My heart beats with anticipation...
The time has finally come. Adventure is on the horizon!
Tomorrow morning I will grab my back pack and carry on bag, (the smallest I have ever packed in my life!) put on my lovely Converse shoes (Thank you Lauren!) and join the most amazing team on a trip to Northern India for the next 2 weeks!
My Besties- Lauren who I'll miss LOTS, and Gabby who I'm going to see!From there I will fly on by myself to Harar, Ethiopia to live and work with Gabby and Samuel Strandberg and the team of Mission SOS Ethiopia/Harar Church of Joy for 1 month!! (I'm coming Gabby, and I cannot wait!!) :)
I am so excited!!
I feel like Queen Esther.
I can imagine the excitement and anticipation she must have felt as she waited for her turn to go before the King. All those months soaking in oils, learning how to become a Queen. How to sit right, talk right and lead. I'm sure there was a lot of nights where she was frustrated, wondering why she was, where she was. (I understand that.)
I'm sure she watched nervously as other girls went for their night with the King. Wondering when her turn would finally come.
But it did come! And because she learned to enjoy the journey, trust God, be faithful, learn the Kings heart and what He loved- she became Queen and saved a people! Wow!!
Now I'm ready to have my own Esther experience.
I am longing to love on the unreached peoples of the world! The poor, and the unwanted.. to pour out love on little street kids, to baptize new disciples and see people saved!
That is the BEST life a girl could ask for!
I love you all SO very much! Thank you especially to those who gave sacrificially to help make this trip possible. God has provided above and beyond for this trip, and its even more proof to me that it is ordained by Him.
I love you and will miss you all so much. But it's time- Spring has come. I'm ready to step out!
My amazing Fam who I'll miss lots!!I feel like a sponge- I just want to soak up every minute of this adventure with the Holy Spirit.
Will you join me? :)
Matthew 25:35-40 "For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. 36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’
37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!"
37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!"
The Harvest is calling....
Joelle this is an amazing first post! It brought me to tears! So proud of you! Can't wait to read more posts! Remember evey single story and take a load of pictures! I will miss you sssooooo much! Love you! - ang
ReplyDeleteLetter one to Jo Jo Feb. 25th 2010. Part 1
ReplyDeleteLetter one to our grand-daughter, Jo Jo. on the mission field in India.
Granny and I are ecstatic tonight as we sit in Nashville Tennessee reading your blog from the land and people that we love so much, India. The first nation we were missionaries too in the 1970's. Oh! India your masses cry out for the one true God who can only satisfy your soul and feed the needs of your hungry bodies.
Joelle you are the first of Granny and Poppa's God given grandchildren to leave the shores of your birth and to answer the greatest duty open to man, "The call to preach the Gospel" in India and Africa.
Jo you have been in preparation all your life as have our other three beloved grandchildren who are at home in Youngstown praying up a storm for their sister. Your dear parents Kevin and Cindy Rauch have been exemplary example's of a man and woman who love their Savior supremely, and have always had the interest of Christ. Jo you have sat under the Pastorate of two of God's choicest leaders and servants in America today Bro. Dave and Sister Cathy. And you have been sent out by a truly wonderful church that has vision and has commissioned you.
Granny and I are eternally thankful to the Master tonight and tickled pink, that you are following your Grandparents footsteps to India, where we were missionaries first in the 1970's, our work still thrives today under the auspices of the "Dr. Ray & Lynn Elder Trust" which includes an orphanage for 46 orphans, amongst other things in the state of Andhra Pradesh in South India.
We love you and you have made us cry and praise this day. We will be praying still for you the adventure with the Holy Spirit is just beginning. Our love to a wonderful grand- daughter. Granny and Poppa.
Letter two to joelle our Grand child by design given to us from heaven along with Rachael; Elijah; and Micah. Granny and Papa.
ReplyDeleteJo you have now completed several days in the land of India, in Arunachal Pradesh (Pradesh means state or region) the state is known as the "Land of the rising sun" Arunachal is in the most North east part of India. China borders this Indian State and China claims it as theirs. Kerala State is the most southern state. Kerala has the most Christians 2% of the population. But from Arunachal to Kerala and all States in between the people need to know about Christ and His claims. Thanks for being willing to go and tell them Jo. Thanks for leaving that cake shop in Poland/Boardman Ohio (where they have the best Neapolitans cake slices and bear claws in the world oh! oh! oh.) and spreading some joy and truth in India and Africa. Thanks for leaving the comforts of home to be a missionary and to be ready not to be able to wash your hair in running hot water every night, or have to clean yourself with water in a bucket, teeth and all included. Thanks for enduring travel on trains and transportation that is difficult at best of times , so that you can offer a cup of water in His name. Thanks for being ready not to complain about lack of incredible first class accommodations, for you will sacrifice in this life, but Joelle your reward is coming in the next. Thanks Jo for wanting to see the peoples of Africa and India as Jesus sees them. Thanks for being a doer of the word and not just hearer, so that you may preach this glorious Gospel that you have heard week after week from Pastors David and Kathie Thomas. Lastly Jo thanks for not getting a big head with all that the Master has called you to do in serving Him around the nations. You are a wonderful witness and it will be exciting to see Rachael; Elijah and Micah’s call to service. You know Joelle all of you will be serving differently according to the Master’s will. Hurrah Love you much Joelle, Granny and Papa.
Letter three to a Grand daughter while on missions from Granny and Papa.
ReplyDeleteJo we have once again lifted you up this morning into the Holy of Holies prayer room. We talked about your travel coming up.
Father you are the comforter of your children, and it is so comforting to be able to speak to you about Joelle’s traveling arrangements.I received a email from Joelles mum and would like to share it with you Lord.
Joelle’s precious mum pointed out with these words Lord, and urged us to “Pray for Jojo. She has a long trip by herself to Ethiopia on Saturday. Well, not exactly by herself--Holy Spirit and the angels will be with her." Father thank-you thank-you for your assurance of her destination to be reached safely and sound. What traveling partners Lord! The Holy Angels and the Holy Spirit the best there is will be supplied from Heaven to be her traveling companions, nothing ordinary for our believing sister Jo Jo. Lord, just this this morning Jo Jo’s Granny and I spoke to your “Heaven’s travel agent” he was very reassuring and positive about the organizations ability to deliver her safely to Africa. He told us to use His name if there were any hic-cups along the way. One of the travel agencies pledges are “Satisfaction guaranteed” and of course He pointed out to us that this organization has been running at a 100% success rate for a very long time like an eternity, apparently they operate 24/7 and rain or shine. There brochure is filled with impressive and favorable documentations; affidavits and testimonials of those who have used this service before among these names are Dr. David Livingstone the missionary to Africa, He used the service between 1840 and 1873. Also another missionary to Africa Dr Albert Schweitzer used it 1905 to 1965. They report it to be a very reliable, cheerful and dependable service. Heavens top agent led us to believe that jo has “top of the line” clearance and is therefore entitled to use the V.I.P. service.
Love Granny and Papa.
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