Original Team Deliverance
I’ve been in Uganda for almost two weeks now with my new team, and have not introduced them to you. But first let me tell you how I arrived on team Divine Collision. Trust me the name is truly prophetic. I am so thankful and blessed to have these women in my life.
At training camp I wanted to be on an all girls team, but I told the trainers, that I would be fine with either. When team leaders were chosen, and teams given, I was sad I wouldn’t be leading the all women’s team, but I knew the team I was on was where the Lord wanted me to be.
The first several months on the race have been full of ups and downs. Great friendships, some of the best friends I have in my life, and some of the hardest relationships as well. I know it was all in preparation to finally land here. Month 5 in El Salvador I sat in my “princess tower” as I like to call it with my best friend Erin, and said I want to be on an all girls team, I know I am supposed to be and I told her some of the women I would love to be with. These are women that I see myself growing with, learning from, becoming my sisters. Erin was among those women, and she wasn’t exactly thrilled about it- the idea of an all women’s team, but she prayed with me none the less. She prayed for me, because she knew my heart was hurting, and we didn’t have anywhere else to turn. We knew some kind of change was coming.
Team Rooted: aka: Karibuni
We arrived in Guatemala and were in for a surprise. When it was our teams turn for debriefing with our squad leaders, squad parents, and Aim staff I had a melt down, several other people were upset as well, and what did our leaders do? They got up and left. They said, “we are going to make sure this team doesn’t get split up. There is so much strength at this table, so much potential. You decide if you are in or out. You’re committed to this team or you go home.” and they walked out of the room. Not only that, but they took all the candy from the table and someone even came in and removed the table and chairs so we were left sitting on the floor in a circle for what ended up being 3 hours of everyone spilling their guts, venting, crying, giving feedback, trying to come up with solutions.. etc. Every person looked every other person on the team in the eye and said ” I’m in this for you. I’m in this with you.” and we left the room feeling a lot lighter, a lot less burdened. At least I did. Something shifted in me when the hope of escape was no longer there, when I had to decide I am going to choose to love my team.
And then came Thailand. One of the sweetest months on the race for me. God knew I was running weary and handed me a month full of relationships, some I will keep for the rest of my life. He blessed our team with amazing contacts. Rick and Kerry who were not only just awesome people, but from Mt. Hood, Oregon as well. They along with the founders Carl, and Laurie, blessed us every way imaginable and just really took care of our every need. It didn’t stop there either.
Remember Nhu also has interns, and their main intern Megan Hoy is from Portland Oregon. She grew to be my sister very quickly, and really motivated and encouraged me in the word. We prayed together, cried together, prophesied, worshipped, and just stayed up like little girls in her bunk talking about life, and the goodness of the Lord. She taught me how to put on make-up, and brought so much fun and joy into my life.
Another intern that was there in God’s divine timing was Andrew Louis. God had told him to come to Remember Nhu, and so he went not knowing what to expect for the summer. He was an immediate friend, someone I could spend hours talking about the Lord with. We spent most days working talking about what God had spoken to us that morning in our devotional, and exciting things God was doing around the world. Dreaming up what he could do with us later. He was such an encouragement in diving into the word more as a group, in having worship together, and God just spoke a lot through him in moments I needed to hear him. I respect him a lot.
Then there was Nhu, the organizations namesake who was with us the last week we were there. Her life is a story of redemption and Hope- and how much our God fights for us. But what I loved best about being with Nhu was that she savored the little things, she was always laughing and she is a beautician and cut my hair for me when I had my “Roman Holiday” moment.
On top all these amazing people we were blessed to work with the house parents of Remember Nhu, other helpers, and just be blessed by 75 precious asian girls to love and be loved by. I was able to slack line with a little group of girls, who became my favorites. I couldn’t help myself.
The Lord held me accountable to my date with him almost every morning before 6. If not then, just a little bit later, but always before anything else. It turned into a even more of a blessing when my teammate Rosa and I started having devotional in the morning together, and I got to see a whole other side of her. A side that was so similar to my friends at home. One morning we sat and talked about our families and churches at home for hours, and then prayed for them until we had covered everyone, and everything we could think of. It was one of the best mornings; Rosa and I sitting on the floor of remember Nhu’s main room, laughing and praying for the people we love.
Not only all of that above, but the Lord blessed us with one of our squad leaders for part of our month, Vanessa O’neal. She has been someone who has spoken so much into my life. Has seen me at my best and at my worst, and still loves me. I love her to death. We got to have so many good memories, but my favorite was when her, erin and I hid in the girls closet to watch a movie. We moved all of the laundry bins around to create space enough for our comforter, and set our laptop on top of on of the laundry baskets, having to push aside clothes that were hanging up. We ate Nutella, peanut butter and oreos while watching an affair to remember and stayed up crying and talking for hours afterwards. Good movies get ya like that.
Not to forget riding elephants, experiencing a cultural dinner with dancing, crowd participation required, delicious food, and releasing huge lanterns into the sky. Going to explore some of the largest temples in thailand. Shop at multiple markets. Have as much Nestle 3 in 1 coffee our hearts desired. Ride bikes to the Dam and stare in awe and wonder. Go on an adventure day to explore waterfalls and caves that included a photo shoot, diet coke, prayer, lots of walking, and gelato at the end of the day. Making up a praise and worship dance for the girls to a Vintage 21 worship song: we’ll praise you. Learning how to build a house, and mix cement. And seeing a true picture of what the body of Christ looks like, working in unity together.
Thailand we a big fat gift from God. He wrapped it up all pretty handed it to me, and said “You’re Welcome Rachael.” Rest in it, Enjoy it, Learn from it… there are harder times ahead.
