I always knew this day would come. I just didn’t expect it to happen so fast and in this way. India was a place of transition for me – that was a given. But I had no inkling of where God was going to lead me. My only prayer was – Lord, when You open the door, give me the grace to walk through it, no questions asked.

The last three years of my life have been the most uncertain, yet most fruitful. I was able to establish intimacy with God in a way that made the valley experiences, just as wonderful as the mountain tops, even though, truth be told, it was more in the valley times that I could feel God’s presence and be sure of His sovereignty. And for the times I didn’t feel a thing, His grace has sustained me. Through it all one thing stood true – that God is good and everything He did or did not do, was for my good. I’ve come to realize that even though times of waiting are quite excruciating, the longer you “wait”, the more you’ll understand that it’s not so much about the door that God’s opening, as it is about the God who opens the door.

After three years of knocking, the door – the right door, opened for me and I accepted the position of “Media and Communications Manager” to serve with Samaritan’s Purse in South Sudan. Yes, you read that correctly – SOUTH SUDAN! I know what you’re thinking. Everyone around me thought the same thing. Even I thought the same thing – Of all places to be called to, was it really going to be one that was war-torn?

Africa has never been on my radar. God and I never talked about it. I may have wanted to visit it, but that’s about it. Moving there was never an option. As I prayed about this new role, I asked the Lord if He was really calling me to go to South Sudan. After all, what did I have to offer? Was I hearing Him right? As I soaked my decision in prayer, I could very evidently feel the Lord nudge my heart. Actually, “nudge” is an understatement. This is what He laid on my heart – “Rachel, if the door I am opening for you is not the one you wanted, or like the one you were expecting, would you still walk through it? If you wanted to be on the top of the world but I led you to the ends of the earth, would you still go? Would you still trust that I am on your side?” In response, as it rightly should be, I packed up my life into three suitcases and a carry on and said, “Here I am Lord, send me!”

I have officially embarked on this brand new journey, one that is completely alien to me, but entirely known to my Father. I am excited and thoroughly convinced that the One who began a good work in me, is faithful to complete it. I know without a shadow of doubt that the God of angel armies is going before me. He is the one Who ordained my steps and He is the one Who is by my side.

So Africa, here I come!

In closing I must say, I lift my eyes up, my help comes from the Lord!

PS: Many people have asked that I keep them updated on this new chapter of my life. If you too would like to be included on a monthly email update, please send me a message with your email ID and I’ll be happy to keep you posted.

For the first time in a very very long time, I don’t know where to start. I’m overwhelmed and taken aback and just… speechless and out of words.

As I write this, I’m walking around terminal A of New York’s Newark Liberty International airport, with a hot chocolate (Yum) in hand and a full, grateful heart, waiting for my next flight.

In January 2016, my associate position with Samaritan’s Purse was coming to an end and I had begun praying about returning to India. At the time God didn’t say “Yes, go to India” or “No, you’re not going to India.” All He said was, “I’m going to bring you back to this land.” I didn’t understand what that meant because I hadn’t left America. But in June 2016, I did. My H1B application didn’t go through and I came back to India. I came back with more questions than answers, more uncertainties than surety, more insecurities than security, more confusion than clarity. The one thing that remained constant through it all, was God’s goodness and faithfulness and His promise to bring me back to “this” land.

Like He always does, God kept His word and here I am, three years later, on a flight to North Carolina, to a place I once called home! God made me a promise, and no matter how “long” it took, He followed through. You know, I can’t even begin to tell you how many times I tried to help Him fulfill His promise (and failed), as if He needed my assistance (Pffffff!) and how many times I doubted if He remembered, He cared, or if, at the very least, He had a plan for me.

Long story short, I am a testament to this – God did remember. He did care. And He definitely did have a plan – A plan to prosper me and not harm, to give me a hope and a future.

I don’t know what promise you are waiting for, but allow me to encourage you –

• There is grace in the waiting.

• There is purpose in the waiting.

• There is intimacy in the waiting.

• The waiting is for your good.

• The waiting is preparing you for the adventure ahead.

• The waiting is teaching you that even when you can’t see, God is not silent. He’s working all things for your good. He knows what He’s doing. And for now, that is enough.

My season of waiting has been transformational. In fact, I didn’t even realize that God was working on my behalf and bringing me to this very point in my life. And along the way He opened doors I never thought existed, brought me opportunities I could never fathom, and adventures I’m still reeling from. During these three years:

• I could be there with my dad as he went from being diagnosed with chronic kidney disease, to beginning dialysis and needing someone by his side, to severe blood poisoning, to starting a new method of dialysis, to my mom becoming my dad’s primary caregiver and my parents becoming and living life independent of me.

• I travelled 11 countries including exotic places like Fiji, Italy, Spain and France, and got to meet my best friend who I hadn’t seen in 6yrs.

• I learned that the church matters. People matter. If we can just stop thinking about what the church can do for you, or how it has failed you, you’ll see that the church has some very real and pressing needs, and you should step in and fill it.

• I learned that the church will be my community if and only if I let it.

• I learned that not all needs must be met by leadership. You can meet them too. So do it.

• I got to develop intentional relationships with some sweet young girls/women who I know are future leaders.

Every time I stopped to look back at how far I’ve come, all I can be is grateful. The path God has carved for me isn’t one that I could’ve ever carved for myself and my only response to it has been “Then sings my soul, how great Thou art!”

If you take nothing back from this post, take this – God does remember. He does care. He definitely has a plan. And sooner than later, when the time is just right, He’ll show you His perfect plan.

“He who started a good work in you, will be faithful to bring it to fruition.”

In closing I must say – I lift my eyes up, my help comes from the Lord!

PS: Yes I did eat Chick-Fil-A and yes, it tasted just as good as I remember it!