Rachel's Rhythm

Where to begin?

NEW JOB

In the end of October, I officially joined Young Life Staff as the new Expeditions Coordinator for the Amazon Region. Sounds very impressive, right? Expeditions is just a fancy word for short term mission trips/teams. I've already been the unofficial coordinator for teams in Ecuador since 2014 but now I will be helping the other countries in our region. Speaking of the Amazon Region, there has been some restructuring and change within the Latin America and Caribbean division. Ministry will carry on as it has but some of the groupings of countries are changing and with that come changes in supervisors and leadership. So don't ask me too many details because it's all still in motion and not all the pieces have settled. Which makes my new position all that more exciting because we are learning together of how to maneuver the transition and find our footing. While my official title is "expeditions", I will also be supporting the region in the area of communication, adult engagement and development. I feel most comfortable in the realm of Expeditions but I am learning about the other pieces of my new role and am very grateful for the people on my team and their patience as they "show me the ropes".

USA

We made our way to the states on Christmas Eve. I will happily fly on this day again, the flights were not full and it is the fastest we have ever gone through customs (arrived right at midnight!) and bonus: prices were cheaper! It was special to spend Christmas with my family in VA. Beginning of January Ivan and I flew to CA for the Young Life conference. (Benji stayed with my parents and his prayer was answered to see and play in snow!). We spent an amazing time with over 5,000 staff, laughing, learning, and celebrating together. We are encouraged by what God is doing around the world through this ministry. Kids knowing Jesus! CA, then WA and TX. Somehow the snow found us in WA and then followed us to TX (what are the chances?!?). Back to VA, enough time to unpack, wash clothes, repack and head north to NJ and NY. A quick stop in PA, then most of February in and around VA, with a quick trip to NC to visit family. Sprinkled through all of this time are meetings with potential donors, coffeeshop catch-up with friends, visits to libraries, speaking at churches, zoom calls, family time, homeschool, and endless conversations over meals. It is both a restful time and an exhausting time. I really didn't cook at all (thanks Mom!) so a rest in some ways. But as someone who recharges by being alone, there was little room or space for that. So, after getting some important paperwork done in the states, we packed up our bags (to the brim) and returned to Ecuador early March.

FAMILY

For the last 4 years we had been doing foster care for Ivan's niece and nephew. That in itself had been a hard but rewarding journey. We left Ecuador in December, with all the pieces in place for them to stay in our home with another family member while we were out of the country. However, early January we received a voicemail from their mom, stating that she was taking them back permanently. With foster care, the goal is always that the children can be reunited with their family. But the goal is also that the family is in a better condition to take care of their children. It was very hard to receive this message while we were so far away. It was very hard to celebrate this reunion, knowing that the situation is very much the same there, from when we first took them in. But in the end, we know God is the one writing their story and we are in a chapter and now a new one begins, but He is still the author.

This brought so many emotions to me (us) and I believe the feelings will continue to ebb and flow. I have had feelings of relief (because teenage boys are hard). I have had feelings of regret (Did I do enough? I could have been more loving, more patient, more....). I feel deep sadness. A room that 3 kids shared, now has 1 little 6-year old boy by himself. Shelves and drawers were empty when we arrived. And our small house feels too big suddenly. I am processing. I am grieving. But I am also grateful for a slower pace. No rushed mornings to get breakfast ready and kids dressed and out the door for school. So now we are navigating how to schedule our days and how to stay connected with the kids now that they are 5 hours away. I thought the hardest thing I'd do was to take them in but it turns out the harder thing is to have them leave.

Yet, this I call to mind and therefore I have hope;

Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed,

for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness.

I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."

Lamentations 3:21-24

NEXT

So, we begin March in a very different way than we imagined. Ivan will travel later this month to Colombia and then later within Ecuador for a training camp. (So, no need to put those suitcases back in storage yet!). I will be training the new administrator for Ecuador, so that I can fully pass that responsibility off and focus on my new position for the region. Always learning. Always growing.

Thank you for praying.

Thank you for giving.

Thank you for listening.

Thank you for being on this journey with me.