Where's Rayelle... Going?

Dear Friends,
I hope this finds you all well! I have had an amazing last few weeks in Europe and actually quite the year! Believe it or not I'm about one week away from the year anniversary mark of starting my YWAM training in Kona. I can honestly say this has been one of the best years of my life, by far; following God in a much more powerful way, and His provision... so good!  It's been amazing to look back that not "working" a normal job all year has not left me wanting one bit... if anything God has blown me away with experiences and adventures for His kingdom worth way more than any money could buy.
Ironically I'll be taking my next step, following God’s leading, almost to the date of leaving the mainland last year! And let me tell you it is the last thing I expected!  Thanks to all those praying for and with me!!! I'm more thankful than words can say for you!

So here is the “back story”.  Being in Pella again January and February… I felt 2 main directions from God.  They were ‘discipleship in a new way’ and ‘freedom prayer’.  Not knowing much more I did my best to jump into those, while staying disconnected, but that is not the way God wanted it… and I started to make connections here in Pella again.  Doing so, I prayed about a way to have income and God led me to start doing interviews, as opportunities began to arise.  There were quite a variety… a possible business opportunity in ice cream J, some part time work with an amazing local ministry that would use my mentor skills, and then some engineering options.  I am amazed at how God kept affirming me with every interview and meeting I had!  The skills I brought to the table, the experiences I’ve been blessed with, and the confidence I had that He would open and close the right doors!  I had about 5 options going here in Pella, when strangely I was contacted by a company in Wisconsin that had turned me down for a role in December when I had applied.  I wanted to say “no” right away because I thought God was telling me to be in Pella… 2 years so I could save a bunch of money and go out into the nations again (wait… that is what I was trying to tell God I was doing J).  So I decided to let God take care of the doors, had a phone interview and was invited up to Wisconsin for an on-site interview.

For those of you who know my parents, you would know the idea of me coming back “home” would be HUGE.  In fact, I was so sure I wouldn’t be, and didn’t want them to get their hopes up, that when I came home for the interview, I didn’t tell them… I even more jeans out of the house that morning and when I returned.  The hardest part was when they asked me what I was doing that day… I didn’t want to lie and my mom kept nagging me!  I may have thrown her off track with something about maybe I was meeting a guy I met on the internet… and for some reason she stopped asked questions. J  HAHA… sorry not true at all.

Returning to Pella, I was amazed at how God seemed to be affirming me more and more, but at the same time holding my 4 interviews and other opportunities back.  I had not heard a “no” from anyone, but found myself with great peace trusting His timing.  As I was planning for my trip to Europe, I found myself longing to visit a friend nearby in Ottumwa to see what God was doing in the youth program there.  Making plans, God tugged on my heart to rather go to the Ash Wednesday service at my church.  Listening, I sat amazed as the Pella youth led the service and my heart rejoiced for my amazing community here!  They challenged us with giving up something for the Lenten season to help us focus on what Jesus gave up for us, and to also consider doing something extra special on Fridays.  As I sat there, I realized my entire Friday schedule was open… unusual for me!  I decided it would be awesome to spend the whole day in Third Church’s prayer tower hanging out with God; reading, worshiping, and listening.  Little did I know God had additional plans J.

As I awoke Thursday morning (day before prayer tower date). I had a phone call… with my first job offer.  As I sat there excited and laughing… I couldn’t help but enjoy God’s sense of humor and love… He knew this would happen and had already planned a time with Him to pray!  The day continued, and another offer arrived and I continued to pray that God would show me His way.

Friday was wonderful.  It was a beautiful day, finding myself in the prayer tower relaxing, singing, reading, and waiting on God with anticipation but no stress.  Around noon a wonderful friend joined me, wanting to pray with me.  As we sat and talked, she asked me questions about where my heart was at with the decision.  I told her my biggest leaning was to be in Pella, running the small business, taking one of the job offers before me, and possibly buying the house I was living in to have women from the area live in community.  She lovingly told me I couldn’t do all of that (thank you friend) and said she was glad I felt like staying in Pella was the right answer because she didn’t want me to leave.  As we kept talking, she paused and said God had told her we needed to stop the talking, and just pray, allowing God to speak. J  I’m so thankful for my wise friends.  So, that is what we did.  As soon as I closed my eyes and her words poured out… God started showing me pictures.  I sat their crying so hard that I felt like a little kid that needed a box of Kleenex.  But God had shown me where I was to go.  He had shown me pictures of Wisconsin, the company I had interviewed with, and had shown me the one commandment that has a direct blessing in it… Honor your Father and Mother.  As we finished and were walking out of the room, God told me to ask my friend if she had heard something.  As I looked upon her with my red eyes, she said clearly… “yes, you are supposed to go to Wisconsin.”  More tears came (not like me) but God had affirmed it, and as my Friday night and Saturday continued His peace came over me like I’d not felt in a long time!

There is much more that has happened since then, including some “mourning” over leaving Pella (I’m so thankful for this place and the people) and deciding when to tell my parents.  I waited for the paperwork to come through, and the night before I left for my European trip, I called them and told them.  They had no idea, and I think I may have given them such a shock, they still don’t believe it. J

So, I’m celebrating my last few days in Pella, and celebrating God’s guidance (even though it is not what I was expecting at all for my life) to move back home, and to work at Kohler Company as a Senior Quality Project Engineer where I’ll be focused on helping the Global Faucets team while traveling to their 8 sites in Wisconsin, Arkansas, England, France, Egypt, India and China (2) around 25% of the time.  I’m still a bit in shock as I write this, but being obedient to God is worth anything He puts before me.  I know it will be blessed, and I’m excited to continue to grow in love for the nations!

Please keep me in your prayers, if you would, for Christian Community, direction on where to live in the Kohler area, and for discipline in this new season.  I believe it will be a “cleaving” time to the LORD in new ways. Watch out Wisconsin!  I’m coming home :)

Where's Rayelle? EUROPE TRIP UPDATE

Europe:
In a word... Awesome! I'm blown away how God has made my world so much smaller :) My hope on this trip was to have fun with my Kona family and especially to celebrate the wedding of my friend Johanna in Germany... And I was yearning to continue to learn more about other cultures first hand. And wow did I get that! Starting in England I was greeted by a bubbly Jess Evitts at the airport and then whisked away to her family's home a couple hours south of London. The next few days were spent being adopted in an English family where we drank lots of tea, cheered on rugby teams, played Rummikub (pronounced rummy-cub there), and said things like 'posh'.

Midweek Jess and I found ourselves driving across Italy where I tried my hand for the fourth time ever at driving a manual car! I think I can say I'm legit in that category now :). We felt like 'princesses' as Jess stated many times over those days in some beautiful countryside. I had planned to visit the YWAM base in Milan, but though I tried a couple of times it didn't come together... Not sure why, but trusting God in his timing. We were able to rest, enjoy the beautiful weather, and gear up!

Because a week into the trip, we rejoiced during a 12 hour German wedding for our friend's Johanna and Marco. He had flown to Kona to propose shortly before our Philippines outreach, and now the wedding culmination! I couldn't stop smiling all day!

The ceremony was similar, but the party... Oh what they do! Directly after the service they have treats at the church. We had fresh pretzels, cakes, and drinks to kick off the festivities. Then we made our way to an old monastery cellar, to continue the "shindig". The night was extremely interactive with a jeopardy game for the announcements, puzzle pieces in the table favors to join together in one big picture, guessing games and a bunch of guest book comment displays (including kissing w red lipstick papers to make a collage). After a candy bar/coffee time we had a group photo outside with literally everyone. Then... a three course buffet... Before the dessert round though, the show really got started! German weddings have a 'presentation' the friends and family put together! Think 'hours worth of entertaining improv skits, singing, and even a drama of how the two met and fell in love', while they watched! Then at midnight, the bride and groom head out, after a short time on the dance floor. But don't worry, the dance floor was not neglected! The guests stay till 2 am, or so, ripping up the dance floor. I'm even tired just thinking back to this! What an amazing day of love an joy!

    Before jumping over to Greece I had a day to explore Mannheim. My favorite part of the first week was getting to sit down 1-on-1 with so many wonderful friends, to catch up on life, share concerns and to pray with each other. You know who you all are! I'm so grateful for you. The train station brought a sad goodbye, but it wasn't for long :)...
    Arriving in Athens next, I was greeted by big smiles from Meggan and Pavlos! Side note: I love being greeted at airports by people who love me!  We stayed overnight at the Bible College they volunteer/work at (only one in Athens!) It was so wonderful to see their 'daily life' and to take in Greek life. They treated me so well and took me beautiful places where we would sit for coffee drinks and dialogue for hours on everything, just like Greeks do daily! Other than going up to Mars Hill and reading the story of Paul sharing about the "unknown god" with the Athenians... best gift was the last night when I 'tagged along' to a flat where their friend lived, with his parents. We sat down to a traditional dinner as they celebrated the growing relationship between that friend and a young lady. It was so amazing to hear them talk and how the conversation flowed with such unique form and respect! I didn't want to leave! Throw in the fact that there were a couple guys there, who work with local refuges, that shared their stories... including one guy escaping Iran at 13 who met Jesus in an English prison a few years later and was radically changed!

  Last stop Amsterdam! I giggled a lot getting off the plane, seeing numerous tall, blonde haired, blue eyed folks. Felt like I was home in Pella :) then throw in the canals and windmills! I felt like I could have given some of the tours! Hehe. The time in Amsterdam was so crazy, and not how you might think. I knew 3 people in the city! My old roommate from Kona, who is from Switzerland and helping to staff a school, a woman I met in Kona from Kenya that was at the door when I entered the base, and also a gal from Kansas City who was an answer to prayer for me in November! All in Amsterdam! I spent a great amount of time with each of them, and touring the city. It is a beautiful country, though the heaviness of the realities in the red light district of Amsterdam were mind wrenching (prostitution is legal, and they flaunt it). I thank God for those I met working on bringing truth and love to the area and women there. My last day I spent in the countryside, and I'm so thankful for the redeeming feel for the Netherlands! I seem to have a special place in my heart for Dutch people :).

  As I started to think about packing up for my last night, reflecting on the Corrie ten Boom tour and the yummy Dutch treats... God saved something extra special for my trip!!! My German friends (Monja, Johanna who had come home from her honeymoon the day before, and their roommate) drove up to say goodbye again! A six hour drive and we spent almost 2 hours laughing, hugging, praying, and just being amazed at God's awesomeness before they left and made there way home!

  I can't think of anything that would have made this trip more special! I feel so blessed and thankful for this time. The depth of the cultures I saw being adopted multiple times, seeing God working all over the world, and the sense of family I have in so many nations... Priceless. Now I just need a couple of days to recover from the 6 languages I have spinning in my head from the last 2 weeks (for those counting.... 6th is Spanish from a couple needing help during the day long tour I took and on the plane to Madrid where I was told to ditch coming home and go to Seville with some flamenco singers. Tempting. :))
    I hope this is only the 2nd of many times to the beautiful Europe and that God will continue to give direction of why Italy is so strong on my heart.