I have lived in Northern California now for over 4 years. God has put a love in my heart for these people and land. I have been interceding especially for coastal towns and universities. Recently, I have been partnering with an organization called Hope California. They have been following God's heart in connecting and uniting churches in several coastal regions to seek God and ask Him to move. Especially in these trying times, we recognize the need for peace and hope, which is found in God. Through worship, intercession, outreach and meetings often in tents, the body of Christ in California has been seeing people encounter God, encouragement and hope. This is one of the many groups I have been interceding for in this season.
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On July 4th 2018, my nation's Independence Day, I heard God say to me "book a flight to Atlanta over your birthday." I had no idea where I would stay, how I would get around and even more why I would be there. I had no personal desire or reason to go to Atlanta. In fact, there was a good chance I'd be in ministry school in California at the time and this trip would mean that I would miss several important first days of a rigorous school year. However, one thing I did know is that God loves to speak to His kids, especially when our hearts are postured to listen. And I love trusting and obeying Him, even though sometimes it's really hard. Actually, God has been asking me to step out deeper in courageous and radical faith...sometimes when it doesn't seem to make sense or feel possible. So I obeyed. Down to the exact date and specific flight He highlighted when I was looking at the list (I often ask him about even these small details). A few weeks later, God revealed to me His heart for this mission. I was being sent to Atlanta as an intercessor. My role would primarily be to pray, bless and release His heart over the region and especially for our entire nation. God shared with me that His heart for the United States of America is to be reconciled, healed and united, especially across all racial divisions. He showed me how there would be a movement of brother and sisterhood returning amongst the American people. I saw a vision in my mind of an interwoven piece of fabric. And I saw us, person-to-person, reaching across our differences with compassion, understanding and a desire to do what is right. Bridges were being built. In so doing, I saw God miraculously healing our hearts and bringing reconciliation and restoration to our nation. In this encouraging vision, we the people of the United States of America were one nation, under God and interwoven together as a tightly knit and strong fabric. We were also restored to our influence, dreams, design and future that God intended for us. Please pray for our nation, our leaders, our neighbors and ourselves! So, I just returned from the trip to Atlanta! Here are some highlights of my journey with God these past few days... God reminded me that Atlanta was the birth place of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the civil rights movement, an expression of God's own heart for justice and freedom. I knew immediately I was to visit and pray through the MLK monument there and then along the route of his funeral procession. In obedience and anticipation, my first afternoon in Atlanta was spent at the Martin Luther King memorial, arriving just 20 minutes before they closed. The lady at the information desk quickly handed me a map and directed me to a few highlights, other buildings along the street that were also about to close. I went immediately to the "dream room" which held the wagon that carried Dr. King's casket for the funeral procession through Atlanta. A screen was playing as I watched King giving his last ever speech "I have been to the mountaintop". An older gentleman and I locked eyes as we both shook our heads in amazement at this courageous man and period in history. Bobby Kinney, I would soon find out is an 80 year-old black gentleman from Atlanta, who was a friend of Dr. King's and his family. He shared that he was behind the casket in the funeral procession 50 years ago as he pointed to his young self in the exhibits photographs. Bobby often comes to visit the memorial and share with visitors. I ended up spending the next few hours with Bobby as He basically was my tour guide sharing stories of King, the funeral and other important events in the struggle for justice. He took me to King's birth home, gravesite and other monuments in that area of "Sweet Auburn" where King grew up and is laid to rest. It's was such an honor to be with Bobby that day and share moments that I hope I will never forget. One thing I remember after I prayed with Bobby was him saying that he has been wanting all this time to write a book about King and that time in history. I encouraged him that even if he never writes, each time he shares with someone he is writing a story. He is impacting and touching so many lives. He brings to life God's heart that was displayed through the man Martin Luther King Jr. and many others in the civil rights movement. Bobby was so encouraged. It seemed to me that I found him with somewhat of a heavy heart as he visited an old friends grave but he left glowing as he set off to share with another group of visitors who were walking by. After this, I drove the 5 miles through downtown Atlanta praying along the route of King's funeral procession 50 years ago. King's casket pulled by mule and wagon was followed by around 200,000 people that day, a route which started at his home church where he also pastored, Ebenezer Baptist. The procession then detoured to go past the State Capitol follows by several miles through downtown Atlanta to King's alma mater, Morehouse College. I made several laps around the Capitol building praying for our leaders for wisdom, compassion and to live out justice. As I rounded a corner that opened to the Mercedes-Benz stadium, I saw in the large icon what resembled a peace symbol illuminating the way. Actually, this stadium was built after Kings death and runs straight through the route of his funeral procession. I can't help but see God's hope and peace covering the trail of Martin Luther King Jr.'s blood. I was surprised to see only one white man all day, amongst hundreds of my black brothers and sisters. As I found drove along towards the end of the route, I lost my way and passed through several run down neighborhoods with people lying in the sidewalks and gathered on the steps of condemned convenience stores and homes. I prayed for full healing and restoration of hearts, relationships and destinies. I thought of how I might even be afraid, a single white woman, had not God's grace and peace been so tangibly surrounding me all day. I ended the day as the sun set over the stadium at Moorehouse College, a predominantly black campus, filled with hope as I prayed for some of our nations future leaders. What a beautiful day. I continued to ask God what was next for He and I in Atlanta. I had found through a quick Google search that there was a branch of my own church and ministry school (Bethel) in Atlanta! So I visited both of these. I enjoyed conversing with the students, listening to speakers, worshipping and praying with them for this new year. I happened to sit next to a student who in the beginning of class began to speak what God was putting on his heart...he shared about those who had gone before us for generations who prayed and prayed for justice, even those at ebenezer baptist church before Martin Luther King Jr.. He said their prayers are being answered today even as he and I sat next to each other and could legally converse (because he is black and I am white). This was so confirming to me since it was the same thing God had put on my heart and sent me to Atlanta for, prayer for racial reconciliation and healing for our nation! I also went to an intercessors meeting at the Bethel Atlanta church. It was a time where God released such joy and peace to me, something He had encouraged me to speak over myself for this trip. It was my birthday so it felt like a gift! While the group was sharing what God had put on their hearts to pray for, Darlene, another visitor, shared the same two things God had also given me the night before! It was in regards to God digging deep wells of faith and creating an unshakeable foundation in the church family there at Bethel Atlanta. We came to find out that they had just this Sunday stepped out in faith to start services on their new property without a building or tent yet. And that God provided a miracle with their sound system that broke just as the service was starting. What a blessing to partner with these faithful ones desiring that their city see the love and face of Jesus! I believe God was directing my steps as I obeyed His voice. Every day I had several encounters that I believe were divine and timely set ups! For example, I ended up staying with my old friends from graduate school who happen to live near Atlanta. I attended church and small group with them and was so blessed to be a part of their family and community for a few days. As I learned about their beautiful little town of Newnan, an hour outside of Atlanta, God showed me that even this specific town was rooted in healing and justice. It is nicknamed the "town of homes" because it actually is one of the only towns in the South that the Union army wasn't able to burn down during the Civil War, so many old homes are still preserved. The small town of Newnan was also a medical town in the Civil War as it had 7 of the South's hospitals, including a large one operating both inside and outside of the Coweta County courthouse in the downtown square. This hospital treated the confederate AND Union soldiers that had been wounded. What a beautiful picture of unity, healing and restoration! Also, that court house was the first in Georgia to stand for justice by way of accepting a black man's testimony as evidence to prosecute a white man (who had senselessly murdered a black man). This year, 2018, happens to be the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s death, the 500th year of the Protestant reformation Martin Luther initiated (MLK's namesake) and the 150th anniversary of Moorehouse College (Kings alma mater). By God's design this trip also happened to fall on Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) and my 38th birthday. It seems like a chairos moment. It is just like God in His perfect timing and ways, to bring me in that moment to...the heart of the South (Georgia), to the heart of the Civil Rights Movement (Atlanta), to a center of healing that encompassed both sides of our country during the Civil War (Newnan)...with the purpose of blessing and praying for God's very heart of healing, reconciliation, unity and restoration over our entire nation! He is just so beautiful. As I was leaving to catch my flights back to California, my friend shared with me what happened the morning after I prayed for her husband to clearly hear God's voice. He opened his Bible for that days portion of the reading plan he was reading through. The passage of the day happened to be in John 10:3-4 when Jesus was teaching about Himself as a good shepherd to us, His sheep. “To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.” The next day my friend (a prudent man who was skeptical that He could actually hear God) heard Gods voice to give me the exact amount of cash that his wife happened to have in her purse. They were so encouraged to hear from God and see the confirmation. And I was blessed as well! I ended up changing my flight last minute due to work responsibilities so there was one place on my heart that I didn't make it to. It's a small town called Macon. But God did show me his heart and how to pray for that area and other small towns so I have done that from afar. Though I believe prayer is powerful from afar, There is something about actually being on the ground, interacting with people, hearing stories, seeing what God shows me in my spirit and blessing every place that my feet walked or car drove. I love that God chose to make His home in us, that we can be carriers of His presence. Once again, God truly wrote the story of this trip and it is to Him that I give all the glory. May His kindness, hope and restoration be experienced as He is known in our nation and world. Joy is so important...it gives life to our body, mind and spirit. Nehemiah knew this as encouraged Israel when they were grieving that "the joy of the Lord is their strength." In fact, Nehemiah's exhortation to rejoice and celebrate came during a time when Israel was grieving, convicted by their sin as they saw God's heart through understanding God's ways. This occurred during the 5th century BC, when over 42,000 Israelites had just returned to Jerusalem from their exile that had began while under Babylonian rule. Nehemiah had responded to the call God put on His heart to rebuild the city of Jerusalem for Israel. As the people gathered together back in their "new" home, the Israelites asked Ezra the prophet to read God's law. They understood God's ways and heart through His words and were moved to weep and mourn as they were convicted of their sin. However, though they were correct in their understanding of both God and their sin, Nehemiah and the other leaders taught them to rejoice in this day as Holy to the Lord. The Lord had forgiven them and restored them to their land so there was no more need to be sorry, but instead a call to celebrate in gratitude and rejoicing. The joy of the Lord was actually to bring life and strength to them, to restore their hearts and spirits just as God had restored them to their land. True joy still has this effect today. It lifts us out of grief and despair. Joy gives us strength, life, healing and hope! Just as Proverbs 17:22 says, "A joyful heart is good medicine." Who has God been to you and how have His ways, love and forgiveness given you cause to rejoice and hope again? "Nehemiah said, 'Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.' The Levites calmed all the people, saying, 'Be still, for this is a holy day. Do not grieve.' Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food and to celebrate with great joy, because they now understood the words that had been made known to them." Nehemiah 8:10-12 Furthermore, this is the time of year many Jews still celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles or Sukkot, which represents restored fellowship with the Lord and is associated with God's presence dwelling among His redeemed people as He promised in Exodus 29:44-45 and John 14:23... “So I will consecrate the tent of meeting and the altar and will consecrate Aaron and his sons to serve me as priests. Then I will dwell among the Israelites and be their God." "Jesus replied, 'Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.' " I recently had the opportunity to take a surfing lesson in California. As we drifted in the waves waiting for the right timing, Rick gave me a tip that I will never forget. He said, “Fix your eyes on the horizon, on a place that you are aiming towards. If you look down, that’s where your body will go. But if you look at the shore, that’s what your body will move towards.” This proved true in surfing and is also true of life. Where we look towards, there we will go. What we focus on, we will become. If we focus on our inabilities and fears, we will only see those and will not be able to take the steps that lead us to success. Often when we focus on failure by worrying, we fail. When we focus on every unfavorable detail of our circumstances, we lose hope in a brighter future and fail to see the perspective and growth our circumstances offer. On the other hand, when we focus on the goal, we move towards it. Each step doesn’t seem as big when we maintain hope by fixing our eyes on the end result. We climb each mountain, one step at a time. We keep our eyes on the summit and slowly rise to achieve our goal. Have you ever been around a group of people who are gossiping, complaining, arguing or talking about vain topics? How did you feel afterwards? What did your mind tend to focus on? On the contrary, when you focus on truth and the positive attributes of people or circumstances, what is possible and worthwhile, how does it change you and the atmosphere around you? What we behold, we become. The writer of Hebrews urges us to fix our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross and shame, for our sake. He finished what He set out to accomplish. When we focus on Jesus and follow His example of love, surrender and obedience, we become like Him and "win the race," achieving God's purposes for our life, as the passage goes on to describe. When we behold Him, we become like Him. In Philippians 4:8, Paul directs our thinking to "whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things." What we focus on we begin to think about, act upon and become like. Our character eventually flows from what we focus on. While surfing, whenever I recalled Rick’s words and fixed my eyes on the horizon, I stayed stable on the board and caught the wave. Even through periods of instability, I rode the wave towards my target, the shoreline. However, if I focused down at the placement of my feet, the moving water threw me off balance and the board slipped from beneath me as I lost the wave. Just as in surfing, so it is in life…what we focus on, there we will go. So, what will you focus on today? Good things take time. They are worth persevering for. Cultivating healthy relationships, creating nourishing and delicious meals, building quality possessions, growing successful and sustainable businesses and non-profits, personal reflection and development...anything worth keeping takes courage, patience and perseverance.
We are accustomed to getting what we want when we want it, which usually is right now. For example, think of the contrast between grabbing fast food on the run compared to what is involved in creating a family or community dinner... The food needs to be grown on land that has been chosen and taken care of well, soil that has been prepared. The seeds collected from healthy plants in a past season and stored well to maintain the life inside. The growing plants need to be nourished and watered appropriately, possibly removing competing plants and protecting them from predators. At just the right time, the fruits of the labor carefully harvested, transported, selected and obtained by the cook...who will then begin to creatively put them together with other quality ingredients (often undergoing even extensive processes) into a delicious and nourishing meal. Not to mention the organizing the people, cleaning the area, setting the table, cultivating community around the table etc...Or you could just drive through McDonald's alone and eat on the road. The community dinner has many benefits, but fast food is much quicker and easier. Good things take time, work, risk and perseverance. I recently went to Denham Springs, LA to help Reach Global Crisis Response rebuild homes and lives after the devastating floods that destroyed nearly 80% of the modest homes there. Most homes are still empty, as people have no resources to rebuild and are receiving very little help. I joined a great team from Minnesota and God gave us unity and joy as we worked mainly on the painting stages of several homes. I also helped with basic electrical work, which I really enjoyed. God used us to speak encouragement into each other’s lives and those whom we served. I was touched to meet the Louisiana homeowners who were so grateful for the help and saw God’s provision in their lives. But one story stands out to me the most. When I walked into the empty home with skeleton walls of two-by-fours I couldn’t help but notice the chill. I had been asked to join Mallory in dropping off toilet paper and warm blankets for Miss Patsy who had survived the flooding in Denham Springs three months earlier. She had nowhere to go so she had returned to her destroyed home. Miss Patsy was sitting on a wooden rocker in a corner decorated only with a light bulb hanging from the ceiling and a small rug on the cement floor to keep the chill off her feet. Miss Patsy had lost everything. I soon found out she had even lost the most valuable person in her life— her daughter, whom she lived for, wanted nothing to do with her since the flood. I listened and asked questions, as Miss Patsy was desperate for someone to hear her aching heart. She had tried to commit suicide, couldn’t afford to heat her home (she had $6 left to her name) and had completely lost all hope. My heart broke as I listened for several minutes, making sure she had relational support and her basic needs met. God continued to provide discernment and gave me truths and encouragement to share. She sat wide-eyed soaking in every word as I explained the battle I saw for her life, that there was an enemy that wanted her dead. But that her life was so valuable to her creator, who has a good future prepared for her especially in the wake of this devastation. She had a clean slate to start over and although she had lost everything, there was hope. God was with her and was providing for her daily. We conversed for several hours and prayed together. She felt much better after. As Mallory and I walked away we both knew it had been all of God. We brought her back an easy to read Bible, encouraging novels, a journal and some warm tea to let her know that she was loved and to help her focus her mind on truth. If for no other reason, I believe my purpose on this trip was accomplished in this Spirit-led encounter. It was such an encouragement to me. Thank you for your prayers for this trip!! Help will be needed in Louisiana for some time so if you’d like to learn more or participate, please contact Reach Global at (985) 888-1060 to schedule a trip or share resources. At times I can seem so easy to complain or be critical instead of seeing our circumstances through a lens of gratitude. This is why I believe God tells us to be grateful. Gratitude is a choice. A few years ago, during a difficult season in my life, I was really struggling with my thinking. I often seemed to be discouraged and negative. Now, before this season I had been a very optimistic and encouraging person. But God was allowing me to go through a dark season and was using it to refine me. I had to really learn gratitude, especially in difficult circumstances. I had to remember to trust in God's character and promises. One day, when I was crying out to God for help with this battle in my mind, He asked me to remember what I was grateful for. He asked me to write down everything I was thankful for. So I did. At first, I couldn't think of much so when I thought I was done, He prompted my spirit to keep writing. He did this every morning until I realized this was to become a habit for me. Sometimes, I'd get frustrated thinking, that's all I can think of to be grateful for today God! But there was always more when I waited for it and kept my mind on gratitude. Each morning, I made long lists of all of the blessings in my life - from the clean and warm tea to the many relationships throughout the years, including with the Lord Himself. Eventually, my perspective began to shift as I remembered who God is - His love, faithfulness, provision, forgiveness, kindness - and that He had given me more than I needed (including training me through the current trials). I began to overflow with thanks to God and joy began to be restored to my life. I was understanding 1 Thessalonians 5:18 which says, "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." We are actually warned in the Bible about the consequences of not giving thanks to God. Romans 1:21-32 says, "For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened...They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator...They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy." These verses reminds us that if we do not give God thanks, eventually we will become foolish, selfish and wicked. How important is gratitude to God in humility! I have discovered that one of the best ways to cultivate a lifestyle of gratitude is to remain thankful by daily writing it down. Regardless of how small or simple, spend time each day (I find morning is best) thinking of everything you can to be thankful for! Notice the birds chirping instead of noisy neighbors, the green lights instead of traffic, the people you have the opportunity to be kind to instead of those who are rude to you, the health and energy you have been given instead of what you don't have, the comfort of your living place - it's better than sleeping outside in the dirt (unless you like to camp like I do). By choosing to remain grateful our perspective changes. We are humbled as we start to see how blessed we are and how great God is. We see that God cares and provides for us in our deepest human needs. I find that when I start every day thanking and praising God for who He is, my heart and day overflows into worship. I remember that as James 1:17 says, every good gift comes from above. And I live out the blessing to myself and others that a joyful heart is good medicine (Proverbs 17:22). I thank God for reminding me how to be grateful and for restoring joy to my life! Psalm 103 Of David 1 Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. 2 Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits-- 3 who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, 4 who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, 5 who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. 6 The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed. 7 He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel: 8 The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. 9 He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; 10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. 11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; 12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. 13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; 14 for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. 15 The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field; 16 the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. 17 But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children-- 18 with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts. 19 The Lord has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all. 20 Praise the Lord, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word. 21 Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts, you his servants who do his will. 22 Praise the Lord, all his works everywhere in his dominion. Praise the Lord, my soul. Photo Credit: Cindi Albright "be thankful" I was in the middle of running some morning errands on an extra day I had during a recent trip to Seattle, when I heard God's clear voice. It just came to me. Inaudible but clearly Him. My ears perked up and everything else seemed to pause. "Rachelle, get in your car and go where I tell you." Immediately, I obeyed and curiously asked Him what we were going to do. "Don't worry, I'll tell you where to turn and what to do as we go." So off we went. I started looking around at road signs, trying to recognize where I was and He gently reminded me to trust and stay focused on Him and not on distractions. Our first stop was Trader Joe's where I immediately knew I was to buy something. Strawberries came to mind as I recalled giving strawberries to a homeless man years ago on my way home from Trader Joe's. Sure enough as I walked in God took me directly to the strawberries and I heard Him say "the organic ones - nothing but the best for those I love." As I walked back to my car with the strawberries I saw an older gentleman on his cell phone smoking a cigarette. I thought he was to be the recipient but I became nervous and unsure so I got in my car and started to leave. God redirected me to the last open parking spot before I was about to exit the lot - it happened to be right in front of the store and should have been a handicapped stall. So I parked again and walked over to the man. After uncomfortably and curiously waiting 5 minutes for him to finish his phone call, I nearly had to chase him down to talk with him. "God asked me to buy these strawberries for you and to tell you that He loves you," I relayed God's message to him. He just stared and I smiled and repeated it. He looked confused so I asked if he wanted the strawberries. "No," he paused and then replied, "well if it's personal I'll take them." He could not believe they were specifically for him and kept telling me that he had never before experienced anything like this. I reassured him, "neither have I, but they are for you because God wants you to know that he loves you." He was touched and kindly thanked me and we went on our way. As I drove the route God directed, I saw the Taste of India restaurant and knew it was where He was asking me to stop. However, my fears began to get the best of me as I made excuses such as: not being hungry for lunch, that they were going to think it was weird, I would be uncomfortable etc (all very lame and childish). I think I was even whining though all of the dialogue was internal. So, instead I drove past the restaurant. Immediately, something inside me gently but powerfully compelled me to make a U-turn as I knew I had to go back. Then God said, “and bring them a coffee from this espresso shack,” which I had just pulled into to turn around. I didn’t know what type of coffee to order but God led that as well, a dark chocolate latte, again he wanted to give the best. He said, “that cash in your wallet (I had stopped at the bank before He beautifully hijacked my day), you’re going to spend all that and more.” The barista's smile lit up when I tipped well and shared with her that God wanted her to know that He really loves her. I did end up giving the coffee to the owner of the Indian restaurant, making sure she knew that it was from God and that He loved her. This was the message God continually gave me for people, that He loves them. For some people, He directed me to repeat it several times. :) Next, God directed me to a 7th day Adventist church, telling me "someone in there needs to know that I love them". So I tried opening the main door but it was locked and I saw a sign posted that they were closed. Naturally, I began to walk away. "You need to knock, you need to persist in what I am asking you to do, " God told me. So, after knocking loudly and receiving no response I began to walk around the building trying other doors. A woman came around the corner to see if I needed help. I shared that God had sent me here to tell someone He loved them and I believed that it was her. Lynn began to cry as she shared her story of struggle. She had just that day, cried out to God, asking Him to show up and help her. We both confirmed that this was her answer to prayer. We talked and prayed for each other. The things Lynn prayed for and spoke over me were the same things God had been telling me through several unrelated people and circumstances over the course of that week! We were both very encouraged. The day continued like this and I began to see God’s heart. I saw people through His eyes and His passionate and unrelenting love for them. He told me that people everywhere need to see and know His love for them and I am His messenger, and not just today. I saw how He was breaking down my barriers and releasing me from my fears (especially of what people think of me!). He showed me how quick I was to find an excuse when I was uncomfortable and trained me in both hearing His voice and immediate obedience. I was surely walking by and in His spirit for nearly 6 hours that day. At one point while sitting on a log next to the waves of Puget Sound in Edmonds, a small town God had brought me to, I had a vision. It was of an older man walking along a train track and something was wrong with his health. My brain immediately kicked into gear and I thought maybe he’s going to have a heart attack. I thought about me having to do CPR and I jumped up and started to move quickly, looking for the man. I saw in my mind God smiling. He asked me to sit back down and pray, reminding me that He will do it, not me. As I prayed, I noticed the people on the logs around me. God told me that I carried His presence and I was there for protection right now. About 10 minutes later, I was able to get up and walk down the beach and after passing some others enjoying the sunshine, I looked up into the distance where I saw some train tracks above the waves. Sure enough, there was an older looking gentleman in a blue coat walking right along the tracks on the cliff above the water, just as in my vision. Again, I sped up thinking He was going to get hit by a train as one had just come by. Again, God slowed me down and even had me stop about 20 yards short of the man to pray and wait on His timing. When I approached the man I realized he didn’t speak English but I found out he spoke Spanish. Mauro is an uneducated man from Mexico, who grew up working manual labor so that his little brothers could eat. He was in Washington for treatment for an aggressive cancer, the operation for which doctors thought may paralyze him. He was very concerned this could change his ability to work and provide for his family. I was able to pray with and encourage him. God gave me the words for Mauro, "Do not be afraid about walking or working; I will take care of you." He was very touched that God would send someone who spoke Spanish, as he had been longing to speak in his own language without an interpreter. Earlier in the day, God had told me I would be buying a toy. So logically I had begun to look for a toy store. He gently reminded me again not to worry, that He would direct me in His timing. Sure enough hours later, while I was walking in downtown Edmonds I saw the toy store. Less than a block before, God had directed my eyes across the street to a nail salon and said that I would be going in there. “But not before buying that toy,” I had heard. In the toy store, all other toys faded as I let Him guide me directly to the giraffe on the top shelf. I didn’t have to search. I didn't notice other toys. My eyes landed right on it. At the counter when a woman asked if she could gift wrap it for a boy or girl, I immediately knew and replied, “boy.” Upon walking into the nail salon I was thinking it may be odd to just hand someone a gift. I also was confused because upon seeing the 2 employees there, I did not get the sense that it was for either of them. So I awkwardly asked for a price list of their services. I felt like I was supposed to stay for a while so I was about to ask for a manicure (the cheapest service, and one which I did not want :)). However, God redirected me to a pedicure with lavender, costing more than twice as much but I was excited to watch Him work! After a few minutes of sitting in a comfortable chair, Nhung came in and I knew she was the one I was there for. As she began the pedicure God told me not to converse but to simply pray silently for her. She looked discouraged and weary. I tried asking some friendly questions about her family but she shut down. God reminded me of what He had asked of me. After about 20 minutes of silence, I knew it was alright to talk and we had a great conversation. Her countenance completely brightened. In my curiosity, I had found out that she had no children (did not want to be married) and had no nieces nor nephews. I was trying to figure out who the toy giraffe would be for! But God knew, so I just continued to enjoy our time together. Before leaving I handed her the toy explaining that it may seem a little odd, but that God had clearly directed me to this toy and told me to give it to her. He had also told me how much to tip and had given me these exact words for her, "No matter how long the road is or how difficult, know that God is with you and He loves you." She was glowing. I walked out admiring my sparkling pink toenails while God reminded me, "It is me that makes your feet beautiful and sends you. How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news (Isaiah 52:7)." The day (and days to come) was filled with many other God-encounters and personal words of encouragement and understanding as God revealed His heart to and through me. Also, I was blessed with summer weather for the next few days in Washington. So, as I wore sandals I could look down at the 10 little pink reminders of God's love and faithfulness to me and the world. As I spent the next two days connecting with old friends from school and sharing this amazing story, I began to realize the reason that I had a plane ticket that left later in the week, instead of right after the conference as I had originally hoped for. It was not because of the cheaper price. God had orchestrated each day of my time in Washington to bless others and myself. I had the privilege of spending this intimate time with Him, hearing His clear voice, confidently sharing His love and encouraging others through this story for years to come. I pray that this is an encouragement to you today, of God's love for you and His desire to dialogue with you, revealing His heart to and through you. I was blessed to spend this week with a team from Arizona who came to Guatemala with open hearts to share God's love in tangible ways. Together with two Guatemalan doctors and a dental crew in a makeshift church "clinic", we saw several hundred patients. But more, we built relationships, listened, learned from, encouraged, received and played with the community of Pojopon. We were welcomed with open arms and the day we left was a celebration of many tears, hugs and photos with our new friends. The days were as long as the patients lining up outside the church and I was stuck in a dark "cave" made from blankets hung by ropes from the very dimly lit church ceiling. However, God gave me strength and clarity with each patient to understand and help meet their needs...physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. Dogs and children ran in and out from under the blanket dividers, grandmas beamed, proud men gave sincere thanks and widows cried. There was a young man who could barely make eye contact due to the embarrassment of his sun allergy, an elderly woman who took nearly five minutes to move into the exam "room" due to pain from severe Osteoporosis and young children with illnesses they should not even have to think about. But so much joy. The church's pastor shared with us the vision God had given him for his church and community. We talked about the living water of Jesus and he told a story of faith and fresh water springing from dry ground where they are building a larger church. The church they have now is connected to the pastor's house so it was a tight fit for our "clinic" with our seemingly never ending lines of patients along f the adjacent cornfield. What a pleasure to spend time with these humble people of the Western Highlands in rural Guatemala. The afternoon clouds rolled in and the rains came, yet from inside the blanket walls of my exam room I could still hear the sounds of my teammates praying for healing and helping people of all ages find the correct glasses prescription, the dentist drilling and the joy of children singing songs to God in Spanish. When I stepped out to the pharmacy counter the smiles beamed as children played with stickers and blown up exam gloves (no wonder my box of gloves was empty that last day). I rode away exhausted and yet full of love and encouragement, thanking God for His clear presence. Our week in pictures below...click on the photos to view the captions. |
Rachelle Price, NDI am a naturopathic family physician, a graduate of naturopathic medical school at Bastyr University in Seattle, Washington. After many years of feeling a call on my heart to pursue further education in health care to better serve in the developing world, I attended naturopathic medical school a few years after earning my Bachelor's of Science in Biology from Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota. I have since partnered with organizations in the developing world and United States offering hope, inspiration and healing.
My passion is learning from and serving my community. I focus on helping people discover the root cause of illness or pain and find wholeness for the mind, body and spirit. I also enjoy being active outdoors, photography, cooking, gardening, singing and working with medicinal herbs. Living simply, sustainably and creatively are important to me as well as laughter, music, friends, deep discussions and growing within a supportive community. And did I mention I love to have fun! :) Please peruse this website, check out my linked in profile or email me to learn more about me and how I practice naturopathic medicine. Archives
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