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.

Where's Rayelle? ( :) God has a sense of humor)

*For John S. and other who want cliff notes… see the RECAP at the bottom of this blogJ For the rest of you enjoy the story version J

Dear Friends, so literally one year ago today, I was finishing up my time at Pella Corporation, starting to pack things in my house, and finalizing paperwork to join YWAM-Kona for a Discipleship Training School.  I'm in awe, of God's faithfulness and provision.

I've had a number of you ask me what I'm up to now, because I had shared continually that God had given me direct steps until the end of 2011, but hadn't shared anything past that.  Well, let me tell you, life is a great adventure when it's following Jesus! :)

I finished up December with my family, and it was wonderful.  My dad considered me his personal chef, and I didn’t mind that at all.  It was terrific to be together, to play cribbage each night at dinner, to see my extended family at holiday parties, and even to have the TARK 4 together for Christmas one last time, before my sister gets married in October.  It was extra sweet as she and I stayed up late talking and laughing about so many memories!

As the New Year approached, I had not heard from God what was next.  I decided I’d make sure I was ready!  I literally packed up my car with all of my clothes, toiletries, sheets, pillows, and blankets… enough to live wherever I’d be (except for furniture).  I took a quick trip to the Wausau area to see a friend from high school, and 3 of my best guy friends from college, that now have families of their own.  After 7 hours in the car the next day, I made it to Kansas City in order to spend a day at the Onething conference, and to spend time with the wonderful people I met there in November.  I remember thinking, “God, I have high expectations of you sharing direction with me at this conference.” Sadly, I didn’t get what I had hoped for, however, God lavished His love on me so heavily that day I wouldn’t have traded it for anything!  He did share two specific words of direction with me: discipleship (not the way I had done it before) and freedom prayer.  The next couple of days I found myself thinking God would affirm that I should stay in Kansas City… either to continue with Call2All or to staff the DTS school starting in January.  That answer was “no”.  So, I returned to Iowa with a quick stop in Des Moines, and had the opportunity to “hide out” in Pella for a couple of days to seek God, while staying with a wonderful family that opened their home to me.  As I arrived on a Tuesday, I was excited to be invited to a meeting about “Reach Groups” hoping to build a new kind of community in Pella.  I was blown away at what God was and is doing in Pella with intentional community, especially since I had been sharing with many that the biggest thing I missed from YWAM was the community.  The next two days were followed by multiple meetings with friends and mentors where God blew me away with things He was sharing, regarding freedom prayer in the area, and opportunities for me to grow.  God was affirming that I should be in Pella!  And He was showing me things that I did not know where going on here before!

At this point I should say I was pushing back pretty hard about the idea of living in Pella again… I had “left” Pella twice in the last year and didn’t want to make connections without having direction.  And, unwisely, I was trying to tell God that He was not going to be as glorified in my story of “mission life” by me being in Pella.  But God, in His amazing grace, continued to affirm.  As I accepted the idea I asked God about where I was to live, and he gave me a specific name.  I met up with that person and was amazed to see all God had been doing in their life too!  So awesome!  So, God opened a door for me to rent monthly from my friend Lexi, and I also rejoiced with her as she was being moved by God to leave Pella.  Not only have I been honored to walk with her in life as her friend, but also to be able to help at her house as she has worked hard to finish well here in Pella.

Couple of fun extra things… I had asked God when I should move in with Lexi and within 3 minutes a friend asked if I could dogsit in town… and with that came house sitting that next week with aligned perfectly with moving in at Lexi’s in February.  Then as I asked God about provision for His leading, I was blown away that my very good friends, the VanVeens, persisted that they wanted to pay me for a website I had designed for them ‘just for fun’ (check it out at www.vanveenchocolates.com) and the payment was the exact dollar amount that I needed for the month of rent.  And then… on move in day, I found myself provided for with a bed and nightstand, but also really needed a dresser.  I had called up my new friend Kat, and asked if she wanted to go to the thrift stores with me before helping paint some boxes for a Super Bowl food drive at church (where we later collected over 1,500 items for our local food pantry, Praise God!).  On my way to pick her up at 2:30pm on a Saturday, I called the local thrift stores only to find out they closed at 2pm.  I remember praying, asking God for help so I could truly unpack in my room (first room I called “my own” in 11 months).  As I turned on Kat’s street, my eyes shot open… on the side of the street was a dresser!  It is not uncommon for Pella folks to put things out that are not wanted anymore, but in decent shape.  So, God provided for me a dresser!

February has gone very quickly, and I’m continually amazed at God’s provision.  Because of that original dog/house sitting “job” I have had calls to help others 3 times!  It has been so much fun, and great company.  I’ve also spent time in Third’s prayer tower, hanging with some awesome young ladies in town, have “caught up” with some of the ladies I mentored in the past, I’m taking “Perspectives” an amazing class on missions (check out www.perspectives.org to see if there is one in your area!), and completed a 5 week prayer class at Third Church.  I continue to learn that I have an issue trying to tell God what He is doing J and He continues to remind me that His thoughts are bigger than my thoughts.  As I’ve felt called to be here for a time (which God has told me is not 2 years while I save a bunch of money… my idea, not His) I have been interviewing for engineering roles, talking to non-profits in the area about positions, praying about a business venture, and spending lots of time in prayer! 

One thing I’m hopeful of… I believe God is allowing me to be in the Midwest for an important event this year… my sister is getting married in October and as the Maid of Honor, loving her well is a top priority.  I’ve also been blown away with another opportunity that has come up for March.  To my great surprise, my parent’s called and blessed me with an amazing gift… they told me they wanted to help me with the plane cost to attend a wedding of a very good friend I met in YWAM named Johanna… in GERMANY!  So yes, in a little over a week, I’m heading for the second time in my life to Europe!  Another way of God’s amazing provision… I’ll be there a little over 2 weeks and I’m having the opportunity to travel to 5 different places!  I’ll be starting in England with a YWAMer and her family (Jess), then we’ll be headed to Italy together to explore and check out the YWAM Milan base, next up to Germany (near Mannheim) for the wedding (eek, so excited), after that I’ll split from Jess and head to Greece to stay with a wonderful missionary couple (including Meggan from Sully, Iowa), and I’ll finish in Amsterdam where I know 3 people! (2 YWAM friends, and a wonderful friend from Kansas City).

So… for those of you who have asked me about “what I’ve been up to” I thank you, and I apologize for not writing sooner… I didn’t want to put too much down of what “I thought” was happening, and God has been teaching me even more to wait on Him.  But that is the fun of “Where’s Rayelle” over the last 2 months, with great hope of things beyond my wildest dreams to come!  At this point I’ll be in Pella all of March (when I’m not in Europe) and April is ???  I believe God is asking me to do some tough things soon, which will be more challenging than going to the tribes in the Philippines.  I will keep you posted!  Thank you to all who have been praying for me, and listening to me, and who have been walking in faith with me!  I do not have the words to share how thankful I am for each and every one of you.  This year has truly been one of the best EVER, and I reflect, with a laugh, at how even though I’ve not “worked” a typical job in a year… how I’ve never been “wanting” and if anything God has allowed some amazing adventures and gifts as I lean into Him.  To be obedient to God is so awesome!  I pray you are blessed by reading this, that the Holy Spirit will pour out truth and love onto you, and that your faith will be built up on the rock of Jesus Christ.

If there is ANYTHING I can be praying about for you, please let me know!  And if there is anything you have questions on, want to “talk out loud about”, or just anything, don’t think twice, and contact me!  Jesus is “alive” and I’ve seen it more than ever this year!  A relationship with Him (which means talking and listening both ways) is the BEST thing in life!!! (Psalm 139 has been a great reminder of how He sees me lately… check it out).  May God bless you this very moment with His peace and joy.

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RECAP:
January: God called me back to Pella again (to my surprise!) where He amazed me with new connections, prayer learning and practice, direction on where to live and a “new career” as a house/dog watcher J

February: Time of interviews, praying, being home with family for a few days, and a great surprise to go to a friend’s wedding in March… in Germany!

March: I’ll be in Europe a little over 2 weeks… will return March 26^th with next steps ?

*Praise God for flat bike tires, learning to drive a manual car, dressers on the side of the road, homemade dutch letter making, dogsitting, and so much more!*

Hello Friends!
     I'm excited to send an update again of how things are going on this adventure I call life!  Thank you to all of you for your prayers this last month.  As I reflect on November, I'm amazed at how God speaks, especially when we are in "foreign" places with only Him as our main contact.  I finished up my time in Kansas City, packed everything I had for 2 months back into my vehicle and made my way to Pella for a day.  With great joy, I'm so thankful to God for the amazing gift of being able to see 7 of the girls I have mentored since they were in 6th grade, and are now sophomores in college.  They were home for Thanksgiving, and we found ourselves at a cabin, God graciously allowed us to use for a night, laughing, sharing and praying with each other.  It probably isn't a surprise that I didn't get to bed till after 2am, but so worth it!
     The following day (Thanksgiving) I found myself on a plane making my way to L.A., with a stop in Denver, where God gave me the best surprise, Madison (one of the girl's I'd mentored), was on my first flight to return to school!  Of all the flights :).  It was such a joy to catch up even more.  As I arrived in L.A. I was excited to see a Pella native, Sarah Gaulke, who was letting me stay with her for a few days.  God had a small change of plans, as a guy, Nathan that I had met at YWAM-Kona was arriving to the airport from Haiti to volunteer for the week and didn't have a ride or a place to stay the first night.  Such a blessing Sarah was and is to help Nathan out too.  We were able to be God's hands and feet for a tired traveler, so cool!  
      With the LA Congress I was in charge of about 100 volunteers from multiple nations.  They came from the US, including a group from a DTS school in Kona, India, Paraguay, Korea, and more.  I was helping to make sure they all knew where they were going for training, the day after Thanksgiving, setting up the 3 days of training, and making sure we had everyone where they were needed for the 6 days of the Congress.  One of the greatest things God taught me in this week was how He's given me such a mix of skills in my life experiences to be able to take on this challenge!  Everything from creating a "photo scavenger hunt" during the training to build relationships and help the volunteers get to know the area, to being able to shift the resources every half hour, as I'd get called that there were things like "a truck with 42 boxes that needed unloading asap".  Our volunteers covered greeting, ushering, hospitality, security, photography, the World Vision booth, exhibits, registration, and more!  I'm in awe of how God worked to put our team together for this week, and I'm so grateful for the new friendships and connections.  Oh, and did I mention how God did some other amazing things!  For example... during the scavenger hunt, 2 teams met young people they prayed with and shared the Gospel with, and one group even met a young woman, Jasmine, who came to volunteer with us during the week.  So cool!  I had the great honor to get to know the DTS school from Kona well, including a group of 12 that was leaving for the Philippines (areas where I had been just 2 months earlier) a week after the Congress!  It's been great praying for them and sharing all God had done in our time there.  So amazing how God continues to work in surprizing ways!

  
       The congress was a success with better practice sharing, prayer, and commitments made for the Kingdom.  Here are the actual commitment numbers that came from the event with brothers and sisters continuing to work to reach the unreached!

New Houses of Prayer                        71,311
UUPGs (Unreached People Groups)   1,416
Oral Bible Teams                                46,548 
New Churches Planted                       217,908 
New Evangelism Exposures                584,681,363
New Online Missionaries                    20,054

      I was quite exhausted after those 2 weeks, but so thankful for the time and the reunion I had with some of my YWAM classmates!  As I made my way home, I drove through Pella for a day where I was able to celebrate with the youth of Third Church where they had raised $36,000 for an orphanage in Uganda!  I also spent some time with a wonderful family who has been hosting me.  I’m so thankful for them, their care and great example of family.  Before finally getting to my parents in Wisconsin, I stopped in Rockford, IL to see my sister.  My mom came down too, and we were able to help her take off some wallpaper down in a bedroom and paint.  
     I’ve now been home for a week with my family.  Some of you might be wondering how my mom’s surgery went!?!  (thanks to all those praying)  The truth is she cancelled the date right before the surgery.  She had a bad cold, and the doctor said she couldn’t have the surgery with it, and she’s been working with physical therapy to see if she can hold off a bit.  I’m thankful she is feeling somewhat better, but is now looking at having it possibly in May or June.  Still praying God will heal her totally!
     God allowing me to come home for this time, with the main focus being serving my parents and resting, has been wonderful.  They’ve put me to work cooking meals each night (if you know me, you know I love that!), we’ve been playing cards, sharing stories, and doing projects around the house.  As much as I’m different in many ways, it is such a joy to be back together as “family” and to be the kid again. 
       I want to share something with you that God showed me personally this week.  I found myself, when I was alone, really struggling with some things and over analyzing my future so much that I became overwhelmed.  I really didn’t want to go out and see people or do “things”; I just found being alone was good.  I know that there are seasons where that can be fine, but it was not healthy for me, and I realized that the joy and peace I’d had when I first came back from Kona was not as bold.  As I prayed and spent time with God on this, He showed me.  The last two months I’ve allowed myself to become a cynic on the topic of “love” through the traveling around and being places only a short time, as well as some walls I put up with people.  However, through this it seems the enemy has worked to get me to turn those walls into mirrors and I’ve really been internally focused.  Basically the love God has shown me and the calling to share that love with others, was stopping before I was sharing it.  And in that, I found myself miserable!  How crazy that to have myself feel better I had to do the exact opposite, and stop focusing on myself and focus on loving others!  God is so good.  As soon as I saw the truth behind that lie and was able to take what God was teaching me daily, and to shine it out rather than keep it in, my joy and peace for today and the future is back!  I share this hoping that any of you that might feel overwhelmed can go to God and learn from this situation, hopefully not the hard way I did. J
     I’m excited to have my whole family together for Christmas, and to enjoy this precious time that I missed while away with YWAM.  I don’t know yet where I’ll be or what I’ll be doing after January, and would really appreciate if you would join me in prayer!!! Would you pray that God would give me the next steps as I wait on Him.  And I believe we all can hear from God, so if you hear anything as you pray (as silly as it might seem) email or call me!  Thank you to those who willingly offered funds for my LA Congress trip.  I still have about $500 dollars to cover if you are able to help with that, please email me at rayellem@gmail.com.  And if there are things I can be keeping lifted in prayer for you, nothing is too small, please let me know!  It is an honor to stand with you as brothers and sisters.
     I pray God blesses your time with family this Christmas and that He shows you something new about His character.  It is way greater than anything we can grasp, but it is filled with such LOVE that to know even a piece of it is worth everything. 
Merry Christmas!


 - Rayelle


May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)

Pella to Missourri to LA to Wisconsin!

Hello Friends,

                Here it is again… another time I’m packing my bags, following God’s direction after the Philippines!  On Tuesday, I’ll be moving out of my friend’s house in Kansas City to make my way on to Long Beach, California for almost 2 weeks. I’ll be running the volunteers and large exhibits for the LA Global Congress (www.call2all.org), a 5 day event focused on better practice sharing, praying together, and action plans for reaching the 3600 unreached people groups in the world with the Gospel.  I’ve been working in the call2all office for 3.5 weeks, preparing and organizing the training and positions for over 100 volunteers!  It’s been great to be back in a taste of “project management,” with a new focus!

                Before I share about the other parts of this month, I wanted to take a moment and share some reflection on my time in Pella during October.  After being in Kansas City a week, God gave me the great opportunity to come back to Pella in order to speak at a middle school overnight retreat.  I shared about my experiences in Mexico, Haiti and the Philippines.  Speaking at 9:30pm, I knew I had to do something to keep the young people engaged.  I had so much fun sharing my experiences as a “choose your own adventure” story where they helped me pick along the way such things as… we are on our way to a tribal region, would you like to drive in the Jeepney or the open garbage truck?  There were videos and photos to go with their choices, great amounts of laughter, and great questions about my experiences.  The next day, I was able to share my story with the Teen Challenge ladies of Pella too!  It is amazing watching the doors God has been opening, and getting to be a part of them!

                Leaving Pella for the second time in a week was much harder than I thought.  God has truly made it my “City of Refuge.”  I didn’t really appreciate how special Pella is until I left.  When my friend from Seattle came to visit she was shocked by the little community, with nothing “big” really close to it… she’d only been in cities and suburbs and she considered Pella a “jewel”.  She’s right.  This place, the cleanliness, safety, love-abounding, opportunities, and community… it is something so special!  I’m so thankful God called me to the middle of Iowa for a long, wonderful season of my life and that I can call Third my home church.

                This last month has been a heavy growing time for me internally.  I would say “character building” would be the theme.  Walking with God in this time continues to bring great peace and joy, which I’m so thankful for.  At the same time, I feel the enemy trying to get in my head with fear of the future regarding finances, health, and other things that I’m not “in total control of.”  It is so easy to get wrapped up in fears when you take your focus off of God.  But the truth is that any decisions made out of fear like this, only lead to bondage.  And Christ came for freedom!  So as I have been living in a new place, “working” as a volunteer with a new group, not knowing many people… I’ve been dealing with a number of things including some health issues left over from the Philippines, a vehicle making funny noises, no idea what God is calling me to do after December, and feeling like I’ve given everything to God that I can possibly give, but that He wants even more.  This has truly led me to lean into Him and I believe He has been allowing this to see how “in” with His calling on my life I really am.  I continue to say “Yes and Amen” and in that obedience He is blessing me!  This last week, He has brought some amazing new friends in my life!  During a lunch break, God brought me to Longview Lake, a place I call my second home in KC.  He has had total strangers speak words over me from call2all and IHOP about what God is doing, that affirm no doubt that I’m going the right way.  And He continues to teach me about intimacy with Him, especially in the IHOP Global Prayer Room (of all the wonderful places in the world God could send me for this season).

                So it is with great joy that I arise each morning serving an amazing God.  It is with great joy that I look forward to helping serve at the LA Congress.  It is with great joy and thanksgiving that I am getting to see the girl’s I’ve mentored for over 7 years in Pella the day before I fly to LA.  It is with great joy and hope that I prepare myself to go home to Wisconsin for December to be with my family as my mom undergoes surgery.  It is with great joy that I look forward to God’s continued guidance for 2012 and beyond.  Thank you for being a part of this journey with me.  I pray His joy and peace spreads abundantly to you as well, as you trust in Him.

*Please note, if you would like to give a gift financially towards my 2 week trip to LA (all airfare, housing, car rental, food, parking and additional costs I’m covering on my own) I could really use the help! Email me at rayellem@gmail.com.  And please mark your calendars for prayer from Nov 29-Dec 3 for the event as I stay organized and guide.

Where's Rayelle? MAINLAND USA! (1 month after DTS)

FRIENDS!
  I realize time flies... and I've been on the mainland for almost a month!  So, I wanted to give you an update. :)  So... where am I? PELLA, IOWA... until Sunday anyway.  To back up slightly, I came home at the end of September, had a wonderful time seeing my parents for 2 days, while repacking from tropical wear to winter wear.  Then saw my sister for a day (which included fun wedding dress shopping for her!) before coming to Pella.  I've been here almost 4 weeks, and it has been so wonderful!!!  I was nervous about what things would be like coming back here, but as I hit the outskirts of town all I felt was "I'm home!".  Over these last few weeks, God has blessed me with some great encounters with people here!  I've had such an amazing time catching up, praying with people, spending time back at Third with the youth, and so much more!  I also had my friend from YWAM, Chandra, visit here for week.  We went to North Dakota for a weekend to see the IWT (Impact World Tour event) and also to Kansas City to meet those I'll be volunteering with in November, and I introduced Chandra to IHOP (Prayer, not pancakes :)).  God continues to teach me about "leaning into Him," even in the little things, and He keeps surprising me!  I think the greatest part of being back is having the opportunity to see how much God has done inside of me over the last 7 months.  Being in the same environment I was before has truly shown me the changes that happened, that I didn't totally grasp while I was away.  I feel so blessed!

 So Sunday, I move to Kansas City to help with the LA Congress right after Thanksgiving.  As I mentioned in my last email, God had put on my heart to go home for the month of December.  I hadn't really known why, but since my last email He has made it known.  My mom called and shared that she will be needing replacement knee surgery, and they are going to do it the first week of December!  God is so awesome, how He speaks to us when we are willing to listen!  So, I'm going home to be with both of my parents, and to help out.  My dad thinks he is getting a personal chef too, and I can't say I'm sad about that. :)  Plus, I'll get to use my new found CNA skills!

 I'm still not sure where I'll be going in January, but I still feel tremendous peace about it!  Please do keep me in your prayers for that!  May God bless all of you with greater joy each day!  Finally, if you are in Pella on Sunday (this weekend, Oct 30th) I'll be doing a presentation about my YWAM time from 12:30pm-1:30pm at Third Church in the Furnace (below the Auditorium).  All are invited!

Philippines: Baptism

Written: Wednesday, August 24th... 

             Earlier today, I had the great honor of sharing my love with Christ in the way of adult baptism.  I hope none of you are offended by this, knowing I was baptized as a baby, but I want to share with you the great joy I have in my heart.

 I was baptized as an infant on August 24, 1980, when I was just over a month old.  For this past year, after seeing some of the youth I have led baptized, God has put on my heart “reaffirming the choice on my own”.  I’m so grateful that God put me in a family with parents who love the Lord, who gave me the great blessing of baptism as a baby, and declared that they would raise me in the Biblical tradition.  They have done so in mighty ways.

As I’ve consistently prayed about it, my heart has grown with excitement!  I feel so unworthy of the sacrifice God gave for us.  That He would limit himself in human form to live as we do, and to die a horrific death when He did not deserve it, simply to show love for us and to give us the opportunity to be free.  I can never say thank you enough.  God gave me life on this earth, and the only thing I felt like I could give Him back was that same life, as a living sacrifice for Him.  I am His.  So today, on August 24^th, I ventured to the sea with 4 of my closest classmates, a pastor from a local church we’ve worked with the past couple of months, 3 of his church members I call friends, and the love of God penetrating my heart. 

As we prepared for the sacrament, Pastora Grace strummed a hymn on the guitar and we sang “I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back”.  “No turning back” were the last words I shared as I entered the plane in Milwaukee leaving for my time in Kona.  There is more truth in that statement that many others I’ve shared in life. 

As I walked into the ocean, each step felt more freeing than the next.  Pastor Jerry prayed for me and we praised God.  This act of baptism was nothing about what God would do for me.  It was a declaration of my love for God.  That I saw Him as a man proposing down on one knee, asking me to be his bride, and I screamed at the top of my lungs, “I love you!  I give you all of me.” 

When I came back to the apartment a friend asked me if I felt any different, as the act of baptism represents repentance and entering as your old self and coming up a new creation.  Initially I said no, it was simply a fresh commitment to the Lord and that I simply wanted to love Him with no expectations back.  Then, as I finished the sentence, God revealed to me that in these past 5 months I have become a new creation, I’d just never put words to it.  The spiritual eyes He has given me, the deeper roots into Him as my foundation, and the love I’ve never felt so intensely has truly made me a new creation.  Thank you Lord!  Amen.  May all glory be His.

                Psalm 1: I want to be like a tree planted by the streams of living water!