February Update

Hello my friends and family! I wanted to write you this month specifically about the Internship/Discipleship Program (FFRDP) that I started and manage here in Romania.  We are 6 months into the program for this year and it is so incredibly amazing to see how God is working in lives of my interns Izzy and Sarah.  They have truly grown so much in their relationship with God and have matured as young women.  Seeing their giving hearts as they work in the hospital with the sick babies and in the orphanage for disabled children is amazing.  They work very hard managing our volunteer apartment and our donations program.  Both of which are a lot of hard, tedious work, that is not as much fun as working with the kids, and yet they do it with a smile on their faces. I wanted to share a bit about what we do in the FFRDP because I am currently accepting applications for the 2016-2017 Program.  The program is for young ladies, between 18 and 27 who are really interested in being stretched and growing in their relationship with the Lord.  It is a time of being able to be involved in ministry about 30 hours a week while having accountability, discipleship and mentorship.  It’s not for everyone, but for the young lady who is ready to really grow in her walk with the Lord it is an amazing opportunity! "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations..." Matthew 28:19 Discipleship is the most important part of the program for me.  Seeing these young ladies grow in their relationship with God is what this year is all about.  This is done in a couple of ways.  Each week we meet for a time of Bible study, prayer and worship.  It is our ‘church’ time together, but it is also our prayer time where we are able to lift up each other and our needs.  We also pray for a different country around the world during this time that the name of Jesus would be known there and that hearts and lives would be transformed.  We usually watch a video from www.prayercast.com to help guide us in what to pray for.  Our Bible studies are watched online and are from teachers such Louie Giglio or Tim Chaddick.  The interns are required to take notes and at the end we discuss what stuck out to us. There is also homework!  The interns are reading through 3 books this year.  The Knowledge of the Holy by AW Tozer, On Being a Servant of God by Warrant W. Wiersbe and The Autobiography of George Muller.  Each week a certain number of chapters are assigned and homework in some form regarding the reading of those chapters is given.  Once a week we meet to go over our homework and discuss what we have read.  The books have really challenged the interns (and myself) to grow so much in our spiritual lives. On top of the book reading, we are on a schedule to read through the Bible in a year.  So each day we have a portion of Bible reading to do and devotional reading.  The idea of the Bible and devotional reading is not to have the “accomplishment” of reading through the Bible in a year, but to get the interns in the habit of daily Bible reading, of daily spending time with the Lord, seeking Him, and having a real relationship with Him.  In order to have a relationship with someone you need to spend time with them and that is the goal of this portion of the program. We also have a Friday Intern Day.  We spend all of Friday meeting together.  We begin our day with “checking the pulse” to see how everyone is doing personally and how things are going in the various programs the girls work in.  We go on to our Romanian lesson that I lead and then break for lunch.  After lunch we begin with a devotional that we take turns leading and a prayer.  This shifts us into the Discipleship and Mentorship part of the day.  During this time we review our homework and book reading, talk about anything that we have been learning in our Bible and devotional reading time during the week and go over any mentorship items that will encourage the girls in becoming mature young women in Christ.   An individual meeting with each intern takes place one time a month to check in on them on a personal level, offer specific mentorship and discipleship for what they are personally going through and to challenge them in how they can grow more.  This is a time of accountability and encouragement that can be offered only in this time of meeting one on one. The next main part of the program is ministry!  The girls spend about 30 hours, Monday - Thursday involved in various ministries with Firm Foundations Romania.  Izzy primarily spends half of her time at the orphanage for disabled children, while Sarah spends half of her time at the hospital with the sick babies.  They both manage our donations program, which helps sort the loads of donations we receive so they can be distributed for our various programs, and they also help manage our Volunteer Apartment.  Once a week they plan a gathering for our short term volunteers, and they do a monthly meeting with our teens!  They help from time to time in our Kids Club and After School Program in the village as well! This allows the girls to see what it is really like to live day to day as a missionary on the misson field.  They are a huge support and help to our ministries here! This month the girls came out to the Village with me where they helped with preparing the snacks and we washed the hands and feet of my kids.  It was a very dirty but fun experience for the kids! Some of the kids were a little shy and didn't want their feet cleaned so we washed their hands and cut their nails.  There was lots of laughing and we were blessed to help love on these kids in such a practical way. Once a month we do have a craft time just to be creative, and we have a monthly Internship Adventure, that allows us to explore our city and other parts of Romania.  I want the girls to have fun in the program and to fall in love more with the culture and people of this beautiful country.  These adventures (including my costs) are budgeted into the Program Fee the girls pay when they are accepted into the program.  We have had a lot of fun in our various adventures.  This month, the girls got all dressed up for Valentine’s Day and went to the Ballet! (I was unfortunately too sick and couldn’t make it.) The program is amazing, and the results are truly from the Lord!  Each month when we meet individually the interns and I just sit there in awe at what God has done in the last month and how much they are growing.  They are getting out what they are putting in and God is blessing their desire to take a year and truly focus on Him. If you know a young lady who might be interested in this program or would be a good fit for it, please forward on this email and the link to our website:  FFR Discipleship Program After School Program Of course I have to tell one quick story about my kids in the Village. This month the kids had a week off as it was the end of their semester. So I wanted to do some fun stuff with them.  We learned about continents which was sort of fun, but the most fun part was COCONUTS!  The kids had never seen a real coconut in person before and we have been talking about it since the beginning of the school year.  So finally the grocery store had some coconuts and what perfect timing with it being their week off and me not having to worry about homework! We began by reading a very short version of The Jungle Book (anytime I can read to them I do!)  I was joined my second class by my Romanian friend Lidia who read the story during this class, it's so nice to have a real Romanian read the story! I brought a coconut into my 2 classes.  I first had them feel in a bag without looking at it to describe what they felt.  I teased by boys that it was the head of a monkey. HA! It was pretty funny.  Then we took it out and looked at it, smelled it, described what we saw and felt.  We shook it so they could heard the water inside and then we poked a hole to drain out the water.  We first tasted the water and described that.  I was so impressed with how fearless most of my kids were to try it.  Even the couple that were timid at first, jumped in once everyone else had tried it.  Then I hammered it open and we described what we saw on the inside, the color and the smell.  I cut it up and everyone tried it.  They loved it!  We colored a picture of a coconut tree and wrote the different things we felt, saw and tasted underneath.  It was such a fun lesson, probably one of the most fun times I have had thus far with my kids.  I love sharing new experiences with them, letting them know there is a world out there of new exciting things they can explore someday! Prayer Please keep my health in your prayer, this has been a rough month for me, I have been pretty sick for at least half the month and am still not 100% better. I am applying for my residency visa this week, so prayers that it all goes smoothly. Prayers for the Lord to bring along the right young lady (ladies) for the Internship/Discipleship Program. My lease for my apartment is up at the end of March so I need to see if I will be staying in this apartment or moving…. Wisdom, as always!  And for everything! Much love, Rachel

Back in Romania and A Journey Towards Dual–Citizenship

Happy New Year! La Multi Ani! It feels so good to be back home in Romania.  I had a really nice month with my family and some friends, but getting back into my routine, has been so nice! After School Program – The Village The kids in my classes were so sweet when they finally saw me.  Telling me how much they missed me.  We looked on the big map together again to show where I had been and to talk about California. It’s been good getting the kids back into their routine as well after the Christmas break.  I really am so thankful to God for how good these kids are and the incredible growth between last year and this year.  Last year it took a couple weeks to get the kids back into the swing of things after the break, this year, on the first day back, the kids were asking to do math and writing!  Thank you Jesus!  We have such wonderful children, who really have a hunger to grow and to learn.  I know this in large part due to the prayers that are being said.  God is listening and we are seeing transformation! Internship Program It is great to be back with my interns as well.  This next year, we will be changing the name of the Internship Program to the Discipleship Program.  We have a new logo and website for FFR and the Program as well!  You can click HERE to see the new website for the Program!  If you know any young ladies between 18-27 years old who might be interested in the Discipleship Program I manage here in Romania, please pass on the link to our website! Currently the interns and I are going through a Bible study called, New Thru 30, where we are reading through the entire New Testament in 30 days!  We are almost done.  The Bible studies and materials that go along with the study have been great.  It has been a really good way for us to jump start this new year by diving into the Word of God! We also had a little Intern Christmas party this month since we were all in our home countries for Christmas, complete with making gingerbread houses!  Well, Romanian cookie houses that is…. A Journey Towards Dual – Citizenship “A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.” Proverbs 16:9 Probably the biggest and most exciting news I have to offer for this month is that I became a dual citizen!  On January 20th, I was sworn in as a Dutch Citizen at the Embassy of the Netherlands here in Bucharest. Becoming a Dutch citizen also grants me EU citizenship which allows me to be here in Europe so much easier.  It comes with many benefits and responsibilities, and I am honored and beyond blessed by this opportunity. I love that the Lord is writing my story.  He has plans for my future I know nothing about.  I had hoped that maybe someday I would be able to gain dual citizenship with Romania, but that dream seemed to be very difficult.  10 years ago I had looked into becoming a Dutch citizen through my mom (she was born in Holland) but the law was such that it was not possible at the time.  Then in March 2015, we had a volunteer here in Romania who encouraged me to look into it again, and what do you know, 5 years ago, the law was changed and I was able to begin the application process.  I am so thankful for my parents and my family in Holland who helped me gather the paperwork I needed to complete this process.  There were a few stressful moments, but honestly, this process went very smoothly.  I had a friend here in Brasov who helped me with the application and a wonderful contact at the Dutch Embassy here in Romania who patiently answered all my questions and the efficiency of the Dutch government was amazing! My interns joined me in Bucharest at the ceremony.  It was so comfortable and beautiful.  They had set up a table with Dutch cheese (YUM!) with little Dutch flags, and little fruit tarts, champagne, tea, coffee and some GIANT wooden shoes.  The Deputy Head of Mission lead the ceremony, explaining to me my new rights and responsibilities.  That I am able to now vote not only in the Dutch elections, but also in the EU Parliament elections.  That I am protected by the Netherlands, heaven forbid, if I should ever need their protection and that I can even run for Mayor someday!  Of course there were many other things that she explained to me as well.  Then it was my turn to give my Declaration of Solidarity in Dutch. Ik zweer (verklaar) dat ik de grondwettelijke orde van het Koninkrijk der Nederlanden, haar vrijheden en rechten respecteer en zweer (beloof ) de plichten die het staatsburgerschap met zich meebrengt getrouw te vervullen. Zo waarlijk helpe mij God almachtig. In English this says, I swear (declare) that I will respect the constitutional order of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, its freedoms and rights, and I swear (promise) that I will faithfully fulfil my duties as a Dutch citizen. So help me God almighty. After the ceremony, I received my official paperwork stating my citizenship status.  We then had some goodies and stood and talked for about a half an hour, just about the work I am doing here in Romania and what this citizenship means for me now.  They also gave me a whole gift bag full of wonderful Dutch treats!  The Deputy Head of Mission gave me a hug and 3 kisses (it’s traditional to give 3 kisses back and forth on the cheek for Dutch people) and she told me more than once that she was very happy to have done this ceremony for me and that it made her emotional as well. Everyone was so kind at the ceremony, they made it truly special for me! I brought a picture of my Oma (grandma) from one of her visits to Holland and a picture of my mama and I on the day she received her US Citizenship with me.  It was special to have them with me on this day! “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” - Philippians 3:20 Honestly this journey has been very surreal for me.  It caused me to think much on where my citizenship ultimately lies, with my Savior in Heaven.  It was also a very emotional (in a good way) journey to share this with my mom and family from Holland. But this journey also caused me to think about what an amazing God I serve!  I never in a million years would have thought about doing all of this.  But God takes me out of my comfort zone, brings me to places and to events that He has written for me, and if I am only obedient to follow Him one step at a time, I find my life is truly the best adventure possible. I do honestly wonder why He has had me go through this process to gain this citizenship and what that means for the present and the future…but for now, I can only look one step ahead, and follow Him and see where He leads. “But as it is written:  “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9 I am thankful for each of you who have shared this journey with me, these past 15 months here in Romania.  Thank you for your support, encouragement, and prayers.  I am beyond blessed to be here doing those things that God has prepared for me to do! Grace and Peace, Rachel

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas - Craciun Fericit from California! For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 I just wanted to wish everyone a very happy holiday season.  I have really enjoyed being able to see friends while I have been in California this month.  But the highlight has been being able to spend time with my family!  I will leave to return to Romania on New Year's Eve. I hope that we all remember the true reason for this season.  Let us rejoice, that God became man, a baby born in Bethlehem, for the one purpose of growing up and sacrificing His life that we might have eternal life if we believe in Him! Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.  Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” Luke 2:8-14 Donations: I have a new way of receiving Donations.  If you are looking to make an end-of-the-year (or anytime) tax deductible donation to help support my ministry work in Romania, I now have a way for you to do that! I have been accepted by Helping Hands Ministries, Inc. Helping Hands Ministries, Inc., a registered 501c3. All gifts are tax deductible.  You will receive a receipt for your gift in January of the following year. I am still able to receive support from ChaseQuickPay, Paypal, or Check - These ways are NOT tax deductible.  For more information on all the ways to support me and what your support goes towards, please click HERE.