WHY AM I HERE?!!!!!!

What to say?  I could say much, but so many times I have no idea what all to say.   A few days ago I read a blog about missionaries and how they live their lives.   There are a few things that were said that I couldn’t help but laugh at, because it’s so true! 

I am not the best at keeping track of time.   This is the reason why I haven’t blogged recently.   What seemed like last week was actually 3 weeks ago.  I am sorry, friends and family, that I haven’t blogged recently.   There has been a lot that has happened within the last few weeks, including all of these things, in which something that would take us 1 hour to do in America, actually takes close to 2: 

• Running into Slatina, a city, 45 minutes away to finish the visa paperwork, which as of 12/3/14, my paperwork is submitted and will get my actual card in a couple weeks!
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• My visa will look something like this….
• Had a team of 11 18-19 year old Bible students here from Canada for 6 weeks.  
• Have been working on getting furniture for my apartment, so it’s prepared when my mom comes at Christmas
• Went to Timisoara for Thanksgiving to visit some fellow friends and missionaries with AIM
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• Have spent some time praying and asking the Lord what all He has me to do in Romania. 
• Have started to understand more of the language. 

See, there’s been a lot that has happened.   All I know is that God is good!   He answers all of the prayers of need.   He has answered my prayer and my calling by confirming that my visa is approved and being processed.   I don’t care what anyone has to say, but we serve a good God who loves us.  

You want to know what God is calling me to?   Or an idea at least?  I strongly feel that God is calling me to be a big sister and mentor to teenage girls in Draganesti and the surrounding communities.   I believe that a way to do this is through teaching English, however this is not my primary ministry, as it will not help me learn the Romanian language.  

Honestly, I want to be God’s instrument to raise up Romanian leaders.  I mean, I am in Romania, after all.   It’s not my place to bring America into Romania, but it’s my responsibility to help direct His sons and daughters back to Him.  If God uses my English speaking for this, then so be it….

For those of you who know me, those of you reading this….when you see me or think of me, what gifts/talents do I possess?   (Somehow please let me know.  I’m wondering if there may be something that God wants to do that I can’t or don’t see.)   I do know that one thing is encouragement and exhortation.   Another thing is working with children.   Another is skillful communication.    I do not boast….that is not my intent, but I do know that God has gifted me with these things so that I can use them boast about Christ.  Pssh, me….who I am?  Sure, Rachel Martin, but I have nothing that defines me except for Jesus, solely Jesus Christ!  Paul sounded arrogant, but he lead hundreds, if not thousands to Christ.  Paul used his credentials as an opportunity to bring Jesus.  I want to be this.   So with all of this being said, I want to encourage the people that you first see when you are on my home page.   I want to encourage my Romanian family.   What does this look like?   I guess you’ll just have to find out next week….(or whenever I post the next blog.) 

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.                                                                  -2 Corinthians 12:9-10-