I have fallen in love with orphans. It's true I must confess. I love them, and I want to hold them, and play with them, and let them know that they are loved. I want them to know what it means to be a follower of Christ, and I want them to know that they are sons and daughters of the most High King. Here in India we are working with an orphanage that has 105 children. It's run by 6 or 7 believers and the kids have a partially strict schedule (which I totally love because I am a very structured person). School, play time, lunch, Prayer Time, free time, Study time, dinner time prayer time and then bedtime. The ages of the children range between 5-14. Our group of about 9 people are teaching the Kids the Fruit Spirit for the next 9 days. Today we taught on Love. Told the Story of Jonathan and David and then explained what it means to show love to your friends. Then we played this great game with the kids where we broke them into 4 groups and gave each group a puzzle (that we had made out of construction paper) and had a contest of who could figure out the puzzle the fastest. Each puzzle was a heart, and within each heart there was a verse talking about love. The kids LOVED it! Then we taped them up on the wall.
Anyways, the more time I spend with these kids the more I wish I could just disciple each one of them, and teach them what it looks like to be passionately in love with Jesus. Did I mention that most of the kids speak some English? Which is a change, because everywhere we have been in the past the children have not. So, we are actually able to have somewhat of a conversation with these kids, rather than acting out everything with our hands. Its funny though, cause you find yourself talking in broken English, which for whatever reason seems to be better understood than just normal English.
The below picture is of my girl Preeta. I call her mine because every time I show up at the orphanage she runs to me and yells "Rachel Auntie" and we throw our arms around one another. She is 9 years old and has lived at the orphanage for 3 years. When I asked her what was her favorite part about living there she simply said, "Everything". If only I could look at life through the eyes of an orphan...
James 1:27, "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world"
Only a couple of verses before this amazing verse there is a great thing said... Vs. 22 "But be doers of the word, and not just hearers only, deceiving yourselves." Vs. 25 "But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing."
When you know that the Word says go help the orphans and the widows, and you know that the Word says be doers of the word not just hearers.... Guess what? You should probably get up and go do something.
I can't believe that it is time for me to head back out to the Race. I've been home for about 6 weeks, soaking in time with family and friends. Tomorrow is the beginning of my traveling to India with my team coaches, Michael and Kathy… My journey begins at 9am when my mom and my brother Aaron and myself head out of Kentucky and drive to Detroit. Then I head off to Amsterdam on a 7 hour and 50 min flight. Then we have a 5 hour lay over and conclude our traveling with a 8 hour and 10 min flight to New Delhi, India. We should arrive at 10:50pm on the 29th of July. The time difference is 9 and ½ hours so that will be interesting (hahaha). Anyways I would appreciate the prayers during re-entry.
A quick update on support. I am just $1,400.00 short of my goal of $13,800.00. It's crazy to think that The Lord has almost brought all the money in for this journey.
I love yall, and here are some pictures of my goodbye's to my family and friends the 2nd time…
Best Friend Jeannette!
Brother Ryan and Sister-in-law Hannah
Best Brothers EVER!!! Eric, Ryan and Aaron
Our Amazing Family: Eric, Aaron, Mom, Ryan, Faithy(in my arms), Toby (Dog), and Hannah
Best mother of all... Michelle
I love my brothers...
I forced them to take pictures with me... hahaha
Probaby the most musically talented kid i've ever met!
Best sister-in-law in the world
My mom is like my best friend... she's amazing
Katie Jackson... You know i love you
Mini me... My cousin Jessi
Sweet Brittany... My bro Aarons Girlfriend
Trey and Ali... Also Best friends!
P.S. Our internet is limited in India, so it might be a couple weeks before I am able to update everyone again… Keep praying!
My time at home has been hard, but b/c of my loving Heavenly Father it has only made me rely on Him more. I just wanted to give a little short update on what I have been doing. Its hard to go from being around kids everyday to not seeing them at all, but I've done what I can to find time to be around kids. I have been helping out with a homeless ministry in down town covington Ky, AND LOVE IT. I am drawn to the kids as soon as I see them... I just love them tremendously and want them to know how much they are loved by Jesus through me. I also finally made it to church this past Sunday... its something I have been putting off, b/c my arrival back in the states was supposed to be in November not July, and i really didnt feel like explaining to everyone how i was doing, and answer a bunch of questions, but the LORD IS SO GOOD... My church family is so supportive and I love them, and appreciate them greatly! In the mean time while I am home I have been spending time with my mom (she's amazing), with friends, and with the Lord of course. I recently developed a love for cutting the grass, and it has become a weekly occurence. I'm working out every morning with a friend, and trying to find things to do with my free time. I will be leading the Pulse (my college ministry at home), in worship on the 20th, and am greatly looking forward to worshiping.
My great news is that i officially have a ticket to India!!!! I depart on the 27 from Detroit and arrive in India on the 28th. I will be flying with my amazing coaches, and honestly CANT WAIT TO RETURN TO MY TEAM!
I am still in need of $1,955.00 to finish the race, but some other great news is that my plane ticket back home from africa was covered by my travelers insurance so i dont have to raise extra money!
I hope you all are encouraged by my update... I love yall!
-Rachel
P.S. The below pictures are of me and 2 of my best friends...
So it's been about 3 week since my dad passed away. To be honest, it's been really hard... dealing with the death of my father and re-entry into the United states has been ridiculous. But thank the Lord that i have a massive amount of people praying for me! I know that without the prayer i would not being doing so well. I just thought i would give everyone an update on what my plans are. Its been hard to make a decision about whether i should go back on the race or not... And i've had a lot of stress on myself in the decision making... But the conclusion that the Lord has brought me too... is that he is not done using me around the World. And if i learned anything thus far this year, its that God blesses his children who are obedient. So, i will be returning to the race towards the end of July. I will hopefully be meeting up with my team in India in less than a month. This brings me great joy because i miss my team so much, but also brings much saddness as i will be leaving my mother for another 4 months. So i would appreciate the prayers for courage to continue on in Obedience to my Father, and to not turn from Him.
I just sent off my passport today to get my India Visa, so pray that it comes in fast...
I also am still in need of $2,005.00 to finish the race through November. Almost completely supported... how about that... God is so good. He pretty much Rocks!
Well i love you all, and thank you for being there for myself and my family during this hard time...
I thought i would inform all my supporters and friends, that my father passed away last monday... my team and i were in the middle of the bush in mozambique when it happened so i wasnt informed until 2 days after when we had cell phone service. I traveled for over 50 hours the past 3 days, and made it home yesterday at 5:30... I was blessed to be accompanied by Rusty Jackson (our squad leader)... The visitation was last night and i was exhausted not havent slept for the previous 50 hours... I just want to thank everyone for their prayers... and thank the AIM staff so much for getting me home asap... i dont really know how to tell you how much i appreicate everything... Today is the funeral at 3:30... i would appreciate the prayers b/c i have been led by the lord to share at the funeral... Things are really hard... but my family is resting in the Faithfulness of our Heavenly Father... i love you all...
-Rach
p.s. I do plan on joining back up with my team in India in 5 weeks, but it truly depends on the Lords timing... I LOVE YOU ALL
Well, this is probably the last
blog that I will be able to put up for the next month. My team leaves Friday, May 30th
for Mozambique… Mutarara, Mozambique to be exact. We will be traveling 3-4 days to get to our
final destination… our transportation will include: van, bus, bicycle, walking
shoes, and who knows what else. We are
not exactly sure what we will be doing (which is not a big deal b/c the Lord
always leads us to exactly what he wants us to do)… all I know is that
construction on an orphanage might be something we help out with. You can be praying for our team of 6 as we
will be traveling over the next couple of days… transportation isn't the most
reliable, so pray for patience on our part and no break down of vehicles. You can also pray that our team stays
healthy, that we constantly are listening to the Lord, and that we portray
Christ to every person that we come in contact with this month. Pray that the Lord will see our obedience and
will reign down blessings on all of those around us. Pray also that we as a team continue to learn
servanthood, humility, and laying aside the things that we think we are
entitled to.
We have spent the last week
together with our team coaches here in Swaziland. I've decided that I love living in community. All 27 of us racers were debriefing this past
week, living in one house, sharing 3 bathrooms, cooking dinner each night
together, worshiping every other night together, catching up on our past month
that we had spent apart, praying together, drinking coffee together, washing
dishes together… I truly have fallen in love with my family here. I guess if personal space is a must have for
people, than the world race is probably not your cup of tea. Me, personally, I love the accountability
that comes with living so close together.
There is always someone to laugh with, cry with, vent to, or just to
talk to. We all sharpen one another… if
we see a brother or sister going down the wrong path, or picking up a bad
attitude, or removing themselves from the group, we call them out. It's not always the most fun thing to be told
that you are in the wrong, and really you can choose whether or not to grow
from the experience or get bitter about the experience. But what I have learned is that choosing to
grow from the experience is a much better road to go down than to become
bitter.
I know its not always fun to talk about money, but its something I have
to bring up in my blog in order to finish the race… I'M SO CLOSE TO BEING
SUPPORTED… I am still in need of $3,300.00.
I've broken it down like this…. If I can get 10 families or individuals
to support me for 66 dollars a month for the next 5 months, THEN I WILL HAVE
REACHED MY GOAL OF $13,800.00. That's
about 2 dollars a day… When it's broken down like that, it's not such a huge
amount. If you want to give you can give
right on my blog site… www.rachelhunt.theworldrace.org Just click on the support me link!
I cannot begin to express the
appreciation that I have for all of my supporters… your money is being used to
bring down God's kingdom on earth… THAT'S AMAZING! I pray that the Lord blesses all of your
families through your obedience… Obedience brings blessings… hold to that truth
yall! I also appreciate all of my prayer
warriors out there… I know that the Lord is hearing your prayers! Keep praying hard!
I LOVE YALL, AND MISS EVERYONE
LIKE CRAZY…
It's hard to believe that the
race is half way over…. I'll be home around November 25th with
stories to share with anyone who is interested to hear about the amazing work
of our Father.
Check out the video of our
worship during debrief…
And the other 2 videos are some
of our adventures last month…
It's so good to be back with yall. For the past month I have been doing ministry in Nsoko, Swaziland (located in Southern Africa). My team, Kaleo (a.k.a. RJAPAN), joined up with Pastor Gift who works for an organization called G-42. For the month we actually lived on an African Safari called Nisela. Each of us snuggled in our little homes (our wonderful tents) each night and fell asleep to the sound of Lucky the Lion who was at most 50 ft from our tents (Behind a fence of course). Our ministry consisted of loving on kids and orphans, building relationships with the people at the Safari, VBS, and putting together an identification system for each of the children that our under G-42's care. We definitely fell in love with everyone we met in Swaziland. Our hearts broke for the people of Swazi when we found out that 1/3 of children are without parents (mostly due to the AIDS Epidemic), and that about 42.6% of the Swazi population at the end of 2004 had HIV or AIDS. It is said that in 2025 if something is not done about the AIDS Epidemic, there will be no more Swazi population.
What can 6 people do for a month in Swazi and make a difference? That was the question that I kept asking myself as we were serving this past month. And I think the conclusion that I came to is that we are not in charge of changing Swaziland. Our purpose in this life is to glorify God and enjoy him forever. Part of glorifying God is being obedient to him, and that means sharing his Gospel, His Son, all around the World, taking care of the orphans and the widows all around the world, and living like Jesus all around the world. Our duty is not to change people, but to be God's instrument in relaying his amazing message. God's the one in charge of the changing; we are the ones in charge of obedience. So although we might not have seen a revival while we were here in Swaziland, we were obedient to the Lord and therefore can rejoice that the Lord will take care of the rest.
Support Update: I currently need $3,304.00 to finish the race. It's amazing to see how the Lord has put it on so many people's hearts to give to the kingdom... Im blown away by his goodness...
