Zambia Tomorrow Video Please watch:)

ok so...
I have never done a blog before and don't know what on earth I'm doing but here it goes...
For the past 7 months I have been living in St Simons Island with my family and attending College of Coastal Georgia. I left Samford on a leap of faith and the Lord has truly blessed that leap. I have met some of my closest and dearest friends here and God has moved in my heart tremendously. In 3 short weeks I will be boarding a plane headed to Lusaka, Zambia and then to the village of Macha to be a housemother for an organization called Zambia Tomorrow. I have always felt the call on my heart from the Lord to do overseas mission work and specifically in Africa. Over the summer, I had the privilege of meeting not only my boyfriend, but now a dear friend of mine named Rachel Sawyer. She told me how she was going to Africa for a semester and going to be a house mom for the children of MICS in Macha. I was so estactic!! This was exactly what I had been asking God to provide for a long time. At the time I heard about Zambia Tomorrow I was still in the process of finishing my classes for the summer and still awaiting my acceptance letter from the University of Georgia. While I waited for the letter, Zambia kept coming to mind but the Lord said wait. So I did. I received a letter of non-acceptance from UGA and decided to stay at CCGA and continue my core for the Fall Semester.

At first the denying of acceptance was so hard but then I heard the Lord whisper to me. "My plans are much better than yours my daughter." So I decieded to trust HIM for all things:)) Anyway fall semester was underway and I began meeting some pretty amazing people. The Lord allowed me to be a part of the Leadership Team of CONVERGE, a college ministry at CCGA and it was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. He allowed me to lead his people in worship alongside Mark and Blake and also lead a Women's Small Group on Tuesdays @ 12! He always knows best!

The Lord continued to grow me closer to himself and I began to weigh the options and the future ahead. The way my credits transferred I could not continue my education at CCGA after the fall semester and I did not have time to apply anywhere else for Spring because of UGA. I knew I had a semester off and I wanted to do mission work. At first, I started researching and praying about what the Lord wanted me to do. One option that I thought was "the one" was an organization called Watoto. Watoto is an organization in the country of Uganda and provides homes, schools and jobs for the people of Uganda. Many of the people are war-torn victims and are traumatized by so much. Watoto also has a tour that they have every year and travel across the world and preform at various churches. They are called the Watoto children's choir. My boyfriend heard them in Jackson and told me all about the organization I was so excited and applied for the semester program Watoto 360. I also went to Atlanta with my mimi to watch the performance and it was life-changing.

I really thought that Uganda was where I was supposed to go but the Lord had other plans... I applied to Watoto 360 and I was so excited about my new adventure. I also applied to IMB, and an orphanage in India...around this time I was applying I went to go visit my boyfriend in Atlanta and we volunteered for a golf tournament supporting Camp Highland. I had been praying for God to open and shut doors clearly. I got to see Rachel Sawyer again and talk to her more about her trip to Zambia. I told her what my plans were and what I felt like the Lord was calling me to do. I had always put Zambia Tomorrow in second thought because I did not want to, in any way to take away from what God had called Rachel to do. As we talked, she encouraged me to apply to Zambia and to consider it. The one fear that had been gripping her was that she would have to go alone. After intense prayer I contacted Gil and Rhonda Krauss, the founders of MICS and Zambia Tomorrow and talked to my parents.

My dad and mom had not felt comfortable with Uganda and did not want me to go there. I was really upset at first but I had to keep telling myself "You know best LORD, let YOUR will be done!!" I showed my dad the video of the little boy Christopher and told him about Macha and he said "this is where you are supposed to go!" My mom shared the same confirmation and I had the same from the Lord as well. It was the perfect amount of time Jan to April and I would be working with kids all day everyday. MY DREAM.

I have 3 weeks until I leave and the Lord is continuing to teach me to TRUST HIM regardless of the circumstances in my life. The Lord is so faithful and thank God that He chose me to be his beloved daughter and princess.

I will be updating probably every week until my trip and then hopefully periodically while I am in Zambia. If you want to contribute finacially or through prayer that would be wonderful. If you feel led to give just send a check to me "Rachel Harden" or go to ZambiaTomorrow.org and give to the organization.

PRAYER NEEDS:
--health of Gil Krauss--he has had cancer the last few months but is doing better and is going to be able to go back over to Zambia with us, just please pray for continued healing and strength
--health and protection for myself, Rachel and Joe
--anxiety to flee and for me to rest in the beauty of HIS promises
--my family and friends back home
--for the people of Zambia that the eyes of their hearts would be opened and ready to receive the truth of the gospel
--for the zambian government that Christian rulers will govern the nation
--for the children at MICS and in Macha that their hearts will be ready to receive the truth of Jesus

Love you all and thank you for praying!!! Cannot wait to update you soon!!!

IN HIS PERFECT HANDS,
Rach