ahhhhhh i never blog in this

i really should start blogging more. life is just busy. but i really do want to blog more. it's been 5 months!!

texas so far

i like it. the humidity ain't too bad. the beach is 2 hours away! and i'm having fun with awesome people here.

the last three weeks have been good. it's been fun being apart of the homegroup as church stuff gets rolling. last night was our first homegroup meeting and there were 39 people that showed up!!!! enough to start a church! we have also been having prayer-time on monday nights and that has been really amazing. God has really been moving in our midst during those times and has really spoken to us and has brought us together as the body and walking as the body of christ.

the job hunt has been difficult...but it's making me just trust jesus. i'm officially a substitute teacher. i'm currently pursuing a long-term substitute teaching position for a high school math teacher who is going on maternity leave soon. jesus has been providing for me and i'm learning to trust him to provide.

hmmm...not sure what else to say. here's a cool picture of a texas evening sky...

finally here

Okay, I am going to try REALLY hard to update this blog regularly...I did not do well updating my Colorado blog. Well, I made it down here. For months, this was just a whisper and a dream deep inside me, and as I felt the Spirit lead, it has become closer and closer to a reality, until finally, it is real. It is very surreal being here. I moved in this past weekend and have been completely unpacked since then. Now I'm just settling in mentally and emotionally. I think it really hit me once my parents drove away. I will confess that homesickness has lingered here and there, just because I am in a brand new place with brand new people. I am so used to living in the Treehouse and being around the same people. It's just very scary and different to be somewhere completely different. But it's good...it's making me completely depend on Jesus and trust Him. I know that this is where He led me, for some reason, and He will continue to unfold His plan to me as each day passes.

The scariest part about being down here is that I don't have a job yet. I am planning to substitute teach...I'm in the orientation, paperwork, fingerprinting stage. Hopefully by the end of next week I will be substitute teaching. I know Jesus is going to take care of me, and that in this aspect He's really asking me to walk by faith. So I'm trying to...

say WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?!

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Here is the first post of my new blog entitled, "Journey Down South." And this first photograph is the water tower in College Station, TX. Because, yes, that is where I am moving. You may be wondering, why the heck am I going there?!?!? Well........it's a long story. Jesus changed my life last summer and really awakened me to a deeper and more alive and real relationship with Him. As He was awakening me, He put people in my life to encourage me in my walk with Jesus, people I had met last summer at Colorado LT. As Jesus was changing me, I got closer and closer to these people. I feel like it's a little scandalous for me to say "Jesus told me to move to be with these people." That actually did not happen, there was no audible voice in my head. But there was a desire in my heart was slowly started to form and grow during the early fall of 2008. A desire to be in fellowship with these people and love Jesus with them and build the church with them. I just sought Jesus, and as my spirit become closer to His Spirit...I just knew. He wanted me to be in College Station. Honestly, I have no idea what's going to happen in the next few years...will I teach, go into full-time ministry, only stay in Texas a year, or stay for a long time. Who knows?!?!? No one. But Jesus. So I'm taking a step of faith. Remember the story of Peter and Jesus? Peter was in the boat and Jesus was out just taking a stroll on the water and then Peter wanted to go out too, and so Jesus told him to come out. And so Peter started walking on the water to Jesus, until he looked down, got scared, and started to sink, til Jesus came and saved him. That's me. I have been standing in the boat looking at Jesus....but that is not enough for me anymore...I want to BE with Jesus, to be closer to Jesus, to know Him more. And I will do whatever it takes to do that. So I'm getting out of the boat. This is a step of faith. This is me walking on water. I probably am not doing things the smartest way...I signed a lease without a job. But you know what I believe so deeply. This is what Jesus wants for me. And even if it wasn't, Jesus is going to take care of me. I am His Beloved. He is holding me perfectly in the palm of His hand. So yes. I am scared to death. This is the biggest move out of my comfort zone EVER...but it is really cool to see how Jesus has been preparing my heart for this the last few years. What do I expect to happen when I move to Texas? I have no expectations. I am just trusting Jesus and trusting that whatever He wants to happen, will happen.

I will try and post when I can so that you all can know how I am doing down in Texas. And pray for me. I need all the prayer and protection I can get.

Love, Rachel



Beautiful sunsets in College Station always



I think that's Texas Avenue or University or something