Travel

Departing from Seattle at 2pm on July 3 with a layover in Detroit and Paris I will arrive in Lome, Togo on July 4th at 6:05pm! About 19 hours of travel with an 8 hour time change. Please pray for safety and health! I am to take malaria pills and last time I had bad side effects.

It is an overwhelming wonderful feeling to have so many people tell me that they are praying for me and my team. I'm very blessed and God is so faithful! :)

I know the Lord will hear all prayers and His will will be done in Togo during our time there. I will have alot to write about upon my return and am thankful for all who continue to follow for updates. Pray for the hearts in Togo who will hear the words we speak and that God will give the word He wants us to speak ;)

This is short for I am tired and need some sleep before leaving for the airport in 7 hours :) Signing off until July 16.

The Word of the Lord is right and true; He is faithful in all He does. Ps. 33:4

Home...just take me back to Africa

Well my farewell at the Joburg airport went ok. I felt so special having people come and see me off. The flight back was hard, it hurt so much leaving. Saying goodbye to all the kids, especially the hospice kids near about tore me up...what made it harder was knowing that some can't understand exactly that I'm leaving.
I haven't been home a week yet, but I think each day is getting better. I can't exactly explain how I feel about being home and I know that no one really understand how I feel  either unless they have done something like I've done. It really sucks, I don't feel like going out and doing anything, all I can think about are all my friends and the kids in South Africa and miss them so much. It's been my life for almost half a year and it went by so fast........ but I have to keep clinging to the knowledge I have that God is in control and then I can't help but feel excited about what God will do in the future!
I will continue to post a few posts every once and awhile...especially to keep all updated about the Lambano quilt and how God is working through me since I've been home ! ! !

Blessed

Well, I think this will be my last post in South Africa! Next time you hear from me God-willing I will be home in Washington State! Sure...the last few days have flown by as usual and tonight is my last night sleeping in my room here.

Sunday I was asked to share my testimony, I shared about how I've had a heart to go overseas since I was young and then how God lead me to South Africa, and my thoughts about leaving. Then the young adult biblestudy I've been a part of since I've been hear came up and prayed for me. I thought it was cool how my church back home sent me off with prayer and now this church here sent me back with prayer. God is so awesome! I was very blessed how many people came up to me after and were very encouraged, some I hadn't even gotten to know :) After I went and had lunch with my house 82 kids and spent the afternoon with them. It was a good last Sunday!

Today one of the kids in house 36 had a school concert which I went to with Jenna and the rest of the house 36 kids. I was a wonderful performance and I thoroughly enjoyed it...kind was perfect timing for me leaving to see it :) After I stayed for dinner and the young adult biblestudy met at the house this evening which I just got back from. I will say goodbye to all of them at the airport tomorrow, they are all coming to see me off! I feel so blessed!

Hospice Update: Phillipos was discharged from the hospital today! I'm so blessed to see him before I leave. They also got a new girl last week who is a burn victim and 5 years old. Her name is Zenele...I really like it. She doesn't speak/understand much English, but she sure seems a cheerful little thing despite her healing wounds :)

In the morning I will pack, haha yup saved it for the last day, and then the office staff are taking me out for lunch...the afternoon will be saying goodbye to the houses and staff, then Jenna is taking me to the airport around 5ish to check in and then meet up with everyone from biblestudy and have cofffee before I board the plane.

My plane leaves at 8:35pm (11:35am PST Wednesday June 1) and it's a 16 hour flight to New York...4 hour layover then short flight to DC were I'll connect to my final 5+ hour flight to Seattle airport landing at 3:18pm Thursday June 2. Please pray for me, I've been battling a bad cold and that won't be too fun with the pressure from the flying.

In concluding this final post from the other side of the world I will share a verse we discussed in cell group tonight...

You shall surely give to Him, and your heart should not be grieved when you give to Him, because for this thing the Lord your God will bless you in all your works and in all to which you put your hand. Deut. 15:10

Return Date changed

I will be leaving South Africa June 1 and landing in Seattle June 2 in the afternoon. 2 weeks left now! Thanks for those who prayed for my ticket to be changed. The reason for a sooner return mainly was my brothers leave from the Navy was only 2 weeks and he would be gone by the time I got back originally June 14. Other reasons were swim team starting and MATS school for Reliv. Eish...my summer is going to start in less than 2 weeks. This place has been my "home" for 5 months.
Prayer requests for the next couple weeks: for me to remain healthy (lots of flus going around lately due to weather change), to make the most of the time I have left on mission with the gospel, for the kids in hospice with my leaving and for the rest of the Lambano children.

London Layover

Hello!
I embarked to South Africa yesterday morning. Flew from Seattle to London with a connecting flight in Chicago. Right before take off from SEA-TAC we learned that there might be a 2 hour delay due to the weather in Chicago. It was just over an hour though and we got to Chicago and hour behind schedule. My next flight wasn't until 5:00 so I wasn't too concerned. They were canceling some flights though. Through it all I just keep remembering what Pastor Josh said in his New Years sermon. "We don't know what 2011 holds, but we know who holds 2011. God is in control!"
God is in control was/is the constant phrase on my mind and I believe it! I'm in London now and have 6 hours until I fly to Johannesburg. I was feeling fine, but got sick to my stomach twice...please pray for me! I don't want to arrive at Lambano sick. I'm starting to feel a little better now.
The flying part has been going well. I usually get nervous, but I think I was too tired to this time slept most of the way comfortably (well as comfortable as you can get on a plane) haha!
I arrive at the OR Tambo International Airport at 7:15AM Johannesburg time ;) and the Lambano driver will pick me up after dropping the children off at school! Also pray that I get my luggage is alright, that is isn't damaged or lost...God is in control!

I have set the LORD always before me;
         Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.
Psalm 16:8

Thank you for you prayers and support! I'm so blessed by you!
In Christ,
Rachel

Visa and Itinerary

Hey!
Got my airline ticket today! Flying out of Seattle on January 11, a layover in London and arrive in Johannesburg on January 12.
Now prayers for my visa application would be appreciated. That it would be approved and I would get it before I leave.
God has been a faithful provider throughout this process so far and everything is coming together. I still feel stress and worry, but when that starts to seep in I remember Gods promises in His Word and hold on to them. His plan will not be thwarted! God has a purpose for me in Africa and will see His plan through!
Thank you for your continuing support and prayers!
In Christ,
Rachel