Song from a Psalm

I love music and songs.

My current favorite is "Psalm 139" (Not the Mercy Me version ;) )

I don't know its "real" name, its a song I learned at CYIA. So it might not be 100% accurate.

I like to think of it as a prayer.

Here it is:
Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me and know my thoughts
And see if there be any wicked way in me;
Lead me in the way, lead me in the wa-y,
Lead me in the way everlasting

You have searched me;
You have known me;
My downsitting, my uprising;
You understand my thoughts from afar;
You know all my wa-ys,You know all my ways.

(Two parts can be sung simultaneously)

Photos With Assorted Friends

I took photos last week and Alley asked for them. (Sorry my computer wont email them!)

We had a lot of fun with Noah :)

Me :)

Noah and his sister Leia

(: Anna :)

Rachel Thoughts: "So What ARE You Going To Do With Your Life?"

(I should warn you that my mind goes down all sorts of rabbit trails. Also this isn’t an essay, a paper, or a devotional. It’s the opinion and thoughts of a sixteen year old who thinks sort of big.)

I've been thinking.  (I tend to do a lot of that :) )

It’s that question that plagues nearly every teen and young adult at some point in their lives… The question that has to have an answer because before you know it…

it is here.

Someone walks up to you and asks:

So where are you going to college? What Career are you going to take? Do you think you’ll get married?

“What are you going to do with your life?”

These questions never really bothered me, they just made me wonder, "Is something wrong with me?" I always answer that I don't know, that I'm waiting for God's leading. 

Quiet honestly I know what I want. (What person doesn’t know what he/she wants?) The real question is, is this what God wants?

Me - Who I want to be? Or who God wants me to be?

I want to get a job that I enjoy, that appeals to my creative side.

I want to be able to draw, paint, be a photographer, write and act on the side, if that isn't already part of my job.

I want to be involved with a children's ministry.

I want to be involved with children.

(If I’m being perfectly honest I want to be liked, and I want to respected)

I want to see my family.

I want to mentor other girls.

I want to change things I don't like.

I want to make a difference.

( WARNING Side Track Alert: Isn't that almost every kid's dream? To make a difference. To be somebody. To be remembered.

Each one of us is human, we strive to be something, we have a desire to work. We may fight it. (I certainly do at times.) But after a day of real, hard work. I am tired, sore, about ready to die, However...

I'm happy.

I love to work hard. There is a satisfaction to making something out of your day and not just playing around on the computer or painting nails or something. )

But is my "Making a difference" view different from Gods?  Is my “Dream” of my future not His dream?

Probably. 

I don't know for sure, God may have placed a desire in my heart. It's rare for me to know 100% that something is a sure fire yes. But I do have a little check list that helps me determine if its a "Rachel Thing" or a "God Thing."

A. Who does it bring glory to? God, or me?

If its me...  Its a Rachel Thing.

If its God. Its a God thing.

The tricky thing is it can be super easy to turn a God Thing into a Rachel Thing. When God works something amazing it can be all to easy to take the credit.  Rather than giving the credit where it's due. (Hint hint: God.)

Though, I've found the flip side is true as well! (And this is pretty awesome!) 

We can turn "Me Things" into "God Things" When someone complements you on something, give the glory to God. 

Now this is something I'm working on. It can be slightly, to incredibly awkward and hard to do. (Good things can be that way can't they?)

See, I love art, I love to draw and I'm alright at it. People complement me on my drawings and I should (should as in should but still haven't perfected the way to do it.) give the glory to God. I'm still working on the "Un awkward way to do it." 

B. Does this go against anything in the scripture, or against my Parents wishes? (Assuming you have loving parents who only want the best for you. Mine do, I’m pretty sure yours do to. ;) So continue…)

If so… It’s a “Rachel Thing”

If its in support of the scriptures, it’s a “God thing”

Basic I know.  So I’ll throw this in.

Lets see. So while becoming involved in the movie, acting industry might not be against the Bible. Its one I would be more cautious about.

I agree with my teacher, she said we need more Christian’s involved in the arts. (Movies, Painting, Etc.)

My thing is, they better be called into the arts. It’s a dangerous world, it’s to easy to be influenced into things. People who are not firm in the scriptures can be swept away when temptation calls.

We are influenced by what we are around, and right now there is very little positive Christian influences in the arts.

Which is why we so desperately need called Christians to impact the Arts.  (And because I love the arts, from writing, to drawing, to performing I wonder if I am or will be called. I want to be called, but it’s about God not me.)

C. What are my motives?

Motives tell a lot about the person, if you honestly think “Why” you want to do something you’ll probably be able to tell which “Thing” it is.

If it’s self centered, self gaining, or really anything “self” it’s a “Rachel (Me) Thing”

If it’s centered on Others, Scripture, God, etc… it’s a “God Thing”

This one is hard. So many things we want are, well based on us.

That’s why I’ve decided.

I surrender myself. My desires. My wants. My dreams.

And I trade them for God’s desires, wants, and dreams.

Because do you know what? God loves me. He loves me more than my friends, my family, my parents.

He knows me better than I know myself. He made me to love art, performing and children. He has the Best, most amazingly perfect plan for me. And one day…

I’ll hear Him say “Well done good and faithful servant”

That’s the best dream I could imagine. (And it can be the same for you!)

So…

Someone will ask, “What are you going to do with your life?”

I’ll turn and smile at them.

“I don’t know, but God has the perfect plan for me.”

“Aren’t you worried about college?”

I smile. “Nope. I’m trusting God. I’m perusing my talents and abilities, because they were given to me for a reason.” I pause and look into the person’s eyes. “God hasn’t told me what I’m doing yet. When He does, I’ll be ready. I’m always ready to drop my dreams, ‘cause I know His dream is always better.”

Update

In the process of working with my Africa photos. :)

Today though we (My grandparents and family) gave a "short" presentation at a church.

Short turned into a little longer than "short".

It wasn't super interesting, we just each talked about a portion of the trip. Which when there are 6 people and only five minutes, your going to go a little over. (Or a lot)

Anyway. My dad and I are in the process of putting together a video and slide show about our trip, I'll post it as soon as we're done. (But plan to post some stories before then.)

African Post: Stuff

Last African Post I talked about the first plane ride, well more about the wait at the airport. One thing is sure. Waiting is a part of travel, and it's not as bad as I thought it would be. When you travel you don't have to rush anywhere you don't have anything to do, you just wait. So I've been readin, praying, drawing, devotions. Shamefully I've been putting off my study of the Bible lessons I'm teaching at the kids clubs. Ekk! That should be interesting. I found out that in Africa you don't ask your "students" questions they don't know how to respond, and they tend to be shy. I think I'll ask a few questions and see whow they respond.

It's also strange how many stares we keep getting, it's getting borderline annoying. Anywhere I go kids, teens and adults stare at the strange Americans. On the plus side the Africans have been very friendly.

African Post: Food

(NOTE: This is a scheduled post written on 7/2/12)


Thus far has been exceptionally good. Yum!!

It's funny how driving down the road (left side) you'll see people eating rods of sugar cane. I'll try and get a picture for you guys. (though as a friend of mine pointed out I need to get water marks so that will possibly have to wait till my return to the US I'll have to see.)

Apparently a popular local food (In Malowi) is roasted mice on a stick. They'll sell them in the markets. Luckily we probaly won't get served any. However, I might take a picture...

We've had lots of rice, chicken, minced meat (hamburger) bananas, tangerines, apples, spaghetti noodles, mashed potatoes, and green beans. The food is very good, but very African.Though some of the foods are the same they taste different than our american versions.

I've only been here for two days so I'll give an update on that later. :) praying for you guys!

My Grandparent's Account of the Day 7/4/12

Greetings in our Lord's name.

We had good flights all the way from KC to Lilongwe, Africa.

The missionary, Rev. Obotte, and a mechanic, Ben, met us at the airport and transported

all our bags and the six of us to the Obotte's home.

We were indeed happy to get to Africa such a long trip.

We were busy on Monday trying to take care of everything before we would travel south to Blantyre for the first retreat.

 

We left Lilongwe and proceeded south but the roads were crowded with people so we drove slowly for the first hour. After that the traffic was less so we made good time along the road, in spite of bicycles, some heavily loaded vehicles, and pedestrians, from time to time.

We stopped three times so that took some of our time.

Also we had quite a bit of road construction (Yes, they have road construction here too!) so that slowed us a bit.

We thank the Lord for traveling mercies. Tom and Mike drove the two vehicles, while Cheryl and Ethel 'helped' them!

Rachel and Andrew took many photos.

We finally arrived just before dark, tired and ready for a good meal.

We met with the District Superintendent and requested that he have the cooks bring some food down to us, which they did. We enjoyed nsima (hard, white cornmeal), beans, cabbage and boiled eggs in sauce.

It was all very tasty.

We finished the meal with some Malawi tea. Delicious!

 

The first day of the retreat went well, although a bit disorganized.

The daughter of a former DS had passed away and the funeral was today, so many pastors and wives attended that, but they will be at the retreat on Thursday.

Those in attendance enjoyed our introductions and testimonies, as well as the

good preaching and teaching of Tom, Mike and Ethel.

In the afternoon, Rachel, Andrew and Cheryl conducted a Bible camp for the kids.

About forty kids came today and loved it!

We have some great photos of it.

We're sure there will be more tomorrow.

 

We have eaten supper--nsima (We had rice at noon.), beef (We had beef at noon.) and cabbage (Cabbage is in season.).

We enjoyed the tasty food.

The cooks are surprised we like nsima. Most people prefer the rice.

Maybe by the time we leave, we'll enjoy the rice, but right now we like the change.

 

Thank you for your prayers.

Truly God is working in our midst and we praise Him.

No one has really been sick, for which we are thankful.

 

Blessings,

 

Tom and Ethel

 

7:00