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To the Team

This post will be updated weekly with prayer request. To those of you that have fought on the front lines in prayer for myself, my ministry ...

Monday, December 26, 2016

Haiti by way of France

About a month ago a team came to talk to our community group to raise support and share their vision. One aspect of their plan/vision is to attend language school in France next year (2018). That night in the first 5 minutes of my drive home I felt God just kind of whisper to me that I would go to French language school. I checked when I would need to be in Haiti to teach pediatrics and take students for the first class and then realized I would need to attend language school at the same time as the other mission team (January 2018-December 2018)... so as is typical for me I started looking into it.
The issue at the time was that I was planning on supporting one of my Haitian friends through school here in the States, but his transcripts were never delivered and so we could not finish the application process for school. Over the next two weeks as I prayed over the two options I felt strongly that he was calling me to language school, so that I could teach the students in the PT/OT programs in French, which is the official language for education in Haiti. I began to see God put all the pieces together, the desires, the plans, the financials. After praying over it I asked my missions pastor to meet. I wanted to get wise advice on the plans I felt God had laid out before me on whether or not the church leadership I choose to submit to would be able to spiritually support and back where the Lord was leading me. After two separate meetings I felt even more confident that this was the adventure Jesus had asked me to take with him. I am now in the process of applying for the French language school, so there is still a chance that I will not be accepted or that the term will be filled as they maintain very small class sizes. I am confident that this will not be the case. This is the first time I have had peace and confirmation in my many "ideas" for missions.

"My plan for your life is unfolding before you. Sometimes the road you are traveling seems blocked, or it opens up so painfully slowly that you must hold yourself back. Then, when time is right, the way before you suddenly clears—through no effort of your own. What you have longed for and worked for I present to you freely, as pure gift. You feel awed by the ease with which I operate in the world, and you glimpse My Power and My Glory.
Do not fear your weakness, for it is the stage on which My Power and Glory perform most brilliantly. As you persevere along the path I have prepared for you, depending on My strength to sustain you, expect to see miracles—and you will. Miracles are not always visible to the naked eye, but those who live by faith can see them clearly. Living by faith, rather than sight, enables you to see My Glory"

Jesus Calling December 21

"Failed" Missionary Ideas...
  • Move to Haiti in September 2016 to do more administrative role in PT school
  • TIMO program with African Inland Mission
  • PATMOS reality discipleship
  • Saudi Arabia as a PT
  • Start an orphanage in Africa (this one makes me cringe a little now, but I was young and naive)
  • MOH Internship
  • Special needs missions in Uganda



I don't list these because I actually believe they were failures. I list these because these are all the opportunities that were before me that I felt the Lord say "no", "not yet", or I just did not have peace with. The only one I still feet the Lord MIGHT be calling me to is PATMOS discipleship program. When would be a big question, but I just still feel the Lord saying "not yet" but not "no" for that one. These opportunities are what grabbed my attention as I read this devotional. I have waited for years. Not patiently, but none the less I have waited. I have tried to convince myself that He is calling me to do something, but could never convince myself well enough to actually take action steps. There was also resistance in my heart and so in the end I waited.

I'm not going to lie, reading Jesus calling sometimes feels like the Christian "horoscopes". But this time I felt like every word was one more confirmation from the Lord because He knows that right now my mind is a bit anxious and starting to self doubt. Not doubting what the Lord can do, but if he really wants to take me on such an adventure. But every time I question he brings people, verses, or a devotional that give me confirmation. Just a quite voice and peace in the midst of chaos of life changing plans. The certainty and clarity of what he is calling me to do makes me feel like this has been planned for years, but in reality it all just fell into place in the last month. Then, when time is right, the way before you suddenly clears—through no effort of your own. Although I don't know exactly where or who I will be working with, watching what has been laid out in the last month and the confidence of my church leadership in the plans the Lord has given me has put me at ease for future plans.

There are still a number of question marks and yet to be made plans that I ask you to pray with me about. 

1) That I would be accepted into the French Language School
2) Friendships that are being made with the other 5 adults (and 7 kids) that are attending the language school from our church.
For the short term trips I go on this year... 
3) One of the biggest concerns of my church leadership that I totally agree with is that I am basically going into Haiti "alone". This is obviously not the biblical model. It can be done, but I am really praying to meet like minded rehab professionals prior to moving to Haiti. The first opportunity was this past September when I went with STAND. I met a pediatric OT that lives in the country, she connected me with another therapist that is having a health fair for special needs children in February. I am going to help in February, mainly to assist in the health fair, but I am also very excited to meet other rehab profession missionaries living in Haiti. 
4) There is very tentative and early workings of a short term trip with one of the pastors from my church who has been very involved with a organization that has been working in Haiti for ~10 years now (help one now). This would be a trip where I would get to meet one/some of the Haitian community leaders that have partnered with this organization and hear how/where they feel rehabilitation would best serve the people of Haiti. 
5) Mission of Hope Partnership: I finally got the courage to email Mission of Hope and am also in the early phases of building a partnership with them to start a PT clinic for the amputees and communities that they serve. 
6) Raising Support: I thought I had financials all figured out (I could just save the money and come back to work as needed), but after talking with the pastors I realize that I also should raise support. After praying through it more over the last couple of weeks I realize that although it is breaking down my pride God wants to teach me through the year of preparation ahead of me and part of that is raising support and connecting with people who can see how God is moving through this opportunity. I will still be saving through this year and spending wisely, but I just have this peace and assurance that God wants to teach me something through raising support. I am excited for the lessons and relationships whether I raise $100 or $100,000. 
7) Leaving my current job: I currently work for my mother, which is way better than I ever imagined it would be. I have learned so much in the last year by working and living with her. It's nice as a new grad PT to live with a therapist that has 30+ years of experience and knows every one of your patients. I also have fallen in love with some of my patients and families. Leaving them will be one of the hardest parts about moving. 

Live Foolishly

^Rachel 

Tuesday, June 7, 2016

I can't do this

It has been a LONG time since I posted a blog (I have multiple drafts that I don't feel ready to share) but I have come to realize that my blog post are the times where God is working through a specific struggle or situation to increase my faith. I feel this blog has from beginning to end shown my increase in step length (maturity) in faith. So this is another step of faith that I am ready to take, it is not a leap, I don't feel God ever expects me to leap. I think he expects me to grow up so that my steps are longer as I know him and his characteristics more personally.

After my last trip to Haiti I felt like the next time I went would be either for vacation (I mean it is beautiful there) or to work in training Haitians to work in rehabilitation. I had some very ambitious ideas, but have been looking for other organizations to work with that provide therapy services and that might be able to support me personelle wise in training Haitians to provide rehab services. The huge shift in missions in the recent years has been the desire to not always be long term,  but to have long term effects on a group of people and the economic of that country. I feel that providing rehab services would be a great way to be effective in both of those areas. 

So now fast forward to well yesterday... I had found a website through one of my many searches that took me to a newly developed PT school in Haiti. I came to find out that this is the FIRST accredited PT program in Haiti, and that there are only 24 Haitian PTs in the country at this time.  ONLY 24!!! We have more than 24 pediatric PTs in NW Arkansas.... imagine if that were the extent of trained rehab professionals in America. That would mean that there were 6 PTs in Arkansas or 50 in Florida... and we feel that we are spread thin as PTs here in the States. Ok sorry I got a bit off track there, but I just did not realize the need until I saw that number. (Also each of the 24 therapist were trained outside of Haiti.)..............SOOOOOO I sent an email to their director and dean saying that I would love to be a clinical instructor, and asking how that would work. I was expecting an answer in a couple weeks that would either give me a go to find a site or not. WELLL the response asked if I was interested in becomig the department head of the program starting in September. So basically I would be one of the faculty responsible to the ultimate education of EVERY PT TRAINED IN HAITI. My response was that I am 1 year out of school and not in anyway prepared for the position, but that I would be willing to discuss it.... now that is were I am going to leave the technical aspect of what is happening (because that is literally all I know as of right now, I will update when I know more).

Let's switch to were my mind went right away when I read that email that said I might be moving to Haiti in a couple months... Jesus... and a prayer I have prayed for over a year now. My prayer was this 
Lord, I have had every aspect of my life planned years in advance. I want to live a life that is foolish and spontaneous but that is always one step behind you. I want to work "too hard" when you are calling me to that and I want to rest when you say to be still. But I want to adventure with you. I want to Go when you say GO!. I don't want to ask too many questions, I want to be willing and be a servant that you know will be obedient. Make me obedient to your words and your direction. 
So when I got the e-mail I laughed... first because I thought it was ridiculous and could never happen... I was suppose to graduate 2 months ago. I should not even be a licensed PT right now. But then I heard...
"but you are. You have told everyone you believe that you were put in the dual admit program because I wanted you to be. That many odds were against you, but every detail was worked out and you finished the fast track program just as planned*. Seek Me I will tell you if this is that reason but remember that you have prayed Bold prayers. I love those prayers of faith, love, and obedience, but I also require action."
*planned refers to one of those way in advance plans I had that had worked out just perfectly. 

Then I tried to continue to laugh as I told my co-workers and parents. I went to bed with the thought and talked to God for a good 2 hours as I could not sleep. Funny how he can keep me up when we are having some awesome conversations... because I really wanted to sleep. But we talked and he took me back to Abraham... this is a very long story that occurred a couple months before I started a Blog so I can't point you to it. But basically I was thinking about quitting PT school and Jesus took me to the call of Abraham and eventually to the preparations for sacrifice of Isaac. He asked me to take the preparations for sacrifice and he would speak to me. I was seriously considering quitting and decided to wait till I went to Haiti (the first time), I was sure he was going to tell me to quit and go start an orphanage somewhere. He didn't. No actually he softly reminded me how unthankfull I was for the BLESSING of PT school and questioning his ability to use the skills I was gaining in PT school. I came back more than positive that he wanted me to finish school...
So now I am leading a discipleship group through a bible study that goes through the entire Bible... guess what we discussed last Friday and the last personal Bible study I had done at that point was. Yeah Abraham... and I gave them a personal testimony about how he had asked me to be willing to sacrifice titles that were important to me. Well when we (God and I) had our little talk last night and I was getting overwhelmed with all the "Hows" he reminded my of Abraham and how when he calls he will not always give all the "Hows" but he will confirm it and guide me through every step. So I choose obedience. I choose adventure. I choose sacrifice. I choose to follow. I choose to listen. I choose Jesus.

I don't know if he is calling me to this. I know that it is a HUGE undertaking. I know that I have no experience. I know that I am way over my head. But I also know that if was not impossible I would go into it trying to make it succeed... but he has the plans. If I have peace and confirmation even if it is only his still small voice I will GO. I will move to Haiti!! I will lead, I will direct... but I will do it as I follow Jesus in obedience, sacrifice and adventure. Because I am blessed to know him and be known by him.
Please in this time be praying for me to quiet enough to listen to the voice of God as he leads through the conversations with the current dean and director in Haiti and through my decision if they do decide to officially offer a position.

Live Foolishly
^Rachel

Saturday, February 13, 2016

Goodbye Florida

It really is surreal that I have spent the last six years of my life in Florida. I can still remember the last night I spent at home when my mom and I cried our eyes out off and on for about 10 hours. I remember leaving and being so excited about what was to come, but scared to let go of the past knowing that things would never be the same. Now it is over, now I have completed college and graduated with a Doctor of Physical Therapy. It is cool to say that, but also so weird. I am 23 years old and I am done with school, there is no "next step" in education, there is no going back later. I have to again move on, well I get to move on. I think such a dramatic transition from high school to college has allowed me to look with excitement to transitions and change, because without them they are boring. I think surviving that transition and seeing everything work its way out and knowing that I am exactly where God wants me to be gives me the freedom to prepare for the next step with anticipation and excitement. It does not mean there is no sadness in leaving what I have known, but it does mean that I will not live wishing for the past. I am so excited to move home, I am excited to start working, I am excited to hang around my nephews, my old friends, and make new friends, I am excited to explore the outdoors (and am coming back for a new appreciation for free/cheep outdoor activities), and I am excited for change. My life has always gone according to plan, I planned on being a physical therapist since I was 8 years old... when people asked me what I wanted to be that was it. Well I have done that, now what. I think now is when the fun begins. I love to plan, but my plans have always typically been somewhat set... school. Now I know what the next two years hold... paying back loans. But after that, I have no clue.