Prayer Requests:
Wisdom & Direction
Deeper Intimacy
Financial support
Hello everyone. I know I am about a month behind on writing this and I do apologize.
As I am sure most of you know by now, I am back home in good old Franklin Tennessee New haircut and all!
After spending a month in California getting to rest, visit my sister, who I hadn't seen in a year, and spending time with Jesus, I am more than ecstatic to be back home. Also I very thankful to still have my bed and room at my moms house for when I do get to come home.
The last month to be honest was hard, but filled with so much joy at the same time. I was able to meet many new people and, surprisingly, see some familiar faces while in California. towards the end of the month I had the amazing opportunity to fly out to Colorado to be a part of one of my closest friend's wedding celebrations in the Springs. At first I was a little unsure of whether or not it was okay to spend the last bits of my money to fly out there, but I felt God's peace on the situation and booked my flight.
While there in Colorado Springs I was so blessed with a free hotel room and being able to see some of the amazing family I lived with for over a year during one of the most challenging seasons of my life, all while traveling throughout Central and South America as an Iris ministries team. Being able to see each of them was like being reunited with very close family or how men in war feel about the people they are fighting alongside.
The weekend was amazing! And because God loves me so much and knows exactly what I need I had the opportunity to give up my seat for someone else and take a later flight. This gave me a $300 dollar voucher for united airlines $20 dollars in airport food vouchers, and bumped up to Economy plus seating! So I basically got all the money back for my flight and some! How Good is our God?!
Once I arrived back in Los Angeles I was picked up by my sister and we had one last In 'N' Out run before heading home backing up the car, catching a few hours sleep and heading out on our 33 hour drive back to Tennessee. Through the sunshine, snow, and rain
Since The last Harvest School an leading the Thailand outreach God has been doing so much in my Heart and stretching me. Which has become a pretty common feeling in my life, but never easy.
One of the things I had always struggled with the most was true intimacy with God. During the Harvest School I came to a place where I couldn't take anymore of my brian shutting me down when I was about to reach a new place of intimacy with The Lord. As I cried out and fasted for days at a time nothing was changing. Until one day when I met someone and he opened up a new part of my heart that I had closed off for so long out of fear of it being taken from me, but instead of it being taken he was adding to it. Of course I was terrified and wasn't sure what I was getting myself into, but I told God I would trust Him and that was all He was asking of me.
Now I am sure most of you have seen or heard at this point that I am in a relationship. It is a huge deal and not something I would have ever been able to take lightly or casually. However, God as released so much freedom to my heart in a big way through this relationship. It is still really scary for me at times, but trusting God and taking things one step at a time is where I am at right now and I couldn't be more satisfyed.
I am home in TN for another month to two months. Resting, being with Jesus, and listening for strategies of the next steps. I have some ideas, but with God, in my experience, things can change. At the end of March I am planning on heading back to Brazil to an Iris base n Fortaleza for a short season before heading back to Pemba to staff another school. Like I have said before it is one of the most rewarding things I have ever been given the opportubity to do.
I would love to visit with a lot of you while I am home so please just message me, email me, or text me and I would be so Happy to set up sometime to chat or pray/encourage one another!
Thank you all so much. You who have suported me in the past and been there for me through so much! Thank you for the continual prayers and spiritual coverings. Iwouldt be who I am or where I a today without you. And I do not say that Lightly.
Blessings,
Rachael Michelle Singleton
