Deeper Than My Feet Could Wander

L ast weekend I realized how much I've taken my parents and my life for granted. Without going into detail, I listened to 17 other people share their testimonies and had to wipe away tears as I thought about my own personal life, parents and family. I am blessed. I've never been so thankful for my parent's love for each other, for me, or for our family as a whole. Both my parents love and support me more than anyone else in this world.  I didn't realize it then, but I'm learning each and every day the many things they have taught me through their example, and man, am I thankful. I've gotten to experience things many 21 year olds don't get the opportunity to do, and for that, I am so so so grateful. I finally came to the realization that me going to Honduras was probably scarier for them than it was for me, and that's saying something! Then again dropping me at the airport to go to Sevilla, Spain by myself. Although the last few weeks have had the...

Can I be honest with you? The last 6 days have been hard. I enjoy posting pictures to show everyone at home what I'm up to, but I still want to be real and raw in stating what my feelings and thoughts are in the background. I'm in a new culture, surrounded by Spanish speaking people. This can be difficult and discouraging, because most of the friends I've made and people I met are Spanish majors or minors, and I'm not! The first tour we had was completely in Spanish, and I was completely lost. I learned a lot while living in Honduras, but I've never taken a college level Spanish course. (And I've only taken a year of Rosetta Stone my freshman year of HS- 7 years ago.. (am I that old?!) I had promised myself I wouldn't get overwhelmed, and would do my very best on the Spanish placement test we had.  So yesterday, when we received the test I wrote my name and began writing... The professor approached me and said "Wait! Don't start yet!" to ...

"Isn't it funny how day by day nothing changes, but when you look back everything is different."      - C.S. Lewis This was my life 365 days ago-- forming new friendships, outfitting my new bedroom, decorating my classroom, and preparing to teach 15 Spanish-speaking four year olds English.  A little perspective as to where I was at this time: I hated being away from home, yet I had just moved to Honduras-- a Spanish speaking country, where I was going to teach English-- except I wasn't a teacher, and I didn't know Spanish!! Six months in Honduras was enough to completely change my outlook on life, yes, but also the direction of my life. Once I finally came to the conclusion that I was returning to the States to finish school, a friend mentioned studying abroad. Fast forward a few months-- when I began to finally take this advice into consideration. I continued to ask God to open and close doors, and make it clear what the next step was. Enter Internationa...

Lately, God has been teaching me a lot... Maybe no more than usual, but now my ears and heart are open and willing to listen... Often times I don't realize what I'm learning until I'm talking to others and realize how my perspective on life has changed. (Side note: I'm SO thankful for the friends and mentors God has placed in my life who ask me hard questions and walk through life with me, reminding me where I was and where I am now!) Currently, I'm learning to be content wherever I am. If I'm constantly wishing I were somewhere else I'd be miserable. A wise friend once told me (the first time I didn't want to leave Honduras,) "Rachel, you aren't supposed to be here right now... For whatever reason, you need be at home in PA." That statement has stuck with me over the last year and a half. If I'm grateful for where I'm at in the moment, I am able to not only learn more, but find true joy in the "mundane" of everyday life....

For anyone who has known me for awhile, and has been "following" my life the past few years, you know it's been nothing short of unexpected. If I'm being honest, I'd LOVE to be in Orange Beach, Alabama right now competing alongside my best friends for a second straight national championship. I find myself daily (especially during times like this, when they're defending their national championship), asking what life would be like had I not left Spring Arbor. What if I were still there.. what would my friendships be like? Would I still be studying pre PT? What would my role be on the team? These questions run through my head, and quite honestly, it's hard to shake them. I miss my friends, and I miss playing soccer so much. With all that being said, however I've had countless opportunities that I wouldn't have had if I were still at Spring Arbor. I may sound like a broken record, but I thoroughly enjoy looking back on all of the blessings God has gi...

The end of January- the beginning of August of this year, I lived on the property of a children's home in Honduras. There were many ups and downs in those months with the kids, teaching, and living on my own. Upon leaving Honduras in August I wasn't sure when I would be able to return. I wanted to stay through November, but had a complete peace that for whatever reason, I needed to return to the States to finish school, with the end goal of returning to Honduras. Although the goodbyes were hard, I knew it was the right thing to do. Life in the States has been good, but I still miss my kids everyday. While at work two weeks ago, Lindsay, the teacher who replaced me in July texted me, and (long story short) asked if I'd like to return to Honduras October 28-November 5 to finish the school year with our K4 class. I told her I loved her crazy idea, but to look for someone else, because I don't think it's going to work, BUT with that being said, I would make some phone...

"Isn't it great to be home?" is a question I have been asked by almost every person I have come in contact with over the last 9 days I've been in PA;  to which I always answer "Umm.... Yeah.. I guess it is." Now, don't get me wrong, I love my family, love my friends, and love my church and the people that are in it. However, imagine yourself leaving all of that for 6 months and going to a new place. A place that largely contrasts what you're used to. A place that you live at, work at, and spend literally 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at (getting off of that property about once a week for 3 hours.) The people you work with? When you leave your work day (teaching 4 year olds for 8 hours), you walk down to your room alongside those people you were just working with. You walk about 2/10 of a mile to your room, talking the whole way, unlock your doors at the same time (still talking), and then say "okay, see you in five minutes.."  Next you...