to everyone’s favorite easy going Rastafarian singer Bob Marly, but it’s home to drug rings, poverty, abuse, neglect, and gang violence all tucked neatly behind the Sandals resorts, vacation getaways and all inclusive retreat locations.
(Don’t get me wrong…I love vacationing overseas! But this time my passion is to go out to help a side we don’t often observe.)
See, Jamaica was home to the gentle Arawak indians in it’s early years.
When Christopher Columbus discovered the island in his pursuit for gold, the locals were attacked, enslaved, and eventually all died off from diseases spread from the Europeans.
Later, english settlers concerned themselves with growing and exporting crops to sell back to England, but they needed laborers. The ‘Middle Passage’ became a famous route between this small west indies colony and Africa, as hundreds of slaves being transported to Jamaica became a common affair. In the 1800’s, after many uprisings from angry slaves, the the slaves were emancipated and the slave trade was finally abolished and the African people took over the island.
Throughout history, Jamaica thrived on it’s sugar, banana and aluminum ore exports and now it’s economy mainly runs off aluminum and tourism. However, crime rates and illiteracy are high and violent drug rings still threaten many cities and towns.
All this is to say that God loves this country. He passionately wrote the story that took this nation to where they are today. English settlers may have taken much from these people in the past, but now we come to give.
We come to bring words of life to this culture, to change lives, and to have our worlds broadened and opened up to the things they have to teach us.
Pray for me this time as I not only go to serve a new culture, but to focus my efforts on leading a group of high school students.
I only have $600 left to raise out of a total of $735, which feels so small after having to raise $15,500 for the world race! I know God will bring in these funds, I can’t wait to see how He does it!!
This time, I’m asking you for a dollar.
One dollar.
Skip your $1 menu McDonalds trip today and please, if you can, donate a dollar under the support me link in the left menu bar under my picture.
If you can’t donate, please follow our experiences!
I can’t wait to share more.
Thank you so much for reading this, and for your prayers and donations!
I leave in 20 days. I will update you as we travel and explore this country, and post many pictures of the beautiful people and experiences we encounter.
Blessings,
Rachel
