tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66107831452177567082024-03-20T06:17:16.217-04:00ripples from rachellife as a foster mom and nurse. in africarachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09288650827452250903noreply@blogger.comBlogger53125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6610783145217756708.post-68008419746812653372011-04-21T04:12:00.000-04:002011-04-21T04:12:22.672-04:00Change is Hard and a New BlogIn order to protect the littles that live in my house, it's been recommended that I password protect any and all pictures and identifiable information. The frustrating part of that is that if I stay on blogger, I have to password protect the whole blog....so I'm switching to Wordpress, where I have the option of password protecting individual posts.<br />
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You can find that blog here: <a href="http://www.ripplesfromrachel.com/">www.ripplesfromrachel.com</a>. You have the option there of subscribing by email. I'm going to assume that all those who subscribed to my blog before would like to continue...so I'll input your email addresses. You'll get an email asking you to verify by clicking on the link. If you want to continue receiving the emails, go ahead and click on the link...if not, you have an easy way out. On a password protected post, you'll have to put in the password...so email me for it...don't be discouraged!<br />
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Now...I've become somewhat proficient at navigating blogger...and I do not understand wordpress at all. That could be blamed on sleep deprivation and a host of other things, but...if anyone has any wordpress skills, please let me know! :)rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09288650827452250903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6610783145217756708.post-69455059641263665372011-03-06T05:31:00.001-05:002011-03-07T11:31:51.655-05:00Right Now<a href="http://www.mandiejoy.com/right-now/">Mandie's post</a> very accurately sums up my life right now.... it's loud, chaotic, and I can't judge anyone's parenting skills based on my own. And...it's a good thing that there were adults in the house yesterday more extroverted than I am...I couldn't handle the chaos and had to leave for a few minutes and go take a shower, just so I could get a few minutes of relative peace and quiet.<br />
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Yet...it's all worth it. Please see the video Mandie created from our day at the orphanage yesterday:<br />
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<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/rLN5fYhK6po" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
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What is your role in being obedient to James 1:27, "to minister to orphans and widows in their distress?"rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09288650827452250903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6610783145217756708.post-71325448067604774522010-08-27T12:04:00.000-04:002010-09-01T01:11:39.958-04:00you know you're in Africa when...Life here is an adventure! I have spent nine of the last twelve days with either the medical team or the dental team doing rural clinics. The first five days I participated in the medical clinic and it was wonderful to be doing nursing again! I took blood pressures, temperatures, patient histories, gave injections, ran errands for the providers and on rare occasions, sat with one of the doctors as they treated patients. It was a crazy week, but wonderful to be doing medicine and to be with people who love the Lord, love people, and are great encouragers. <br />
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This week I spent a couple days with four pediatric residents who are working on a vaccine project. The mornings were spent at the local project and during the afternoons they were patient with me as we made use of their hired vehicle and ran around buying shelves, groceries and other random stuff. The next two days I spent with the dental team. I am now an expert in sterilizing dental tools, so if nursing doesn't work out for me...I have a back up plan. The dentists were also kind enough to let me pull a few teeth. I learned that molars take extreme strength (which I don't have) to pull and that I really appreciate dentists (like these) who really love their jobs. I could never do it, but I watched their faces light up as they talked about their patients and the teeth they had pulled!<br />
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I am finally settling into life here. We have a gas cylinder and I cooked dinner two nights ago. It's nice to finally have the ability to cook and we're slowly acquiring utensils and staple items. I met one of the doctors who runs the AIDS clinic here in Masindi. He's very well connected and has promised to introduce Mandie and me to people at the hospital so that we can start working there.<br />
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For all of my irrational fears about transportation, how life works here, and learning the culture and language, I have been blessed with answers already. I have the phone numbers for a couple of trustworthy taxi drivers and my house helper is a wealth of information regarding culture language and where to find things. She spent one month in England and understands the difficulty of being in a different culture and has been gracious about cultural faux pas. What a blessing! The Lord truly has answered my prayers for being settled here!<br />
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Last but not least, I had two opportunities to share Jesus this week! The first was with the van driver that the team has been using all week. He has a Muslim name so I asked him one day about it. We had a twenty minute conversation where I shared what being a Jesus follower meant to me and he shared that he had converted from Catholicism to Islam 10 years ago. Please keep Herruna in your prayers. I don't know when I'll see him again, but if you know me well, you know my heart is drawn to Muslims and I hope for more opportunities. The second was at the dental clinic two days in a row. Two hundred people came each day to wait in line to see the dentist. I had a captive audience and was able to share with them why we come and offer these services. It was a great opportunity to testify how the Lord has worked in my life and the lives of the dentists and why we would come around the world to take blood pressures or pull teeth.<br />
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Thanks for your prayers and your emails! What a blessing you are to my heart!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">oh...and you know you're in Africa when:</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Your headlamp becomes the bathroom light.<br />
Sleeping under a mosquito net is no longer elegant and classy.<br />
The morning discussion during mobile clinics includes the quality of the latrines as compared to yesterday.<br />
Someone says "hello" and you respond with "fine." </div>rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09288650827452250903noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6610783145217756708.post-38843086411424403592010-08-13T10:08:00.002-04:002010-09-01T01:11:39.958-04:00Landing in AfricaAfter several days of trying to get on the internet, I finally succeeded! :) Internet and power are both things I will now never take for granted!<br />
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I made it to Kampala (the capital of Uganda) on Tuesday night with no troubles. Mandie and I had smooth connections and slept a lot of the way. Random funny moment of the trip: on our way from Amsterdam to Kampala we both fell asleep with our tray tables down. We woke up to find a slip of paper with a man’s name and phone number on my tray table. We have no idea who this man was so we decided to leave the paper on the plane when we got off.<br />
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Tuesday night we spent the night in Kampala with a family from Water Mission. It was a good introduction to the country. They live in a nice house at the top of a hill. The stars were amazing! I could see the Milky Way cloud better than I ever have. It was beautiful! <br />
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Wednesday morning, Michael and Amanda (the couple overseeing the building of the hospital) and Mandie and I set out for Masindi with a pit stop to exchange money, buy cell phones, and buy lunch and a few snacks. I had saved a set of plastic silverware from the plane that we used to make tuna sandwiches. When we arrived in Masindi the power was out, but the bishop welcomed us and introduced us to our new house. Mandie and I unpacked our small suitcases and lamented all the things that we forgot, but overall it was a good day. Michael took us to buy water and a few other necessities. We bought a couple packages of ramen, but returned home to find out that even if the power came back on, we have a gas stove and no gas to boil water. Fortunately, we had bought two cans of tuna and so ate tuna again with a small bottle of wine that we had gotten from the plane. Mandie had just enough power on her computer that we watched The Proposal. The power came back on around eleven in time for us to go to bed. <br />
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We have a wonderful three bedroom, two bathroom house. It’s way too big for just two of us, which means it’s perfect for visitors (hint, hint, hint). Mandie and I were both feeling a bit lost last night so we ended up sleeping in the same room last night. It’s a double bed, but now our goal is to figure out how to move the twin bed into the room and then we’ll just share….meaning, we have two guest rooms!<br />
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We spent Thursday going from shop to shop looking at things we need to set up our house. We came home with trash cans, a frying pan, knives, oatmeal, scrub brushes and pads, a mirror, and a pan. Slowly we’re getting equipped. Now we just need a gas cylinder so that we can use our stove and oven!<br />
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This summer I've been doing the Beth Moore study on the Tabernacle. I am a few days behind because of packing and travel, which was ended up being perfect timing. The first morning in Africa, these are the verses that I read:<br />
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"Your ears will hear a word behind you, 'This is the way, walk in it,' whenever you turn to the right or to the left." Isaiah 30:21<br />
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"I will lead the blind by a way they do not know, In paths they do not know I will guide them. I will make darkness into light before them and rugged places into plains. These are the things I will do, and I will not leave them undone." Isaiah 42:16<br />
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"Then your light will break out like the dawn, and your recovery will speedily bring forth; and your righteousness will go before you; The glory of the L*rd will be your rear guard (italics mine)." Isaiah 58:8<br />
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So many times in this process of moving to Africa, I have been reminded that this truly is a plan from G*d. These verses above should be my theme for the year, in times of discouragement or culture shock or frustration. I know that He has a plan and I know that His glory will be my rear guard! What a promise! I didn't think culture shock would hit as quickly as it has, but arriving in Masindi and not having power or gas to cook with or any food, and not knowing the language or the culture, it hit....and these were good verses to remember. Things have gotten better now that the power has come back on and I've eaten a few real meals! :)<br />
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The team arrives tomorrow with all of our stuff and I'm looking forward to having more than one skirt to wear!<br />
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Thanks for praying! I have felt so loved! I'm hoping to be able to get online every couple of days, but if I don't respond right away, don't be worried! Life is just a little more complicated here than it is in the US.rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09288650827452250903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6610783145217756708.post-79060829759497440222010-08-02T11:01:00.001-04:002010-09-01T01:11:39.958-04:007 days, 2 hours, 58 minutes and countingI have one week left at home. It's a busy week that includes spending time with people, shopping, sewing, and tying up any loose ends. I'm way behind on my emails and if I said I'd do something for you and haven't done it...you should probably remind me. <br />
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I was using the foyer downstairs as my packing location, but then Robbie moved his apartment home while he looks for a job and now the foyer is his storage closet. So, I've moved my stuff into my room:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzDNDA8-LHxVklaGF8DbzE_ze7AeYseY8mKBXFk_bvMx_QpG10y7X5xsLS6RJ6RdeS6rU6wIfVY8lnXGVcTe2xW98ULlMDwbMfaEsE6N1sC4Bc_nE0sc6BL24kGSVndx01m7JYW6TDNsFQ/s1600/IMG_0056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzDNDA8-LHxVklaGF8DbzE_ze7AeYseY8mKBXFk_bvMx_QpG10y7X5xsLS6RJ6RdeS6rU6wIfVY8lnXGVcTe2xW98ULlMDwbMfaEsE6N1sC4Bc_nE0sc6BL24kGSVndx01m7JYW6TDNsFQ/s400/IMG_0056.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
So as time winds down this is my laundry list of things to do:<br />
<ul><li>Purchase seeds for an herb garden</li>
<li>Buy Walmart out of toiletries</li>
<li>Find a black pair of scrub pants</li>
<li>Sew a lining into four or five <strike>beach cover-ups</strike> skirts so that I don't flash the world.</li>
<li>Find a skirt/dress or two that I actually like. </li>
<li>Finish packing and meet Mandie with my trunks on Thursday</li>
<li>Write thank-you notes</li>
<li>Sign power of attorney forms for my parents</li>
<li>Register for Moody classes</li>
<li>Find my brain (lofty goal...I realize)</li>
<li>Enjoy the week</li>
</ul><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcVV4Yx1OhaYMS4y7H-uQAevyNtxtd0MS1fnH4toQeeplcs7MTEolZJNodVC3wN0R74r-_Dbis3RXwXmN_SIxajOJyQhKEn685FUQp4PD3dNpZ4R-ArBb4QzO51DMjIkmabgR7xjF5nB3i/s1600/IMG_0059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcVV4Yx1OhaYMS4y7H-uQAevyNtxtd0MS1fnH4toQeeplcs7MTEolZJNodVC3wN0R74r-_Dbis3RXwXmN_SIxajOJyQhKEn685FUQp4PD3dNpZ4R-ArBb4QzO51DMjIkmabgR7xjF5nB3i/s320/IMG_0059.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">For all you Jane Austen <strike>haters</strike> lovers, these are high on my packing list.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09288650827452250903noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6610783145217756708.post-52837509821071936662010-07-27T21:27:00.004-04:002010-07-28T10:53:33.075-04:0013 days!I leave in 13 days and have been overwhelmingly blessed with love and support. I cannot even begin to describe how thankful I am for those of you who have joined my support team, emailed me and called me to tell me that you're praying for me and love me.<br />
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Not only have I reached my support goals, but you have also given me nutritional supplements, shampoo and conditioner, medical textbooks for the clinic, and money for last minute purchases. The days are passing quickly, but in the last two weeks I've been able to see friends in Charleston, Hilton Head, and North Carolina and will be in Asheville this weekend for a cousin's wedding/Fuller family reunion. What a way to spend my last few days in America!<br />
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Seriously...I have to be the best-cared-for person leaving to go overseas ever!<br />
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Some of you have asked what I still need. So...if you're going through your closets, I need to expand my collection of long-ish skirts, short sleeve shirts that can be worn with said long-ish skirts, and scrubs. <br />
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And if anyone had a pediatric stethoscope and/or a good quality adult stethoscope not in use that you were willing to donate, that would be amazing! Both Mandie and I have stethoscopes, but they're only slightly better than isolation stethoscopes. These aren't needs...just "it would be nice ifs..."<br />
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Y'all are wonderful! I thank my God everyday for you....<br />
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Love, rachelrachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09288650827452250903noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6610783145217756708.post-56867629925320962132010-07-13T18:44:00.001-04:002010-07-27T21:28:32.657-04:00Africa Here I Come!<div style="color: #660000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>It’s official: I bought my plane ticket!!! I leave August 9th for Masindi, Uganda! Yikes!</b></div><div style="color: #660000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="color: #660000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="color: #660000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Last week PIONEERS Africa gave me permission to go! We worked up a contract between PI and Palmetto Medical Initiative outlining the relationship and so I’m moving forward!</b></div><div style="color: #660000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><br />
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</b></div><div style="color: #660000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>My support raising adventure has been exciting! As of today, I’m at 90% for my monthly support needs and 100% for departure. I still need $150/month which means finding 10 people who will support me at $25/month! </b></div><div style="color: #660000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="color: #660000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="color: #660000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Please let me know if you are willing to join my team, either in prayer or financial support! If you would like to financially partner with me, please visit pioneers.org/give. They have an option for monthly automated giving. My account number is 110942.</b></div><div style="color: #660000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="color: #660000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Please contact me: countingitjoy@gmail.com or visit my blog: http://smallripples.blogspot.com</b></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>__________________________________________________________________________</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizarnIRJ1RwiliacXoqQiRE2ijGRfcCK8-R7IA_0JwWx_AAIzi4oUN5VpjmGYSjx-zXxmSv2D_f2TCuqeDvQZdLc30xEHcdrx9LkaFyVfM0x5SSUVAORw7gSS7iVag3M9tsO0ixkVOpr6Y/s1600/Uganda+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizarnIRJ1RwiliacXoqQiRE2ijGRfcCK8-R7IA_0JwWx_AAIzi4oUN5VpjmGYSjx-zXxmSv2D_f2TCuqeDvQZdLc30xEHcdrx9LkaFyVfM0x5SSUVAORw7gSS7iVag3M9tsO0ixkVOpr6Y/s640/Uganda+2.jpg" width="529" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>* I'll be living in Masindi, just to the right of Lake Albert</b></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>__________________________________________________________________________</b></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="color: #073763; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>Prayer Request</b></div><div style="color: #073763; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Please be praying for my arrival there and the staff I will be responsible for training. My inadequacy is a great opportunity for the Lord to show His glory. The vision of PMI is to create a hospital that provides excellent healthcare that is also eventually self-sustaining. When I started this adventure, I thought about the patients for whom I would care, but more recently, the Lord has given me a vision to see the staff of the hospital become passionate for the Lord and for His message. That may seem obvious, but Uganda is not among the unreached nations and some say the percentage of Christians is as high as 90%. I pray that the Lord will set apart the staff; that they would not just call themselves Christians because of their cultural background, but that they would be authentic followers of Jesus. Please pray for the first couple months as I assess their skills as nurses, as well as their spiritual condition.</b></div>rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09288650827452250903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6610783145217756708.post-35626661602980339422010-07-06T12:13:00.000-04:002010-07-06T12:13:20.857-04:00In the Shadow of GodBezalel didn't make it into the top 10 baby names for 2010, not even the top 100....I don't even think it'll make it into the top 10 in Israel, and it's a Hebrew name. <br />
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I've been doing a Beth Moore study this summer with the women at church. It's the updated version of "A Woman's Heart," a study of the tabernacle. I was struck this week in my homework about a man named Bezalel. God appointed him as a craftsman of the tabernacle. In Exodus 31, God is telling Moses who he has appointed to construct the temple: "See, I have called by name Bezalel, the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. I have filled him with the Spirit of God in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all kinds of craftsmanship." Bezalel was one of the elite few from the Old Testament who were filled with the Holy Spirit. What an honor! Yet, he is hardly mentioned after that. His name means "<i>in the shadow of God." </i>I looked it up in <a href="http://babynamesworld.parentsconnect.com/meaning_of_Betzalel.html">baby names</a> and the definition went on to say, "<i>implies protection of the Almighty."</i> <br />
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<i>"In the shadow of God" </i>also implies to me that Bezalel was not in it for the fame and the glory. If he was, then he was probably disappointed. He was filled with the Spirit in order to carry out his job and he did so under the shadow of the glorious Almighty God. My flesh seeks recognition and honor, yet my heart's desire is that the Lord be glorified in everything I do. I really do want to be so hidden in the shadow of the Most High God, that only He is seen.<br />
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That is my desire for Africa. May the name Bezalel be a theme, a daily reminder, that I am not working for myself but for the Lord. May it also be a reminder that He is my hiding place and my refuge.rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09288650827452250903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6610783145217756708.post-47709793375354962012010-07-02T09:34:00.000-04:002010-07-02T09:34:32.882-04:00the Lausanne CovenantUniting Proclamation (evangelism) and Demonstration (of God's love) within the Church's mission. Where are we now? ....<a href="http://vimeo.com/10168437">http://vimeo.com/10168437</a>rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09288650827452250903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6610783145217756708.post-27364112840687633142010-07-01T22:54:00.000-04:002010-07-01T22:54:20.055-04:00Approval to Go!I received an email yesterday from Christine, the East Africa Area Leader for PI Africa! She gave Mandie and me full approval to go!!!! It seemed a long time in coming, but hallelujah! :) Now the only hurdle is to finish raising support.<br />
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God has already abundantly provided 100% of my departure needs and 57% of my monthly support! In physical numbers that translates to still needing $776/month. I am trusting the Lord to provide the rest!<br />
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If you'd like to join my support team, you can visit PIONEERS here: <a href="http://www.pioneers.org/Give/AutomatedGiving.aspx">http://www.pioneers.org/Give/AutomatedGiving.aspx</a><br />
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Some of you have asked what percentage is used for administrative fees. 10% is deducted for administrative fees and 2% is deducted for international ministry. Also, here is some information on PIONEERS' financial accountability:<br />
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<span class="SubHead"><img align="left" alt="Financial
Integrity" border="0" height="17" hspace="0" src="http://www.pioneers.org/Portals/0/red_arrow.png" vspace="0" width="20" /> Financial Integrity</span> <br />
Pioneers is a member of ECFA, an accreditation agency dedicated to helping Christian ministries earn the public's trust through adherence to <a href="http://www.ecfa.org/Content/7Standards.aspx" target="_blank" title="Seven
Standards of Responsible Stewardship">seven Standards of Responsible Stewardship</a>. Founded in 1979, it is comprised of over 2,000 evangelical Christian organizations, which qualify for tax-exempt, nonprofit status and receive tax-deductible contributions to support their work.<br />
<br />
<span class="SubHead"><img align="left" alt="Independent
Audit" border="0" height="17" hspace="0" src="http://www.pioneers.org/Portals/0/red_arrow.png" vspace="0" width="20" /> Independent Audit</span> Each year, Pioneers is audited by independent certified public accountants. Click on the link below to download the 2009 audit. <a href="http://www.pioneers.org/Portals/0/PI2009Audit.pdf" target="_blank" title="Download
2009 Audit">Download 2009 Audit</a><br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody>
<tr><td align="left" style="padding: 0px 80px 0px 0px;" valign="top"><div align="center"> <a href="http://www.ecfa.org/Content.aspx?PageName=WhatIsECFA" target="_blank"><img alt="ECFA" border="0" height="80" hspace="0" src="http://www.pioneers.org/Portals/0/efca_logo.png" vspace="0" width="75" /></a></div>ECFA's Standards of Responsible Stewardship focus on board governance, financial transparency, integrity in fund-raising, and proper use of charity resources.</td> <td align="left" style="padding: 0px 20px 0px 0px;" valign="top"><div align="center"><a href="http://www.crossgloballink.org/?p=Integrity" target="_blank"><img alt="CrossGlobal Link" border="0" height="80" hspace="0" src="http://www.pioneers.org/Portals/0/cross_global_logo.png" vspace="0" width="170" /></a></div>Pioneers is also a member of CrossGlobal Link, formerly IFMA. Not only are members trusted to be true to the Bible, to the gospel, and to the high moral and ethical demands of Scripture, membership with CrossGlobal Link ensures the highest standards of financial integrity.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09288650827452250903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6610783145217756708.post-17294278053800863152010-06-15T22:23:00.003-04:002010-06-28T21:44:48.180-04:00Sex trafficking...We are making huge advances in the world of research, but yet, things like poverty and sex-trafficking are also growing....I haven't read Tom Davis' books, but I've heard good things about them. A fellow blogger, <a href="http://mycrazyadoption.org/tom-davis-priceless-giveaway-10-10">Kari Gibson</a>, is giving away 10 copies of his book, <i>Priceless</i>. check it out!<br />
<br />
<object height="385" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/JjWWZRG14XE&rel=0&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xd0d0d0&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/JjWWZRG14XE&rel=0&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xd0d0d0&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09288650827452250903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6610783145217756708.post-44364942548398182792010-06-14T13:32:00.000-04:002010-06-28T22:54:48.298-04:00Rachel's update Mandie was kind enough to let me use her collage of pictures and layout for my newsletter so I won't post it here since it was similar. If you'd like a copy and didn't get one, email me and I'll send it to you!<br /><br />Support raising is always a challenge. No matter how many times I've done it, it never gets any easier. Thankfully, the more I do it, the more instances I have to remind myself of how faithfully the Lord has provided everything I need!<br /><br />This time, my support raising adventure began with an extravagant anonymous gift of $7000! What an incredible blessing! It is a daily reminder not to be anxious about whether or not I'll get everything I need. I know the Lord will provide.<br /><br />I'm especially looking for people who will commit to giving monthly. I realize it's a huge sacrifice for most people, but please pray about it. If the Lord doesn't prompt you, then don't give. If you are willing to invest monthly, please let me know and if you're in the area, I'd love to sit down with you!<br /><br />You can give online at <a href="http://www.pioneers.org/Give/GiveNow.aspx">http://www.pioneers.org/Give/GiveNow.aspx.</a> My PIONEERS acct number is 110942. They have options for automated giving as well to make things easy for you. <br /><br />Another option if you can't give financially is to give frequent flier miles. Mandie and I are hoping to leave August 5th and if you've accumulated air miles that you aren't using, we'd be happy to use them for you! We are only limited by whether or not the airline flies to Uganda or has a partner who flies to Uganda!<br /><br />Thank you for loving me well!rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09288650827452250903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6610783145217756708.post-45361056097084327572010-06-14T09:32:00.002-04:002010-06-28T21:45:25.576-04:00Scary future Chilling....<br />
<br />
<a href="http://video.foxnews.com/v/4238242/wtc-investor-controversy?playlist_id=87937">Arab Royals funding the WTC rebuilding?</a>rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09288650827452250903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6610783145217756708.post-60090962272089305852010-05-31T17:22:00.000-04:002010-06-28T22:54:48.298-04:00Support RaisingWe have permission to raise support!!! An update from each of us will come soon, but we are now in the process of fundraising! We each have to raise roughly $2100 monthly plus about $7000 in departure expenses. It seems like a lot to do in a short amount of time, but we are so thankful for the people who have already committed to supporting us even when we couldn't give specific details. Look for an email soon and if you don't hear from us, leave a comment. You will have the opportunity to give either through PIONEERS International or Palmetto Medical Initiative.<br /><br />Thanks for being so invested in each of us as we prepare to spend a year in Uganda. We know we can't do it without you!rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09288650827452250903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6610783145217756708.post-61019547562432486432010-05-08T10:52:00.002-04:002010-06-28T22:17:55.347-04:00Wonderful DayIt's Saturday! I slept in till 7:45 and enjoyed not getting up at 5:30 to drag myself to take care of three babies. It's a beautiful day and I enjoyed the Turner's view from the kitchen while I made oatmeal bread and drank coffee. I was not excited about working on Perspectives homework, but the Lord met me as I answered questions about seeing the purpose of God in His covenant with Abraham. I was gripped by it in a brand new way. I am so blessed to be adopted into the seed of Abraham. It's Saturday and I'm in love with the day. :)rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09288650827452250903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6610783145217756708.post-4455205052600828462010-05-07T09:41:00.000-04:002010-06-28T22:54:48.299-04:00Update from RachelThis is an email update I sent out a few days ago. If you didn't get it, here it is. :)<br /><br />One would think with planning to leave for Uganda in August I would do a better job of keeping you updated. I haven't though...so here's a long overdue update. <br /><br />Our plans are to be sent to Uganda by PIONEERS International, the agency that sent me to China, in partnership with Palmetto Medical Initiative, the organization building the hospital. The good news is that Mandie was accepted to PI in March as an appointee. The bad news is that it's now May and we are still waiting for final approval from the PI Africa leadership to move forward with support raising. As August, our hopeful departure date, gets closer and closer, Mandie and I grow more and more nervous about raising support and have gone from reminding ourselves daily to reminding ourselves hourly that the Lord owns the cattle on a thousand hills and is not bound by time or space.<br /><br />So, in the last month and a half, as we've been waiting to hear, PMI has found us an already renovated place to live! We are so excited about not having to do renovations ourselves. We'll be able to move in almost as soon as we get there. PI has also given us a budget and PMI has looked over it to make sure it's accurate for Masindi. On the academic front, Mandie and I were both accepted to the MUSC Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Program! Due to the expense and to changes in the logistics of doing it over in Uganda, we both declined attendance. Mandie has decided to pursue an online counseling program through Liberty and I'll continue working on Bible credit requirements for PI. Hopefully someday in the future I'll be able to pursue a graduate nursing degree, but it was clear for now that the timing was wrong.<br /><br />Thank you for all of your encouragement and support in this crazy adventure. Please be praying with us that PI Africa would give us permission soon so that we can start raising support and moving forward with leaving in August. Pray for clarity and unity of mind and purpose for Mandie and me. Pray for our families and relationships here and the time we have with them before we leave.<br /><br />Thanks for loving me well!<br /><span style="color: #888888;"><br />Rachel<br /></span>rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09288650827452250903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6610783145217756708.post-1476388375081493412010-05-04T20:13:00.000-04:002010-06-28T22:20:41.400-04:00my heart is sadMy heart is sad for the earthquake victims and their loss and their hopelessness without Jesus. Please keep praying. Please look through the <a href="http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/04/yushu_earthquake_12_days_later.html">pictures</a> of the area 12 days after the quake.rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09288650827452250903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6610783145217756708.post-35276402701412327752010-04-19T20:29:00.000-04:002010-12-15T17:33:38.836-05:00Willing and UnpreparedPart of me is looking forward to moving to Uganda. I think about nursing school and if nothing else, I was trained to provide education: what to eat, what not to eat, how to take medicines, how much water to drink, how to exercise, and how to manage chronic illnesses. For all of the approximately 1200 patients that were seen during the March trip to Uganda, probably two-thirds of them (this is my estimate...and hasn't been verified) mainly needed education on health (eg. how to lower blood pressure with diet and exercise changes), hygiene (eg. "if you wash yourself from time to time, you won't have itching in the nether regions and think you have syphilis"), and illness myths (eg. "my child has a cough and I think it's malaria"). Though I'm inexperienced as a nurse, I've been equipped to provide education to patients. <br /><br />So all that being said, when I read blog posts like this <a href="http://paradoxuganda.blogspot.com/2010/04/it-was-ants.html" style="color: #cc0000;">one</a><span style="color: #cc0000;">,</span> I panic and the part of me that is not looking forward to Uganda wins over the part that does. I realize that not only am I inexperienced, but even with years of experience, I'd still be doing stuff out of my scope of practice. I want to provide good health care, but I know that I am way out of my league. Given textbooks, resources, and doctors like Ed and Cody who are willing to answer questions through calls and emails, I'm praying that, at the very best, I'll be able to provide care that otherwise would not be given, and at the very worst, I won't kill someone with a wrong diagnosis and treatment. The theme in my quiet times the past week or so has been dependence on the Lord. Time and time again I've been reminded that I'm not in control anyway, but it's when I know that I'm not in control and I'm at my weakest and my vulnerable state, that the Lord has the opportunity to be shine most brightly. I need to get out of the way.<br /><br />Now, if I could just remember to get out of my own way of support raising and remember to trust the Lord and His abundant provision.rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09288650827452250903noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6610783145217756708.post-41176211424554462442010-04-18T08:26:00.000-04:002010-06-28T22:54:48.300-04:00from Matt<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><br /></span></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEPNAc7Ga0PS5Xjunn3ZDHHg-G0TG5hBs3h3e8xDHApcT5Jc2TeSt404h02ZxjvqE10yNSriMc2HGZzpWqxZnz1md9s5Owe3p6GFCzZAZgfefBYpKw88SWkX0WOOJZz8wQyntOOSJYdhg/s1600/MATT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEPNAc7Ga0PS5Xjunn3ZDHHg-G0TG5hBs3h3e8xDHApcT5Jc2TeSt404h02ZxjvqE10yNSriMc2HGZzpWqxZnz1md9s5Owe3p6GFCzZAZgfefBYpKw88SWkX0WOOJZz8wQyntOOSJYdhg/s200/MATT.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Matt is the executive director of PMI. We wanted to share a post he wrote while our team was in Uganda in March:</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://mybeardedthoughts.blogspot.com/2010/03/sharp-contrast.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">http://mybeardedthoughts.blogspot.com/2010/03/sharp-contrast.html</span></a></div>rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09288650827452250903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6610783145217756708.post-10044087015231855442010-04-05T13:04:00.000-04:002010-06-28T22:54:48.300-04:00PIONEERS, Brazil, support raisingJust wanted to update you on the events of the last few weeks since Mandie and I returned from Uganda. We had a few days off to recover from the Uganda site visit before I started a nannying job in Charleston for three infants (not related to each other) and Mandie went to Orlando to attend the Candidate Orientation Program for PIONEERS International. After a barrage of psych tests, Bible tests and committee meetings, PI determined that Mandie is not, in fact, insane and has accepted her as an appointee. She was able to meet with her pre-field coach and the Finance Dept to start working out a plan for raising support and preparing for the field.<br /><br />Last Monday we met with Matt (PMI executive director) to start coordinating logistics for living there. He and Michael and Amanda O'Neal are working with the Bishop on a place for us to live. There are a couple of options and it sounds like we will not have to do many renovations before we move in to the house. We talked about a budget for living there and gave him the budget PI had given Mandie. He is going to look over it and make adjustments. We addressed the need for continuity of care between the medical teams that come and the hospital. I think Mandie and I will go talk to the May team and explain the need for detailed and accurate follow-up reports that are given to the patients. <br /><br />We are waiting for final approval from Christine, the PI area leader for Uganda, on our proposal. From there we can start raising support. It looks like we'll need to raise roughly $2200 per month per person and $7000 per person for departure expenses. Once Matt has looked over the budget we'll have a more accurate idea of the cost of living.<br /><br />Mandie is in Brazil this week with her grandparents. Codependent me is worried she'll stay in Brazil and speak Portuguese and never come home, although I think the anticipation of sleeping in her own bed is pretty enticing. She returns the 13th and as of right now, has no international travel plans for the next couple months. I've had a week off from nannying and have been at home with my family. I go back to Charleston today and will be working up there till the end of May.<br /><br />We'll keep you updated as we begin the process of raising prayer and financial support! :)rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09288650827452250903noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6610783145217756708.post-35709417628179309592010-04-02T14:00:00.000-04:002010-06-28T22:20:48.894-04:00InjusticeI am overwhelmed by the injustice done to people around the world. Videos about the thriving international sex trade, genocide by cruel dictators and armies, thousands of homeless in Haiti because of an earthquake, and orphans living naked and sleeping in their own urine all tug at my heartstrings but I shut down those feelings as quickly as possible because they are quickly followed with crushing feelings of helplessness. <br />
<br />
I am very easily riled up these days about even the smallest of injustices directed towards someone I love. I pace around the house when my brother doesn't play a baseball game even when his stats show that he's one of the better players and an upperclassmen. I write letters in my head to people when my sister isn't accepted to be staff for a summer worldview camp. I bristle when a friend isn't given a chance to show her skills and talents; and I am resentful when someone tells me one thing to my face and then by action shows me that I am not valued. These are small injustices. Most of them will not be remembered in the grand scheme of things and the ones that are remembered become lessens in perseverance. They can't be compared to the above mentioned injustices, but I am not overpowered by them and can take action. <br />
<br />
I went to the Good Friday service at church today. The pastor spoke about looking at the resurrection through the cross. Or....not stopping at the cross, but looking past it to the resurrection. It was good, but I spent most of the time thinking about the number of injustices done to Jesus. How did Mary and those who loved Him stand there and watch Him be abused and betrayed and condemned? If I get riled up about an unfair baseball coach, how am I not stricken with grief over the number of unfair things Christ endured before He died for me? How did the Father watch His Son go to the cross and be separated from Him? The wonder of the cross and what Christ and His Father endured for me has gripped me anew. The number of terrible injustices done around the world on a moment by moment basis cannot be compared to the injustice that Christ faced in living a sinless life and being torn from His Father's presence and enduring an incredibly painful death on my behalf.<br />
<br />
My response is to respond with adoration and gratitude and to remember Psalm 9:1: "I will praise you O Lord, with all my heart. I will tell of your wonders. I will be glad and rejoice in you, O Most High." That I can do. I also pray that God will use me to lessen worldwide injustice.rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09288650827452250903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6610783145217756708.post-67362997902491014562010-03-20T16:14:00.002-04:002010-06-28T22:19:22.595-04:00Flashbacks<b>Update: I did get accepted to the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Program. Now the reality of how much it costs has set in and I'm considering asking if they'll let me defer enrollment for a year. Oh dear....I just can't make up my mind.</b> <br />
<br />
I've been informed by those of my classmates who are more anxious than I am that I can call MUSC on Monday to find out if I've been accepted to the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Program. I'd rather not call. I'm having flashbacks from the last time I was waiting to hear from them if I had been accepted or not. In case you weren't around in the spring of 2008, I wasn't accepted, I was wait-listed. The same week I got the wait-list letter I was accepted to the University of Miami and only given a week to decide. <br />
<br />
I remember the misery of trying to figure out what to do and feeling like Miami was the automatic option. I immediately had a sinking feeling like I was making a huge mistake in going to Miami. Turns out everyone else felt the same way and I decided to turn down Miami and just wait to hear from MUSC.<br />
<br />
The next few months were agonizingly long and I annoyed the CON with my frequent emails questioning them on whether or not they thought they'd have a spot for me. The last week of May they called me to offer me a spot. I'm pretty sure the offer was not based so much on my qualifications as it was out of a desire to stop hearing from me.<br />
<br />
So, two years and a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing later, I'm waiting to hear from them again. In the middle of the program, I told myself I wasn't going to MUSC again and that getting a graduate degree wasn't worth the heartache or hard work. Yet, I applied to the PNP program and am hoping to get in and start in August.<br />
<br />
If I don't get in, I'm going to assume the Lord has a reason for it and not go knocking down doors and persuading people to change their minds.<br />
<br />
Why do I keep getting myself into these situations?<br />
<br />
(I forgot to mention that I wasn't accepted to the Honors College at College of Charleston and went and persuaded them to change their minds as well....what a crazy foolish thing to do. I regretted that decision halfway through Western Civ....apparently, I'm a slow learner)rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09288650827452250903noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6610783145217756708.post-89453248813903607552010-03-20T07:55:00.000-04:002010-06-28T22:54:48.301-04:00Michael and Amanda O'Neal<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Our Neighbors in Uganda</b></span></span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Michael and Amanda have been in Masindi for just over a month. We had the chance to meet them while we were there last week and are excited to get to live and work with them. Michael is PMI's project manager and they will stay in Masindi through the completion of the new hospital. Amanda is working on her master's in counseling from Liberty University and is also a pilates instructor, so she will be a wonderful friend and resource for us. </span></span><br /><br /><br /><embed flashvars="&image=http://www.acc-tv.com/images/wciv/news/vidcap_020610_uganda3.jpg&file=http://www.wciv.com/news/stories/0210/703645.xml" height="280" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" quality="high" salign="LT" scale="noscale" src="http://cfc.wciv.com/mediaplayer.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="320" wmode="transparent"></embed>rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09288650827452250903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6610783145217756708.post-82780201913576341652010-03-18T18:54:00.000-04:002010-06-28T22:54:48.301-04:00Pictures from Africa!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><b>Here are a few pictures of our patients last week</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">(courtesy of Amber Henderson, Michael Overcash, and Josh Drake's excellent photography</span></i>):</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjugX2vvk2FIX-5sxysPcb_hVTNaJNMNpzfoBA9YyZNqKwwYBfJVa5HU5Ve_DrNAFrun-b95La425_qhjbSAZPZ5Qok079bS-VpIPE4e_jI7qz-fTqMwOhO33ThDq1vqze0DsvD8bImJZg/s1600-h/Amber8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjugX2vvk2FIX-5sxysPcb_hVTNaJNMNpzfoBA9YyZNqKwwYBfJVa5HU5Ve_DrNAFrun-b95La425_qhjbSAZPZ5Qok079bS-VpIPE4e_jI7qz-fTqMwOhO33ThDq1vqze0DsvD8bImJZg/s400/Amber8.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAZt4MsBMfrkj6DAB9t9ah91fqXvUYCQiFTQFhgMeMmfvXPhd5ZeP2VX0kjH_pJFfm8OnrMqHuqiBzhjELMiIStGUehiWJM4QM4UBCfBrkPSZyZzMBkPdMBC5f4F6Jk2jR8M_UtR2-U70/s1600-h/Amber14" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAZt4MsBMfrkj6DAB9t9ah91fqXvUYCQiFTQFhgMeMmfvXPhd5ZeP2VX0kjH_pJFfm8OnrMqHuqiBzhjELMiIStGUehiWJM4QM4UBCfBrkPSZyZzMBkPdMBC5f4F6Jk2jR8M_UtR2-U70/s400/Amber14" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIYQHCb2VMEAKPv1UrMKrttB9Cf3nYQQQipF8VvmhwQ7V4L9oSVqC8-9GQzb-q_YU3QMjeUzuvoMB0iaW1qPA0a6qxlocX_t6JI3illHbtiK1PGJBp2WlWW0EmXA5fyMeZqDrosvrURZg/s1600-h/Amber16" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIYQHCb2VMEAKPv1UrMKrttB9Cf3nYQQQipF8VvmhwQ7V4L9oSVqC8-9GQzb-q_YU3QMjeUzuvoMB0iaW1qPA0a6qxlocX_t6JI3illHbtiK1PGJBp2WlWW0EmXA5fyMeZqDrosvrURZg/s400/Amber16" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxb1sWcWj5_iO-kioAk9FEDOUAWXltJbpptpe2tQWtzEoZbjGFcgz7UV8mx_Fv_eiWJb8H-LMG0defMSDKox_3FSZUS3HOgyqjKB4D3M_ggsIXlxN0XoW8UebZkN9Bji2w3dvoaeSUj54/s1600-h/baby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxb1sWcWj5_iO-kioAk9FEDOUAWXltJbpptpe2tQWtzEoZbjGFcgz7UV8mx_Fv_eiWJb8H-LMG0defMSDKox_3FSZUS3HOgyqjKB4D3M_ggsIXlxN0XoW8UebZkN9Bji2w3dvoaeSUj54/s400/baby.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8h4OLO_nHU-u4sj7EMq8cBa45QLDtm8Dvcv3tRj1Rui3RoJxNGMO1SttHMtAH_b0IVICZYadcHojXc7SPtlZXDc677IKOpeS7gB-V-MtaN9Me_eb_MYeeNDTilhCrq7YDmaTs-y2Fqeg/s1600-h/grandma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8h4OLO_nHU-u4sj7EMq8cBa45QLDtm8Dvcv3tRj1Rui3RoJxNGMO1SttHMtAH_b0IVICZYadcHojXc7SPtlZXDc677IKOpeS7gB-V-MtaN9Me_eb_MYeeNDTilhCrq7YDmaTs-y2Fqeg/s400/grandma.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><b>a real live hippo...as seen from our Nile River cruise on Saturday:</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNI-zCr1r3eqbWxoij-hTwYUZ-iOpC2pstVoz3xE2S_ykDHj5cO5hSrG5bDOIrEHedqm9S5Pd2VfacC1ykxNeNnPND2FSINcEiVuXZJr5cY8BI_O5AgOk8Ktz3tROeOAMO1r-sN3KBd7s/s1600-h/hippo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNI-zCr1r3eqbWxoij-hTwYUZ-iOpC2pstVoz3xE2S_ykDHj5cO5hSrG5bDOIrEHedqm9S5Pd2VfacC1ykxNeNnPND2FSINcEiVuXZJr5cY8BI_O5AgOk8Ktz3tROeOAMO1r-sN3KBd7s/s400/hippo.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><b>the whole team (+translators, drivers, and clinic coordinators):</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFrlWjc92whdVTPW6qNKusw6r5OXb4by5Az7rD9R1xyvkUMZI8f4urVwEErKNFH8KvVwX677BeBNiIpIoFITZKlDh7RASHxMH65_4u2Ets3TizGyNNqGrm8M_63YTLftb9ZKiR44RRFHY/s1600-h/team.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFrlWjc92whdVTPW6qNKusw6r5OXb4by5Az7rD9R1xyvkUMZI8f4urVwEErKNFH8KvVwX677BeBNiIpIoFITZKlDh7RASHxMH65_4u2Ets3TizGyNNqGrm8M_63YTLftb9ZKiR44RRFHY/s400/team.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><b>...and here are a few more gory medical pictures. </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I've made them small on purpose so that </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">people who don't want to see them don't have to.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><b>Click if you want to see them bigger:</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><b><br /></b></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwI9Uh_-m_I7AZJi_kUX2lZIpeytaxmnY0fyfxHGEYe6MzehtzaAyaSpU0IrY6DW3W5OvCBMcVRSzRCSBxPPizpSiim3ooP9hgfumlVKqwv4aXpXEiTf5XTET0eeiqidXWXtjZD1TVztw/s1600-h/scarlet+fever.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwI9Uh_-m_I7AZJi_kUX2lZIpeytaxmnY0fyfxHGEYe6MzehtzaAyaSpU0IrY6DW3W5OvCBMcVRSzRCSBxPPizpSiim3ooP9hgfumlVKqwv4aXpXEiTf5XTET0eeiqidXWXtjZD1TVztw/s200/scarlet+fever.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBg5f7WigevHIC2sExF3lI7wCyrvQMEjBDYY3Uru2f3wPDKHigENQNthMy7o6HFhyCJ3bczf5YnR6U3L99k-Q4pIUy7h9h9ZbK0k-sc2bUa32N7685C3QefTi30aWKmozDqIkKeR35rhU/s1600-h/eye.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBg5f7WigevHIC2sExF3lI7wCyrvQMEjBDYY3Uru2f3wPDKHigENQNthMy7o6HFhyCJ3bczf5YnR6U3L99k-Q4pIUy7h9h9ZbK0k-sc2bUa32N7685C3QefTi30aWKmozDqIkKeR35rhU/s200/eye.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuuCidFUEmmTrOJ3SEsCX6KnO6-E8XsvRM1zv8Bo9gdsBfSOP2Jrt3EZHbrKqvrZdluf6TD20-j-x8EDuh-GJ667I5mb7STEp0F7kkRVSUqmwhMZxxL7cMxMXHWh82XM1-CFdUSVmbHTM/s1600-h/burn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuuCidFUEmmTrOJ3SEsCX6KnO6-E8XsvRM1zv8Bo9gdsBfSOP2Jrt3EZHbrKqvrZdluf6TD20-j-x8EDuh-GJ667I5mb7STEp0F7kkRVSUqmwhMZxxL7cMxMXHWh82XM1-CFdUSVmbHTM/s200/burn.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidNgaidXymDUIOJQ6IQAK901nhpTJt2GRK127y61CyOm1CIIQ4vv2XTwoB9-69yggpvt_H2wzKMNVXXsjLdZh38vimEl8qh36yuWckeRXEzIyTk3drlF1vSSHM7m0enIFxyreMLKGeUjQ/s1600-h/bone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidNgaidXymDUIOJQ6IQAK901nhpTJt2GRK127y61CyOm1CIIQ4vv2XTwoB9-69yggpvt_H2wzKMNVXXsjLdZh38vimEl8qh36yuWckeRXEzIyTk3drlF1vSSHM7m0enIFxyreMLKGeUjQ/s200/bone.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09288650827452250903noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6610783145217756708.post-80397242335920229332010-03-17T11:08:00.000-04:002010-06-28T22:54:48.301-04:00"Welcome Home"I look forward to traveling back to the US and going through Immigrations and Customs and hearing the words "welcome home." Even though I was only gone for 10 days, it's so exciting to hear those words said. I love traveling and living in other cultures, but the United States is my home and I'm grateful for it.<br /><br />So, we made it back safely! It was a wonderful trip and now begins the processing, debriefing, and preparation for the next phase. Mandie will go to Orlando, FL on Sunday to attend PIONEERS' Candidate Orientation Program. Hopefully, we'll receive approval from the Area Leader over Uganda to pursue this new adventure. From there we'll begin raising support. We're confident the Lord is leading us both to do this, but finding investors requires more humility, perseverance, and trust than either of us currently have. We are looking forward to how the Lord will work in the next couple of months as we step outside our comfort zones!<br /><br />I will begin nannying on Monday for three teachers with three infants between the ages of six months and eleven months. I'll be living in Charleston with Mandie's family till the end of the school year. I'm so thankful for my second family and their willingness to open their home! Much of the time that I'm there, Mandie will be continuing her travels (Orlando, FL and Brazil). <br /><br />Thanks for your prayers and loving support! We'll keep you updated as we figure out things. Having seen the medical need in Uganda, we can't wait to go back and start serving. Our time there this last week was fruitful for the kinds of things we need to be prepared to do and to see. We've started making a list of the books and equipment that we'll need to function there. We didn't have any time to figure out where we'll live or what kind of things are available, but I'm sure that will come as we email back and forth with Michael and Amanda. Our housing decision is dependent on the Bishop of the local Anglican Diocese. From what we understand, he controls the housing situation and will probably just tell us where to live. Worst case scenario, we'll live at the Masindi Hotel for a couple weeks while he decides where we should live and while renovations are being done to make it livable (eg. running piping into the house so that we don't have to go in search of water every day). <br /><br />Hopefully we'll have a few pictures posted soon!rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09288650827452250903noreply@blogger.com0