GET TO KNOW ME

Hey, I'm Rachel!

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​MY STORY:

During the summer of 2015 I completed an internship with Project Rescue.  As I prepared for the trip, I began praying that God would break my heart for what breaks His- and He did. That summer left me seeing the brokenness or our world and in everyday life.

I came home largely feeling like neither my work nor I myself were enough. That being His hands and feet to the world was not the right path for me. Over the following months one recurring question played through my mind, “Rachel, what are you willing to give up?” In the midst of my tears, I quietly uttered, “everything.”

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Over the past 8 years, I found a peace in allowing myself to sense that brokenness. I came to accept that when I give up my everything and rely solely upon the knowledge that He alone restores, redeems, and gives grace, then the brokenness doesn’t seem so hard to manage.

I allowed myself to cry as Jesus also wept. I allowed myself to share, even when people didn’t want to hear the story. I allowed myself to pray, even when I doubted that the brokenness would fade. And through it all, God has allowed me to find peace in the storm, even when no peace seemed present. That my is my Holistic Hope and this is my Journey.

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PRESENT ADVENTURES:

God reminded me, time and time again, that I had promised to give up everything and move anywhere when He said the word. And for several years, all I heard in response from God was “wait.” In the fall of 2017 that began to change. As I continued to pray about what I would do after my MSW graduation, missions would not leave my mind.

In both the Old and  New Testaments, there is a mandate to feed the hungry, take care of sick, look after the widow and orphan, be fair to the alien in the land, visit those in prison, and most importantly- to do so with grace and love.

In taking up that call, I moved to the mission field in 2019. During the last three years, I had the privilege to serve with an amazing team of both missionaries and locals in Sucúa Ecuador at the Hope House. I poured into the girls, only a fraction of what they taught and poured back into me.

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As 2022 came into focus, I sensed a shift and knew that I wouldn't be staying in Sucúa long term. That's when I met Carla.

Carla Marroquín serves as AGWM Missionary and Executive Director of Protect Me Project / Proyecto ProtegéMe which equips volunteers in 13 countries of Latin America to fight against - and more importantly, prevent- commercial sexual exploitation in their own neighborhoods.

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Over the course of several months, with much prayer and guidance, I decided to make the transition to International Ministries and work under Carla full time. As of September 2022, I am serving as the Research and Curriculum Development Coordinator for this amazing ministry!

Though my location changed, my heart to live out Christ's mandate and serve the most vulnerable has not. Through your partnership, your prayers and your financial support, I am honored to continue inviting people into this beautiful journey of Holistic Hope found only in Jesus' restoration.

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"I sought the Lord and He answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to Him are radiant and their faces are never covered with shame." - Psalm 34:4-5