Update on this Last Day of November

I was just noticing today that it is already the very end of November and as I write this December begins in only an hour and a half. Time flies!

As some of you may know already, I am planning to leave for Romania in February in order to work with Outstretched Hands of Romania for a year, but I hope and fully expect to stay as a long term missionary.

As I'm writing this, I have raised most of my needed one-time expenses like the cost of a plane ticket to Romania, a Romanian Visa, and enough to buy a plane ticket in the case of an emergency. For this I am very thankful, but I still need to raise $920 of monthly support. This covers living expenses as well as school tuition as I am working towards my Associates Degree in Biblical Studies through Moody Bible Institute -Distance Learning.

If you are interested in knowing how you can be a part of this mission in Romania, please leave a comment so I can conact you!

I have been asked often what I will be doing in Romania, and I want to make sure to answer all your questions here.

My main focus will be Children's ministry.  This includes teaching kids from the Bible, helping them with their homework, and playing games and other activities with them.  I look forward to this since I really enjoy being with kids and investing in them, helping them to become the people that God has created them to be.  Children's minsitry ties directly into the work that Outstretched Hands, or OH, does with planting churches in this largely un-reached part of Romania.  The vision of OH is to raise a generation of people for Christ who will take the gospel to yet others, and that begins with the children. Here is a picture of kids from the village of Caramidari graduating from kindergarten at the Hope Centre in June of 2014.

I also want to be involved in Pro-Life ministry through OH.  They are in the process of beginning a mobile pregnancy center in a van with an ultrasound machine and a nurse who is certified in ultrasounds, etc. This way we can go to villages and counsil people, help them understand that abortion is the destruction of a human life, and stand alongside them in keeping their babies and raising them to adult-hood.  This is a very important issue because 3 out of 4 pregnancies in Romania end in abortion.  People don't talk about abortion much in Romania, and that needs to change.  This link will show you a video about a woman who had an abortion and her story:
Pro-Life Video, Adriana's Story

I look forward to being in Romania again. I was just reminded this weekend of how many close friendships I have with the OH team and how much I love being there and using the Romanian language to communicate and interact with people. I still have much Romanian to learn, but Lord willing I will get there soon!

Lastly, I want to say that I know it is God who has put this wonderful and unique country on my heart.  In March of 2012 the Lord began to stir my heart for this place, he has given me a love for the people and the culture, and he continues to put it on my heart.  Not all of my experiences in Romania have been good or easy. The last trip I took in 2014 was especially hard for me because of some discouragement I experienced and some of the hard situations that friends of mine found themselves in.  But I know that this is what God has placed before me, and I want to follow him in this.

October 19th, 2015

God works in mysterious ways.

It's really awesome to see how God can use one thing to lead to another and how the family and community of Christians locally and globally can be used to bring the body of Christ into closer unity.

For many years my mom has received missions updates from the church where she used to attend, a Lutheran Brethren church, in Montana. For many years she prayed for the people who work in other parts of the world to bring the good news of Christ. One family in particular lived among and reached out to people in China and has long since retired, but their daughter almost 20 years ago went to do the same. My mom found out that this lady and her husband were going to be at a Chinese church in Milwaukee this past weekend and so she, my sister and I went to this event. We knew very little about what was going on, we knew nobody there at all, and yet everyone welcomed us in and made sure we weren't wondering where to go or what to do. They had a meal before the service and they directed us right away to the food and seats around the tables. Several came and introduced themselves asking how we found out about the church and why we had come. When they found out my mom "knew" the missionary lady, they told her right away and she came and sat with us at our table.

My mom had brought a photo album of pictures my great grandfather took in China and Taiwan probably back in the 50's or 60's all in black and white and meticulously labeled, which she showed the missionary lady. It was awesome to see her reaction to this little artifact. It was also awesome to hear about her and my mom's common connection with the Lutheran Bretheren church and to see how they've never met, but that there has been a type of connection that existed between them for many years.

Now maybe I'm just obsessed with all things foreign, but I loved sitting through a service where they translated into Chinese (whether Mandarin or Cantonese, I know not), singing the songs together in two or three languages at once, and to see the Chinese characters all over everything. Of course most of us have been exposed to Chinese culture even it the full extent of that is having a meal at a Chinese restaurant.

As it turns out, we were visiting this church during their missions festival and the missionaries that we were there to see were only a few of the several that were visiting this weekend. I was looking through the bulletin and found out that there were also missionaries to Nothern Africa, Japan and Thailand visiting. The missionaries to Northern Africa I know already, and the missionaries to Japan were the same couple my friend stayed with when she went to Japan for three months about two years ago and they also know some friends of ours who have been in Japan over the years. So I was priveleged to meet the people my friend had talked so much about, and made it a point to see the lady who I know since she was coming on Sunday morning.

As I have said, I was so welcomed there, it was amazing! When the people heard I have known this woman, they made sure I got to eat lunch with her. (They have a meal after every service at this church) This lady I got to see again (I hadn't seen her in almost two years) has been through a lot of hardships, losing her husband to cancer was one of them, and now she and her three teen-aged children have to cope without him. They have been very busy, but they are back in the States now to get some rest, to take the time to grieve, and to find ministries and outreaches to be a part of locally.

Another lady came and invited me to their young adults Bible study on Friday evenings and even suggested that we could carpool together. She made sure to introduce me to a few other people and I began talking to them as well. The church service had ended at 11:30 and by the time I left it was already 2:00! I hardly knew what had happened to the time.

I love to see churches with this kind of a heart for missions and for being intentional about reaching people around them for Christ. I have a hope that somehow there will be some very good and worthwhile relationships formed with this body of believers and that these would be blessed and wonderful friendships.

October Update

I now find myself poised to return to Romania for the fourth time, this time for a long term duration rather than just a few weeks. Many have asked me when I'm heading back, and my aim is to return in February.  My ambition as The Lord has given it to me, is to be more invested in the ministries of Outstretched Hands, especially in children’s ministries, girl’s ministries, church plants, and pro-life ministry. I have three more online classes to complete my Associates degree in Biblical Studies, which I can complete while in Romania. I also hope to continue deepening the friendships and relationships I have already formed. Through your prayers, financial backing, and your encouragement you can also invest into this ministry!

My budget of $1,240 per month can be attained easily with as few as 24 generous individuals:

Number of People Monthly Commitment
2 People                 $100
3 People                 $80
7 People                 $60
7 People                 $40
5 People                 $20
24 Sponsors Total $1240 Total Donations

Your tax deductible support can be sent to me in care of Outstretched Hands in either of the following means:

• Checks made out to
Outstretched Hands of Romania
PO Box 510052
New Berlin, WI 53151
Please write on a separate piece of paper that your gift is for Rachel Richardson.

• PayPal at www.handsofromania.org (click on the Donate Now button and indicate that funds are for Rachel Richardson.) Monthly automatic withdrawal is available through this option

Please contact me and let me know if this is something you're considering and how much you're able to commit to so that I know how much support I've raised and how much I still need to raise. It would also be nice to hear from you to know how you're doing and how I can be praying for you.

Please also be praying that God will continue to give me his direction and that I will have the perseverance to do all that is required of me in order to continue missions work in Calarasi.

Thank you, and God bless!

Rachel Richardson

No News is Good News

Are you going to read news about the mission field on my blog today?  No.  No news.

Today I went to church.  It's a pretty typical thing for a Christian in our society to do on a Sunday morning.  As I sat through the song service, I became aware of a train of thought that bothered me.  Have you ever had that feeling like you haven't even a thread of faith left in you?  Well that was me.  Sometimes in church I get a little inspiration and if I pull out my sketch book I am able to develop an idea that is swirling around in my head by writing little phrases or Scriptures that concentrate on a theme or stand out to me.  It's not sermon notes, they're not neat enough to be that, but it's the closest I've ever been able to come.  Well today I wasn't inspired but I noticed something that I felt a lack of, namely faith, so I began writing Scriptures that I remember that address faith, what it is, how to gain it, etc.

I always love those times when the Holy Spirit decides to work on something in my heart by basically responding to the prayers and thoughts I have through a sermon, even the half-prayers that I never quite got around to praying.  So as I began to write these things that were on my heart, the speaking begins.  I went to Elmbrook today with my little brother and they were commisioning a new pastor, for the third time this morning, with a guest speaker - a pastor from Nairobi, Kenya.  As he began to speak, there was one theme that stood out to me, and frankly to everyone else in the audience, FAITH.  God is faithful, God is trustworthy, God is our provision, God is near and real and wants to work big things.  He was commissioning the new pastor, but I needed that message like you wouldn't believe.

This Kenyan pastor spoke about how we pray, we pray such boring prayers that are so easy for the Creator of the entire earth the fulfill he can do them in our sleep.  He asked a question: How often do you ask of God a big, hairy, audacious prayer that will make God sweat?  How often do we challenge God?  Oscar went on to speak about George Meuler who founded an orphanage not as much to care for the children who were left without caretakers as to prove to his generation the faithfulness of God.  If God can provide for a poor man to take care of children who had no connections in the world without even asking people for money, then he could show people just how faithful God really is.  George Meuler and the orphans for whom he cared would some days wake up, sit around the breakfast table, and with nothing in the pantry and no means of buying any such thing began to thank God for the food he was about to provide for them.  Every time some baker or somebody would come by and say that God had laid them on his heart and that he'd gotten up early that morning with a sense that he needed to do something for those small children.

Like I said, I needed to hear that sermon.  I was beginning to feel as though no sermons are really affecting me or that I am really hearing the voice of The Lord.  It felt like the four hundred year gap between the last prophet in Israel to the coming of John the Baptist.  What kind of a post would this be if I didn't interject here:  But God is FAITHFUL.  He knows exactly what we need to hear and when we need to hear it.

So God was faithful to me today, he provided for me a sermon about faith, and mustard seeds, and being able to throw a mountain into the sea, and I came away understanding that God has heard my thoughts this week and he decided to answer me through a guy who traveled here from Kenya to commission some guy as pastor of a church.

I was also blessed to be a part of a worship service where some people were playing music and a ton of little girls, my niece being one of them, who are learning ballet were dancing there.  Now contrary to what you might think, it wasn't weird, but was actually a very refreshing time of just being able to sing to God and to move around and dance, if so desired, without that churchy feeling of "oh gosh, everyone's staring at me."  It's strange, but I've found multiple instances where I was dealing with a mindset and a worship service of just singing to God and expressing myself to him with a group of others doing the same has been just the cure to bring me clarity of mind and to be reminded of who our God is.  Our God is awesome, amazing, huge, never ending, eternal, and he is powerful.  Not only all this but he loves each of us immensely and is a Father to us.

God is good.  All the time.

All the time, God is good.

October Update

Happy Weekend!

It's been awhile since I last posted on here.  It's been hard trying to determine what to write because I've been in such an in between place recently that I didn't feel I could say anything definite about much of anything.  So here's what's been happening:

I've been studying my coursework through MDL (Moody Distance Learning) and job hunting "because contrary to popular opinion [I] have to eat" (from Three Guys Named Mike*)  In the meantime my plans for Romania have been set slightly to the side because of the more pressing matters of turning in school assignments and finding a way to pay for school bills and groceries.

I am pleased to say that I have found work as a back waiter at Andrew's Restaurant where my sister works as a chef.  I have been asked to stick around at least till after New Years since the holiday season is so busy in the food industry.  I'm looking forward to the things I will learn from working this position.  It's a very classy restaurant and they don't do anything sloppily.  I must say that it's like a breath of fresh air compared to working in fast food.

I'm not sure when I will make it back to Romania, but if I remain persistent and diligent in fundraising and if The Lord wills, I will be returning to Romania sometime towards the beginning of 2015.

That brings me to another point.  For me it is very difficult to "put myself out there" whether in job hunting, fundraising, or selling my artwork, all of which are tasks that I have had to do at some point or another.  I would really like to request your prayers that God would give me the boldness, confidence and courage to do whatever is necessary at this time and in the times to come.  I want to be sensitive to his guidance, to be flexible and willing for his purposes, and often discerning God's direction can be a trying experience.

Another topic that God has really laid on my heart this year is Iraq.  The situations with ISIS and the persecution that the church in that area is suffering requires a lot of prayer.  So keep them in mind and ask God to continue to strengthen his people.

Your prayers are appreciated for Romania, for me, for my family (my parents, siblings and I have experienced a lot of transition in the last year), for the Outstretched Hands Team, and for anyone else you may know of who needs extra prayer.

Thank you for your prayers and for your support as friends and as partners in the work of Christ.

God bless, and take care.

Love, Rachel

(*Three Guys Named Mike is an old B&W film starring Jane Wyman.  If you ever feel like killing an hour or two with a good, old, classic movie look it up)

Photos from May-June

Some of these are photos from my trip into the mountains. Traveling to the mountains pretty much made my year, since I've been wanting to visit them for ages.

I got to tour an old castle called Bran Castle. It's famous because an author named Bram Stoker said in a book of his that this castle is where he lived. Poor Bram was mistaken, but the fame still exists. The man with the legend of Dracula, Vlad the Impaler, built part of a different castle, but was imprisoned for a time in Bran Castle.

I had thought that I was already seeing the mountains, and then a little patch of clouds moved over.

Sorry about my finger at the bottom of this shot.

Bran Castle as I was walking up to it. But seriously, the other side has a much more interesting facade.

I loved seeing poppies growing on the side of the road like a weed. 

Looking accross the courtyard in Bran.

Camping without the C is AMPING!

A fortress on top of a hill. No idea which fortress.

Some shepherds were herding their sheep up the mountain. These donkeys were carrying up some essential things for them, such as Coca-Cola

Kindergarten graduates at the Hope Center in Caramidari

First year kindergarten students are on the left. Rebecca received flowers and gave a speech all in tears. It was really a sweet moment.

More students.

My 'sister' Ana and I.

Everyone has a crazy selfie moment, right? 

Sunset over a lake on the road between Chiselet and Calarasi

Gypsy camp

Sunrise at the Zece Nivele (Ten Levels) apartments

Vica and I

A pro-life sign I designed for distribution. The text means Abortion Stops A Beating Heart

Scenery from Bran Castle. (sorry the order of my photos is kind of mixed up.)

At the Hope Center with kids from Caramidari

Eating dinner with some of my friend's classmates

Sunflowers in a field. One of my last sights of Romania

 

Back in the States with our all-American activity: camping.

Month of June

Over the month of June I had some very exciting opportunities and experiences.

The first two weeks was centered on worship and prayer.  There was a week of evening prayer meetings at Bethany Church in Calarasi and the next week was worship and work week for the Outstretched Hands team.

A very unique experience was getting to go to the graduation for some of the Caramidari kids who finished their grade level.  I helped paint faces because they were dressing up as characters from a Romanian fairy tale.

I also got to attend the kindergarten graduation at the Hope Center.  It was very adorable to see these little kids finish either one or two years of kindergarten, depending on which class they were.

It was also very nice for me getting to move into the Zece Nivele apartment with two girls from the Milwaukee area and later in June two friends of mine from Ireland joined us as our room mates.

While most days I was busy with ministry, helping at the Hope Center, or odd jobs wherever I could be made useful, there was a day that I got to go into the mountains and visit two castles, Peles [pel-esh] and Bran.  I also got to go inside of Bran castle, which pretty much made my year.  Peles is a very beautiful castle; it would have been nice to go inside, but the day we were there they weren't open for tours.  I also got to visit the Black Sea for one day which resulted in some sunburn, but I enjoyed it just the same.  I went with a busload of kids from Caramidari and we played all day in the sand and the water.

The last weekend in June for me was like a grand finale because I got to spend a lot of time with the team from Norway passing out invitations to the tent event in Chiselet and at a worship night at the Hope Center.  My last day was made extra special because it was the last day of the tent event where the Gospel was preached and many kids came to know Christ.  It was also made special because of my birthday that everyone made efforts to make special for me and by the end of it I was rather overwhelmed.

Saying goodbye to everyone was very difficult for me, but I believe I will be back to Calarasi again soon, so I have no reason to feel too sad about it.