One year ago, on this very day, I boarded a flight back home to India. Welcomed by hugs of love from family, and squeals of excitement by my little ones, I embarked on a brand new journey – One filled with a whole lot of uncertainty but led by a very certain God.

When I was leaving America, the land I called home for three beautiful years, everyone I met said the exact same thing – “Rachel, God has BIG plans for you.” Amidst a plethora of goodbye hugs, I was bestowed with encouragement and blessing – “Amazing things are going to unfold for you Rachel. Just you see.” And as I boarded that flight, I wondered what these “Big” and “Amazing” plans would look like. Would it be a high profile job opportunity? Would it be a knight in shining armor? Would it be relocating to an unexplored part of the world? What were these “Big” plans that everyone else seemed to be so sure about, and yet were a mystery to me?

Fast forward a year later, to this very moment, I look back on this 12 months long journey and there’s no “High profile job opportunity,” “No knight in shining armor,” and definitely no “Relocation to an unexplored part of the world.” And yet, every single day of these past 365 days have been doused with God’s good, perfect, BIG and amazing plans. As I reminisce through my life in India, I know that God has taken the time to redefine my understanding of “Big” and “Amazing” plans. I’ve learned that the beauty of the “Plan” isn’t in its magnitude or enormity, but in the fact that it was ordained by God and that in and of itself, makes any plan that is founded in the center of His will, “Good,” “Perfect,” “Big” and “Amazing.”

As I stand on the threshold of my second year in India, there are several things I do not know such as, “Where am I going from here?” “What are my next steps?” “What are my plans?” “When am I going from here?” “When will this period of waiting end?” That said, there are several things that I do know –
1. God is faithful. He ALWAYS sticks to His word.
2. God’s plans are perfect, even when I don’t feel like they are.
3. Just because I don’t know the plan, doesn’t mean the plan does not exist. In His good and perfect time, all will be revealed.
4. God created Adam and Eve on the sixth day, AFTER making sure that all that they would ever need to fulfill their purpose was first provided. And because God does not show favoritism, He will do the same thing for me – He will take me to my next step, my place of rest, ONLY AFTER making sure that all that I would ever need to fulfill my purpose is first provided for.
5. Two things that should always be etched on my heart – 1) What God said; 2) What God did.
6. Faith is the assurance of things “hoped” for, the conviction of things “not yet seen.”
7. Even though I haven’t a clue of what’s going on, God knows EXACTLY what He’s doing and that for me, is more than enough.
8. The “Desert” experience isn’t something to dread. It’s a time when God disciples you and fine-tunes your hearing. The intimacy that you learn during this time is priceless.
9. Time with family is always something to cherish. Always.
10. Here’s something you can do in your time of waiting – Serve God in any and every way possible. He’s anyway taking care of your future, so you might as well just focus on your present.

For all my friends who have been praying for me, I wanted to share with you some highlights from my first year back in India –
1. I am currently working as an International Field Representative for Operation Christmas Child and I LOVE it. I have no intention of moving from here for a while at least.
2. I have been able to spend time with father and be with him as he battles kidney failure. I wouldn’t trade this time for anything.
3. My niece and nephews are growing too fast for my liking but our mutual admiration club is still going strong. My niece turns 15 this week and I am so glad I am able to spend this time with her.
4. I’ve seen more of India in this past year than I have in my whole life.
5. I’ve already made two international trips and will be taking another one in a few days (Yay!!! Sooooooo excited!)
6. No, there still isn’t any romantic interest on the horizon. Or is there? Jk.
7. I’ve gotten one foot into a worship team. I’m hoping it’s just a matter of time before I’m able to officially be on the team.
8. I’ve accepted the responsibility of leading a “Young Leaders” group in my church. I’m very excited for this as well.
9. Yes, I still believe that India is a transit place for me, before the Lord takes me home.
10. There is a sliver of a chance that I’m finally able to build community.

Before I end this post, I just want to say this – God is good. God is faithful. He is a good, good Father and He withholds nothing good from me and you.

In closing I must say, “I lift my eyes up, my help comes from the Lord.”