Romania

Romania is a country located in Eastern Europe. It has a population of over 21 million, almost 90% of which are Romanian. They speak Romanian and the adult literacy rate is 97%.

Romania has the highest number of orphaned children in Europe. In the year 2010, there were 62,000 children in the care of the state. 19,000 were in orphanages.

In the year 2008, 2 children were adopted from Romania.

In the year 2010, 0 children were adopted from Romania. ZERO.

19,000 orphans and not ONE was adopted. Not because no one wanted them. But because the Romanian government has closed off international adoptions.

19,000 sweet children of God, trapped in these horrible institutions. Orphanages in Eastern Europe look nothing like orphanages in the US. (This is not to say any orphanage is a great place to be.) There are so many children, that by the time each child is fed and changed, there is little to no time to hold them, stimulate them, love on them. This is why I’m going. To share love with these babies. To hold them. To make them feel like they are important.

So I guess what I’m asking is for you to pray and to believe with me. I believe in a God who loves and saves His children. I’m asking you to pray and believe with me that the Romanian government will open up their doors to international adoption, that those children might find a home.

On that note, remember my sweet little Nicholas and Alexandria?

Nicholas

Alexandria

Please remember them in your prayers. I’m firmly believing that this is the year that they will find their homes. Someone to love and to be loved by them. Will you believe with me?

Ramblings on Healing, Romania, and How Awesome My God Is

I don't know about you, but I believe in a God who heals. Heals our bodies, heals our hearts, heals our minds, but most especially heals our souls. Lately I've heard of a lot of sickness and disease. And my heart is burdened with grief for those people, those families. But then I remember how in Luke 1:37, it says that with God nothing is impossible. And I believe that. My God is a Healer. He reminds us of this in Exodus 15:26 when he says "I AM THE LORD YOUR HEALER."

So believe with me now that He can heal us. From whatever is afflicting us.

Sometimes it's comforting to just rest in knowing that God is who He says He is. Always. Forever.

My God is who He says He is.

And He likes to continuously prove this to me.

A few months ago I made the decision that I was going on a trip. A mission trip to be exact. To Romania. To play with babies all day long. I signed up knowing that my heart will be broken at the end of this trip. I was excited to do what God had called me to do.

And then I needed to come up with 100 addresses to send support letters to. (Thanks to all of you who have donated as a result of these!! And if you didn't get a letter and want one, let me know!)

100 letters! Can you think of 100 people you want to send a letter to, much less asking them for money??

But once again, my God, my Provider, came through. In the months of November and December I raised over $1000!

At the beginning of December, we had a Chicken Dinner Fundraiser (Again – thanks to those of you who supported this in various ways!). Some awesome people from my church donated everything. So all sales were going towards the trips!! This also meant I was in charge of this event. And every time I would begin to get stressed out, my God of Comfort would remind me that this was for His Glory, and that I just needed to calm the heck down (yeah, I think God says things like heck…don't you?). The night of the chicken dinners was a complete whirlwind for me. But in the end, I had over $400 for my mission trip! Overall, we raised over $800! And we even had some chicken dinners leftover to donate to a local ministry that did a food bank. He is who He says He is.

Now we are getting ready to run a 5K in February. Now, if you know me, the idea of me running a 5K is pretty outrageous. I'm not much of a runner (although I did complete Day 1 of my "4 Weeks to a 5K" training!). And needless to say, I was less than thrilled at the idea of this fundraiser. But I decided to give it a shot. I signed up for the 5K, and was skeptical I was going to raise the "required" $150 for this event. And in a matter of a day, I've had people commit $165 to sponsor me in this race, with several more saying they would. I sat tonight having my quiet time in absolute awe of my God. How could I ever doubt Him? By my human nature, I do. But He ALWAYS comes through! It's amazing how that works. It was as if He said, "Oh, you have doubts? Well watch this."

So maybe this was yet another rambly blog from me. But it's my blog J I can do what I want.

If you really read this whole thing, thanks. It means a lot. And I hope it meant something to you as well.

And if you want to sponsor me for the race, just support my trip in general, or know more about my trip, feel free to ask!!

‎"Let's believe that if we all stand together we're a force that can shake the whole world." - A Day to Remember

Romania

On February 5th, 2011 (one month!), I will be running a 5k to help raise money for my trip to Romania! 

5k = 3mi.  If you know me, it's funny that I'm even considering running a race. Haha. But all the money will go to ROMANIA, so of course I'll do it! :)

"Rachel, how can I help you with your 5k?" you may be asking. It's easy! 

You can sponsor me per kilometer or per mile. So you can give me $5 per mile. That equals $15 for the whole race! Or if you'd rather not do the math, you can just give me some money! Any and ALL amounts are appreciated! If you want to sponsor me for $1 a mile, I'll be so grateful!!! 

Feel free to send me a message on facebook, email me, call me, whatever if you're interested in sponsoring me! 

Thanks!

Rachel

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look afterorphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. - James 1:27

A New Year's Blog ( A Day Late )

"Better Days" -- Goo Goo Dolls

And you ask me what I want this year

And I try to make this kind and clear

Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days

Cuz I don't need boxes wrapped in strings

And desire and love and empty things

Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days

So take these words

And sing out loud

Cuz everyone is forgiven now

Cuz tonight's the night the world begins again

And it's someplace simple where we could live

And something only you can give

And thats faith and trust and peace while we're alive

And the one poor child that saved this world

And there's 10 million more who probably could

If we all just stopped and said a prayer for them

So take these words

And sing out loud

Cuz everyone is forgiven now

Cuz tonight's the night the world begins again

I wish everyone was loved tonight

And somehow stop this endless fight

Just a chance that maybe we'll find better days

So take these words

And sing out loud

Cuz everyone is forgiven now

Cuz tonight's the night the world begins again

Cuz tonight's the night the world begins again

As this new year begins, I'm filled with a sense of hope for the new year. Remember my little angels I adopted to pray for?

Sweet Alexandria

and

Handsome Nicholas

Pray and believe with me that this year is the year they find a home. The year they find their forever families! 

Also, please pray for Mallory. She is VERY sick and her family could really use your prayers right now!!

‎"Perhaps the fuss about midnight is rooted in the possibility that things can be new. Here's to healing. Here's to change."