Rachel's Missionary Update - October 2, 2008

You open Your hand and satisfy the desire
of every living thing. The LORD is righteous
in all His ways, gracious in all His works.
The LORD is near to all who call upon Him
to all who call upon Him in truth.
- Psalm 145:16-18

Hello everyone! Happy Fall Time!! I love this time of the year! As the leaves begin to change and I can pull out my sweaters and scarves and hats! It makes me so very happy!

I hope you are all doing good. It has been a rather quiet month for me. This past year has had so much traveling and running around, that it has been nice to have a somewhat calmer month.

About 2 weeks ago, I hurt my back. It goes back to the back problem I was in therapy for right before I moved to Romania. I had to stay home for a week and just rest, and then this past week I have only been able to go work in the office with the local ministry I volunteer my time with (PTJM). I have not been able to work with my kids at the hospital in 2 weeks! You can imagine how much I miss them.

But I have been productive in helping them still. I have been working with PTJM to encourage them in finding a foster home for one of the little girls at the hospital. Her name is Anca. She is 2 years old and blind, but she is so smart and can walk around all on her own. She loves to sing and dance. We just received word today that Anca has been approved to go into a foster home, and that we have a Christian family who want to take her! This is a miracle! So now, we are just waiting on the paperwork. Prayerfully, by my next update to you, she will be in her foster home! Anca will really flourish in a home setting. She is so inquisitive and smart. But she really needs parents and a home. I’m so happy for her.

I am preparing for a team that will come out here in October from the States. They seem like a great group of people. I have been setting up the ministry work we will be doing and am working on some missionary packets for short term missionaries. I’m excited about the packets because I think this is something that will be useful to not only PTJM missionaries, but to missionaries from Calvary.

I started a home Bible study this past month as well. We are going through the book of James. I personally am getting a lot out of my time of preparation. I’m learning a lot through the Word, and I’m learning a lot about how to put a Bible Study together. It’s been years since I’ve led a study.

My missionary friend Kelly and I are still meeting on a weekly basis for prayer, and another American missionary was able to join us once as well. Kelly and I have both personally been seeing the Lord answer our prayers that we have been lifting up to Him during our prayer meetings. It’s really encouraging!

I’ve also gotten in touch with some old friends who I know from over 10 years ago when I did my missions internship in Albuquerque, New Mexico! It has been such a blessing to see many of them on the mission field or in some sort of ministry work. Also I have been blessed to get in touch with some family members I haven’t spoken to in years! I seem to talk to more people from America now that I live in Romania than I did when I lived in the States! The good news is, I will be home over the holidays and hope to get in contact with many of my friends and family members.

Well I realized that I had not attached pics of my studio apartment yet. They call it a Garsoniera here in Romania. So I made a little collage for you to be able to see it.

Prayer Requests:

1. Anca and her foster placement
2. My back
3. My Bible Study
4. The next month and half as I prepare to go home for a visit for the first time in a year!
5. That I will continue to seek the Lord and be obedient to the things He has called me to do

“Grace to you and peace from God the Father
and our Lord Jesus Christ,
who gave Himself for our sins”
- Galatians 1:3-4a

Grace and Peace,
Rachel