Hi Friends and Family!

Thanks for reading my blog, praying for me and supporting me. :)

Preparing for the Race is no joke and it's apparent why the staff and advisors want us to have a prayer team. I am so grateful for those praying for me and my team. I had been on mission trips before, so a big part of me thought the process would be very similar to my others trips. I understand a little bit now why many make support raising their full time jobs!

Psalm 23 is a chapter I have memorized. "Rachel" is literally translated "ewe (or lamb)." So it is especially meaningful to me. When a friend recommended I read it, though, after having a challenging week, I decided to read it in several versions that I don't normally read. I paraphrased it to how it is currently speaking to me.

Verse 1: He provides for all my needs, even before I know what I need. Verse 2: He knows what I need to rest and relax, He keeps me at peace. Verse 3: He settles my wrestling, renews me, and makes my heart still. He keeps me calm and emotionally strong. Verse 4: I don't have to be scared of what others are scared of or what others say of me. He keeps me on the right path. He keeps me from falling off the Edge. He is there to protect me and is my guardrail--keeps me from serious accidents. Verse 5: Even when my enemies are sneering, jeering, taunting, and threatening, You satisfy me with rich food. I don't even have to worry when my enemies are near because You are the bigger animal with the louder/ fiercer bark and harder bite. Verse 6: Sometimes, I might have to remind myself that goodness and mercy are following me, even if it looks like they are really far away or it looks like I lost them!

I realized that verses 1-4, I spoke as if God was far off. Verses 5 and 6, I switch to knowing and remembering he is near and personal.

I don't know God's timing, but I know that His ways are not my ways and His thoughts are not my thoughts. He has good plans to prosper me and not harm me; to give me a hope and a future. Maybe when He feels far away, His rod and staff are actually preventing you from falling off the cliff!