Updates, poems, and stories of Rachel's missionary journey.
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Graduation--I made it!!!! Pictures have been updated--from throughout the school, the month practice, and my graduation. I am so happy to be finished and to have learned a lot about how to minister to children at risk. It was very challenging and I discovered that I still need to learn more about working in a team; especially with other cultures. However I also discovered that I have grown in responses to conflict, that I definately have a gift in working with children, and that my ministry is teaching children to know God more and experience inner healing from past hurts. One life goal is to pray and intercede for transformation in the lives of those with whom I work, fighting in the spiritual realm, and to be faithful in my personal time with the Lord. This will give me strength and wisdom to teach and minister to others. Thanks for your prayers and support during these past four months. I will be in Peru next week to update further.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
George Müller: Man of Faith and Miracles
By Basil Miller
Advice to strengthen one’s faith (p.58-59):
1. Read the Bible and meditate upon it. God will become known to you through prayer and meditation upon His Word.
2. Seek to maintain an upright heart and a good conscience.
3. Do not shrink from opportunities where your faith may be tried, and therefore through trials, be strengthened.
4. Let God work for you, when the hour of trail of your faith comes, and do not work to a deliverance of your own.
“Would the believer therefore have his faith strengthened, he must give God time to work.”
Avisos para esforzarse la fe:
1. Lee la Biblia y medita en ella. Dios está conocido a través de la oración y la meditación en su Palabra.
2. Busca mantener un corazón justo y una consciencia limpia.
3. No huyas de las oportunidades donde tu fe podría ser probada, y entonces a través de las pruebas, será esforazada.
4. Deja que Dios trabaje para ti, cuando la hora de la prueba de tu fe venga, y no trabajes para rescatarte solo.
“Que el creyente entonces tenga su fe esforzada, tendrá que dar a Dios tiempo para trabajar.”
By Basil Miller
Advice to strengthen one’s faith (p.58-59):
1. Read the Bible and meditate upon it. God will become known to you through prayer and meditation upon His Word.
2. Seek to maintain an upright heart and a good conscience.
3. Do not shrink from opportunities where your faith may be tried, and therefore through trials, be strengthened.
4. Let God work for you, when the hour of trail of your faith comes, and do not work to a deliverance of your own.
“Would the believer therefore have his faith strengthened, he must give God time to work.”
Avisos para esforzarse la fe:
1. Lee la Biblia y medita en ella. Dios está conocido a través de la oración y la meditación en su Palabra.
2. Busca mantener un corazón justo y una consciencia limpia.
3. No huyas de las oportunidades donde tu fe podría ser probada, y entonces a través de las pruebas, será esforazada.
4. Deja que Dios trabaje para ti, cuando la hora de la prueba de tu fe venga, y no trabajes para rescatarte solo.
“Que el creyente entonces tenga su fe esforzada, tendrá que dar a Dios tiempo para trabajar.”
June 8: The ambassador of Norway came today. We chatted briefly. He was nice. I spent most of the afternoon cooking and cleaning. Then I worked with some of the kids on a poetry activity. I read a little and spent some time reflecting on the past year—that has included many changes. I am feeling better being here and haven’t had problems with the program; I’m just not in agreement with it being a program. But I think the staff try, more than I realized. They are really hard with the kids, but if they aren’t, the kids get into trouble. They get into trouble anyway. I think there’s a balance between being firm and loving—you can’t really have one without the other—otherwise it’s abuse.
June 10: On Thursday morning the leaders left for a meeting and spent the night in order to go to the market, returning at 5pm Friday evening. Jessica and I, with the help of some others, were in charge of 23 former street kids!!! Many are responsible and helpful, leaving us to deal with a few real problem kids, who are stubborn, disrespectful, and disobedient. But the Lord has been kind and helped us to maintain control from morning to evening to complete the chores (I collaborated with cleaning the kitchen—it was so dirty—and homework (I helped with English), do a devotional, and play with the kids. It is not something a person can do every day and not get burned out quickly. It is not a job I would want, but I with my family and team could help children like this, along with their families if possible, but in a different manner—in love. Being firm is necessary, but yelling unkind words or commands only continues the pattern these kids received from childhood.
Right now, it’s 5:00pm, the kids are all playing nicely, no one is yelling or putting them down. We are dealing individually with the problem kids (two at present). It’s a big responsibility, but the cook and gardener (with their 3 kids) live here on the farm, and an older man is here helping out (he’s with my problem kid who has been rebellious all day). Jessica is helping her problem kid wash clothes. He just punched one of my kids, who has returned to playing soccer with the other kids. I am tired. We are going to celebrate the birthday of one of the girls, and after dinner, I’m going to put the little ones to bed and hopefully watch Shrek 3 with the older kids, and then fall into bed—exhausted. What an experience. I learned that in letting them play and let out their frustrations and not being so on top of them that they suffocate, loving them and being firm. Being in charge of the younger kids and the girls was a little better than Jessica’s house, as the boys didn’t listen to her at all. The staff has not been kind to us, and I rather enjoyed the time alone, but I didn’t sleep well, due to the extra responsibility. I cannot think it was the best decision, but last night, a staff came to help out. He went on a school field trip today, so Jessica and I could stay with five kids at the farm—we played ball, and swung, and I read and got a little sun. Jessica and I are extremely tired, and I’m just here to love and help the kids.
June 11: It has been a challenging week. I have had the opportunity to love, listen to, play with, pray with, and do poetry activities with the kids. I swung with a couple kids, prayed with one for a while last night, held one on my lap while we watched a movie today—the little things are big to them. However, the staff are very hard on the kids—this is a rehabilitation center, not a ministry or family. One kid ran away on Friday and there hasn’t been a lot of concern for him, although the staff looked around for him and I believe talked to the police today (Monday). I wanted to go to La Vega today to email, but it was a holiday and one staff wasn’t here, so I stayed. However, I felt sick in the afternoon and slept. I have a lot of physical comforts, bed, food, water, sunlight; I don’t even mind the cold water. But the way the institution is run makes me sad. I am learning some good things, and I enjoy working with the kids—they usually listen to me—I don’t yell. Occasionally I raise my voice, but very rarely. And if I say something, I carry it out—I don’t make empty threats. Today I cried, because of the yelling and constant correcting—it’s not done in love. I got yelled at by the cook for something a kid was doing, then Jessica comes crying because the staff at her house yelled at the kids for playing outside, when she told Jessica that they should play outside. She and the staff girl at my house have taken advantage of our presence and left, leaving us in charge—not really the point of our time here, but I’m sure they are tired. However after 3 months of school, and many stresses, this past week hasn’t been easy. I will truly be glad for this school to end. I have indeed learned what NOT to do! I trust God has led me here and continues to teach me more about Him—and to depend on Him completely. Thanks for praying for me (and Jessica) over these next two weeks—for health, patience, and sanity (with the staff more than with the kids—sadly)! Please keep in touch.
June 12: The prodigal boy came home today—brought by police. He was found staying in a hotel, they called the police when they heard the news report about him via radio. Since he came home, the tension has left and everyone is breathing easier. I played with the kids and had a more enjoyable afternoon. My stomach stopped hurting, and my headache diminished (it never completely goes away—the altitude really bothers me). I finished an interesting and sad book about street kids in Brasil called Asphalt Angels. It was a beautiful day. Several times today, the very staff girl that I prejudged that I would have problems with made jokes with me, talked to me, and included me—amazing! God taught me yet another lesson in listening and seeing deeper than outward appearances.
Tomorrow, June 13, I go to La Vega to the Internet café and to eat out with Jessica. I am tired—it’s once again 9pm and the alarm sounds way too early—at 5am. Goodnight!
I´ll be sending out photos soon.
June 10: On Thursday morning the leaders left for a meeting and spent the night in order to go to the market, returning at 5pm Friday evening. Jessica and I, with the help of some others, were in charge of 23 former street kids!!! Many are responsible and helpful, leaving us to deal with a few real problem kids, who are stubborn, disrespectful, and disobedient. But the Lord has been kind and helped us to maintain control from morning to evening to complete the chores (I collaborated with cleaning the kitchen—it was so dirty—and homework (I helped with English), do a devotional, and play with the kids. It is not something a person can do every day and not get burned out quickly. It is not a job I would want, but I with my family and team could help children like this, along with their families if possible, but in a different manner—in love. Being firm is necessary, but yelling unkind words or commands only continues the pattern these kids received from childhood.
Right now, it’s 5:00pm, the kids are all playing nicely, no one is yelling or putting them down. We are dealing individually with the problem kids (two at present). It’s a big responsibility, but the cook and gardener (with their 3 kids) live here on the farm, and an older man is here helping out (he’s with my problem kid who has been rebellious all day). Jessica is helping her problem kid wash clothes. He just punched one of my kids, who has returned to playing soccer with the other kids. I am tired. We are going to celebrate the birthday of one of the girls, and after dinner, I’m going to put the little ones to bed and hopefully watch Shrek 3 with the older kids, and then fall into bed—exhausted. What an experience. I learned that in letting them play and let out their frustrations and not being so on top of them that they suffocate, loving them and being firm. Being in charge of the younger kids and the girls was a little better than Jessica’s house, as the boys didn’t listen to her at all. The staff has not been kind to us, and I rather enjoyed the time alone, but I didn’t sleep well, due to the extra responsibility. I cannot think it was the best decision, but last night, a staff came to help out. He went on a school field trip today, so Jessica and I could stay with five kids at the farm—we played ball, and swung, and I read and got a little sun. Jessica and I are extremely tired, and I’m just here to love and help the kids.
June 11: It has been a challenging week. I have had the opportunity to love, listen to, play with, pray with, and do poetry activities with the kids. I swung with a couple kids, prayed with one for a while last night, held one on my lap while we watched a movie today—the little things are big to them. However, the staff are very hard on the kids—this is a rehabilitation center, not a ministry or family. One kid ran away on Friday and there hasn’t been a lot of concern for him, although the staff looked around for him and I believe talked to the police today (Monday). I wanted to go to La Vega today to email, but it was a holiday and one staff wasn’t here, so I stayed. However, I felt sick in the afternoon and slept. I have a lot of physical comforts, bed, food, water, sunlight; I don’t even mind the cold water. But the way the institution is run makes me sad. I am learning some good things, and I enjoy working with the kids—they usually listen to me—I don’t yell. Occasionally I raise my voice, but very rarely. And if I say something, I carry it out—I don’t make empty threats. Today I cried, because of the yelling and constant correcting—it’s not done in love. I got yelled at by the cook for something a kid was doing, then Jessica comes crying because the staff at her house yelled at the kids for playing outside, when she told Jessica that they should play outside. She and the staff girl at my house have taken advantage of our presence and left, leaving us in charge—not really the point of our time here, but I’m sure they are tired. However after 3 months of school, and many stresses, this past week hasn’t been easy. I will truly be glad for this school to end. I have indeed learned what NOT to do! I trust God has led me here and continues to teach me more about Him—and to depend on Him completely. Thanks for praying for me (and Jessica) over these next two weeks—for health, patience, and sanity (with the staff more than with the kids—sadly)! Please keep in touch.
June 12: The prodigal boy came home today—brought by police. He was found staying in a hotel, they called the police when they heard the news report about him via radio. Since he came home, the tension has left and everyone is breathing easier. I played with the kids and had a more enjoyable afternoon. My stomach stopped hurting, and my headache diminished (it never completely goes away—the altitude really bothers me). I finished an interesting and sad book about street kids in Brasil called Asphalt Angels. It was a beautiful day. Several times today, the very staff girl that I prejudged that I would have problems with made jokes with me, talked to me, and included me—amazing! God taught me yet another lesson in listening and seeing deeper than outward appearances.
Tomorrow, June 13, I go to La Vega to the Internet café and to eat out with Jessica. I am tired—it’s once again 9pm and the alarm sounds way too early—at 5am. Goodnight!
I´ll be sending out photos soon.
Monday, June 04, 2007
La Vega, one hour outside of Bogota
Pacto Belen Children’s Ministry
Saturday, June 02, 2007
I learned something about myself the last couple of days—I’m changing. Thursday night at 7pm, the director, who has been disrespectful especially to the foreigners since the beginning of the school, told me and Jessica that we were going to the ministry NOW. Jessica was upset but I kept my cool and calmly asked her for a couple hours so we could finish getting ready and so I could keep my call date with my dad. She said fine, but at 8pm said she hadn’t understood me. Well, I talked to my dad and then we left at 9pm in a taxi, arrived at 9:30 at another ministry, and left around 5:30am to La Vega, a town an hour outside of town, where we will be working in a children’s ministry for the month of June (until the 27th). It is beautiful here and we should get one day a week off to go to a nearby pool and Internet and eat out and rest. The lady in charge of our practicum told us we would be in a room together and not in the house with a staff that is immature and unchristian. Guess where I am? When we arrived, the director of the two houses told us we would be split up. Jessica could not handle being in this house with this staff girl, who is not here this weekend due to our complaint. So I am here. I told the director that our leader had promised to not put either of us here and I would try and if I couldn’t handle it, I would let her know. She said that’s fine. This is the house with the younger boys and the 4 girls, which is fine with me. On Friday upon arriving, I prayed with them, played with them, and helped them with chores. So for now I’m fine.
Today I realized that my call and work requires many sacrifices and death to the flesh. If I trust in God’s love for me and allow Him to love through others, He will complete things in me that would lack if I had chosen to not obey His call. Jesus Himself for a time left His comfortable country and chose a difficult life to bring love. God sent Him and He obeyed. And because of His obedience, many were touched and changed. God has called me to the same, to let Him love through me, so that 1) I will be complete and 2) others will be touched and changed. It is a life of sacrifice, but also of blessing. I am happy and know that in God’s love for me, He will give me the desires of my heart—in marriage, work, children, travel. I love Him and want to worship and serve Him, in this month, and for the rest of my life.
So I’m learning and growing. I’m thankful for the work that God is doing in me—what He has started and called me to, He will finish and give me the strength to do. Please pray for me over these next 3 weeks here at La Vega—for peace, patience, self-control, love, gentleness—hahaha—well, that I will walk in the fruit of the Spirit! And for rest and concentrated times with the Lord, to meditate on His transforming Word and to hear His voice in my heart. Thank you. Blessings!
The poem The Real World was inspired by a book I am reading called Nothing But a Thief, the Street and her Children, by Danielle Speakman. If you want to understand the life and needs of street children and really all of us, I highly encourage this book.
Pacto Belen Children’s Ministry
Saturday, June 02, 2007
I learned something about myself the last couple of days—I’m changing. Thursday night at 7pm, the director, who has been disrespectful especially to the foreigners since the beginning of the school, told me and Jessica that we were going to the ministry NOW. Jessica was upset but I kept my cool and calmly asked her for a couple hours so we could finish getting ready and so I could keep my call date with my dad. She said fine, but at 8pm said she hadn’t understood me. Well, I talked to my dad and then we left at 9pm in a taxi, arrived at 9:30 at another ministry, and left around 5:30am to La Vega, a town an hour outside of town, where we will be working in a children’s ministry for the month of June (until the 27th). It is beautiful here and we should get one day a week off to go to a nearby pool and Internet and eat out and rest. The lady in charge of our practicum told us we would be in a room together and not in the house with a staff that is immature and unchristian. Guess where I am? When we arrived, the director of the two houses told us we would be split up. Jessica could not handle being in this house with this staff girl, who is not here this weekend due to our complaint. So I am here. I told the director that our leader had promised to not put either of us here and I would try and if I couldn’t handle it, I would let her know. She said that’s fine. This is the house with the younger boys and the 4 girls, which is fine with me. On Friday upon arriving, I prayed with them, played with them, and helped them with chores. So for now I’m fine.
Today I realized that my call and work requires many sacrifices and death to the flesh. If I trust in God’s love for me and allow Him to love through others, He will complete things in me that would lack if I had chosen to not obey His call. Jesus Himself for a time left His comfortable country and chose a difficult life to bring love. God sent Him and He obeyed. And because of His obedience, many were touched and changed. God has called me to the same, to let Him love through me, so that 1) I will be complete and 2) others will be touched and changed. It is a life of sacrifice, but also of blessing. I am happy and know that in God’s love for me, He will give me the desires of my heart—in marriage, work, children, travel. I love Him and want to worship and serve Him, in this month, and for the rest of my life.
So I’m learning and growing. I’m thankful for the work that God is doing in me—what He has started and called me to, He will finish and give me the strength to do. Please pray for me over these next 3 weeks here at La Vega—for peace, patience, self-control, love, gentleness—hahaha—well, that I will walk in the fruit of the Spirit! And for rest and concentrated times with the Lord, to meditate on His transforming Word and to hear His voice in my heart. Thank you. Blessings!
The poem The Real World was inspired by a book I am reading called Nothing But a Thief, the Street and her Children, by Danielle Speakman. If you want to understand the life and needs of street children and really all of us, I highly encourage this book.
The Real World
By Rachel C. Deal
June 2, 2007
Where do I live?
Where do I sleep?
What do I eat?
What do I know?
That’s my world
Where do you live?
Where do you sleep?
What do you eat?
What do you know?
That’s your world
Pain and hunger
Tears and fear
Happiness and love
Desires and hope
That’s our world
Can I understand you?
Can I walk in your shoes?
Can I see your point of view?
I choose to leave my world and live in…
The Real World
El Mundo Real
¿Dónde vivo?
¿Dónde duermo?
¿Qué como?
¿Qué sé?
Esto es mi mundo
¿Dónde vives?
¿Dónde duermes?
¿Qué comes?
¿Qué sabes?
Esto es tu mundo
Dolores, hambre
Soledad, lagrimas
Felicidades, amor
Deseos, esperanza
Esto es nuestro mundo
¿Puedo entenderte?
¿Puedo caminar en tus zapatos?
¿Puedo ver tu punto de vista?
Elijo a salir de mi mundo para vivir en…
El Mundo Real
By Rachel C. Deal
June 2, 2007
Where do I live?
Where do I sleep?
What do I eat?
What do I know?
That’s my world
Where do you live?
Where do you sleep?
What do you eat?
What do you know?
That’s your world
Pain and hunger
Tears and fear
Happiness and love
Desires and hope
That’s our world
Can I understand you?
Can I walk in your shoes?
Can I see your point of view?
I choose to leave my world and live in…
The Real World
El Mundo Real
¿Dónde vivo?
¿Dónde duermo?
¿Qué como?
¿Qué sé?
Esto es mi mundo
¿Dónde vives?
¿Dónde duermes?
¿Qué comes?
¿Qué sabes?
Esto es tu mundo
Dolores, hambre
Soledad, lagrimas
Felicidades, amor
Deseos, esperanza
Esto es nuestro mundo
¿Puedo entenderte?
¿Puedo caminar en tus zapatos?
¿Puedo ver tu punto de vista?
Elijo a salir de mi mundo para vivir en…
El Mundo Real
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