flex-i-ble: able to be easily modified to respond to altered circumstances

Once an organization loses its spirit of pioneering and rests on its early work, its progress stops. - Thomas J. Watson

Looking back on MA Europe 2012, I see that God definitely provided for me to come. With lots of open doors, confirmation, and wonderful supporters, I raised the EXACT amount of money to pay my staff fees and purchase a one-way ticket. I knew God wanted a time to grow in Him and my season in Mexico had ended. Arriving in Switzerland, I was reunited with great friends from my previous summer in Mexico. The day after I arrived, the staff training began!

We started from scratch, only 4 of the 10 staff knowing what MA was like. During that time, we made stage props, planned every session for two weeks, sewed costumes, cleaned rooms and cleaned more rooms,

filmed videos, edited photos, coordinated with Romanian Staff where we were taking the students on outreach, and designed a whole camp-like experience based on the theme: ZOOM.

The night before the students arrived I came down with a high fever, which resulted for 14 hours of me being in bed, but was able to make it for training with the kids! My lack of French was fortunately not an issue, as they all spoke English to some extent, and we had many translators. For two days, we trained the youth on creating ways to tell Bible stories, crafts, dramas, Romanian culture, and giving testimonies. Then after dinner -- we were off to Romania! About 36 hours of traveling later, we arrived at YWAM Medias.

During our time there, we worked with gypsy villages, poor communities, and shared the gospel with so many hopeless people.

God stretched our team in so many ways - from waiting 5 hours at a train station, to last-minute change of plans. Never once did God say pioneering Mission Adventures in a new country would be easy, but rather to “Be Flexible!” It was one of the most rewarding experiences and I was truly blessed beyond what I could have imagined. I've never known a faith or a trust in Jesus like I know now. Living each day SOLEY relying and depending on his provision -- In every aspect of my life.

My heart went out to the people of Romania, who don’t know what true LOVE is. Thank you all for your unending prayers.

So... What’s next in my journey with Christ?

I miss all the traveling and way of life in Europe, but I mostly miss the people I was with -- the ones who are all so in love with Jesus like I am and all have the same kind of goals and heart's desires. My next step is to go back to England and do my DTS in January at the Harpenden YWAM base near London.. A DTS (Discipleship Training School) is 6 month program in which Christians from all over the world, representing different denominations and cultures, come together for in-depth teaching and training in Christian living, ministry to the poor and needy and evangelism. My fees during this time are extremely large (about $5000 for the school, plus airfare and living expenses.) So I ask that you would join me in prayer for this school, the finances, and considering becoming a monthly or even one-time supporter of my big step into Full-time missions and these next few months of preparation. Keep a look out or contact me for my future fundraising events!

With love, Rae
Website: rachelvillaire.blogspot.com
Email: rachelvillaire@live.com
Phone number (while I am in the states): 209-324-9483
Twitter: rachel_villaire
Facebook: Rachel Villaire