Winter Camp was amazing! At least that is what I heard. The kids have been sharing their highlights from the trip. One girl, Deedee, whom I’ve been visiting since first arriving in Chicago went this year. She hasn’t been on any of the trips since I’ve been here. I was thrilled the first day I saw her name on the list and that she had “paid in full” to go. She is a sweetheart that comes to Bible Study. Deedee is always ready to serve. Just the other day she was helping me prepare snack for Bible Study when I had a bad case of hiccups. Without being asked she got a cup, filled it with water, and gave it to me to help the hiccups go away. I’m so happy that she was able to hear the Gospel clearly presented at Winter Camp and have a great time. God will do much through her sweet, caring, and kind spirit.
The past couple of weeks of club have been hard. There seemed to be something in the air and the kids were extra riled up. Of course, this was also while Tyrell was away. It made for an exhausting couple of weeks. This last week was a nice break since the kids were much better behaved. Last week one of the 4th grade boys raised his hand to speak up after the teacher made a statement of Christ being the only perfect man to have lived. The boy went on to very clearly and confidently state, “There were actually two perfect people who have lived. One was Adam who was perfect and then sinned. The second was Jesus who lived a perfect life and then died for our sins.” This is ONLY Christ at work! I love it when God gives us these encouraging glimpses. There are now four girls in Bible Study with me every week. We are learning about Saul/Paul right now. One of the girls came up to me this past week at Club and told me how in two days time she had read the first nine chapters of Acts! She was really excited about it too. Praise God! It was encouraging to hear that she is reading her Bible at home, not just here at ICI, and has a desire to know Christ more.
Praises
- God’s healing; not needing surgery
- Support continues to flow in
- Kids are reading the Bible at home
- God’s truth is being heard!
This month seems to be a trial in sickness. A couple hours before leaving for Winter Camp, I started feeling unwell but chalked it up to a bad case of indigestion. In the hour before leaving it became painful to even barely move in one area on my right side. I began to suspect an appendicitis attack. I wasn’t sure though and questioned whether or not I should still go on the camping trip. Tears were shed when I came to realize I couldn’t. I had really been looking forward to the trip, and also felt that I was letting everyone else down by not going. Liz, my roommate, graciously stepped in literally last minute and took my place as counselor and driver. Her van was the last to load up so I had some time to talk with those girls before they left. I was able to stay composed as I told them I wasn’t going on the trip, but that they would have a great time. As I explained how I wished I could be there but needed to see the doctor, I was not prepared for several of the girls to respond with sad exclamations. That is when tears began to pool in my eyes again. God brought some humor into it though. Desiree, who had been in my cabin during Summer Camp, asked, “Rachel, are they going to refund you your money since you can’t go because you’re sick?” It was priceless how concerned she was. I explained how counselors went to camp to help the kids have fun and so didn’t have to pay to go. God gave me a peace and comfort through the whole process. I knew this was all in his control and even though I had wanted to go God would still work in a mighty way whether I was there or not. God knew my heart but had other plans. After they left, Mary, Brian’s wife (Brian is the head of Jr. High & High school), took me to urgent care and then to the ER. Once she left, BJ, the Program Director, came and sat with me until about 4 am. In the early afternoon BJ, Shanna, Rachel, and the kids came to see me and brought some of my stuff. Later Bill Dillon, the founder of ICI, and his wife came to visit too. What a blessing to have had wonderful nurses and doctors through the whole thing, plus a wonderful family here with whom I am able to serve.
While I was in the hospital, the Lord was already meeting needs. The Ruth Sunday school class took up a special offering to help with the medical bills. I’m also applying for the “Charity Fund” that will hopefully cover all the hospital charges after my deductible. If you want to give to help with the medical bills ICI says it would be best to just send it direct to me. I will update you on the amount next month once I know more.
Prayer Requests:
- A healthy month: March is going to be really busy
- Holy Spirit would continue to change lives
- Jesus would bring healing to relationships; for several kids who live near each other and have been fighting.
- Kids would continue to attend church regularly
- Wisdom in teaching Nahum, Habakkuk, & Zephaniah March 21-22
- The Lord’s provision for the medical bills
I am unable to adequately express my gratitude for your prayers, cards, and calls. I am overwhelmed by YOUR love! There is nothing like knowing and feeling the prayers of others lifting you up before God. When we make our requests known to God we know that He hears them. What a wonderful privilege! Indulge me for a moment and imagine one person speaking to a judge, pleading their case. Now picture a crowd pouring into the court to speak to the judge and they are all pleading on your behalf. It makes a bigger impact than just one or a few. And guess what…THIS IS something God calls us to do! We are to make our requests known to God, share them with each other, and lift them up for one another. This is a way that we bless one another. It is a way that God shows us His love for us individually. Imagine all those people – you – lifting me up. It is the Body of Christ at work! When we do that it can only glorify God. We see how much others love us, but we also see that it doesn’t even compare to God’s love for us. A very humbling experience. Through your prayers God was pouring out peace and comfort. He used you as vessels, pouring His care and concern over me. He used YOU!
You have all greatly humbled me before God and His majesty. I pray that if you do not already you would share your requests with others, no matter how large or small they seem. They matter to God and you can be blessed by just having others join with you in prayer over it.
Overflowing with Love,
Rachel
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God, For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-5
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