One month away!

View from hiking Flora Lake of Chilliwack Lake
(just added for looks :D) 

Hey everyone! It's Rachael.. For those of you that don't know I am leaving for a 6 month long trip in exactly one month today! I am going to Hawaii for a DTS (discipleship training school) through YWAM (youth with a mission). The first 3 months consist of a lecture phase that consists of topics such as God's nature and character, God's intentions for individuals, God's redemption, and God's plan for our lives (Can go here for more information if interested  - http://www.uofnkona.edu/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=80&Itemid=103&lang=en). The second 3 months is the outreach portion. This is where we go into groups around 10 people and go into different places around the world. For the particular DTS that I am doing, Compassion DTS, we will be going into a developing country (which we will find out during the lecture phase) where the goal is to address issues of poverty and injustice in a world gone wrong. Three of the possible countries that we were told so far are Rwanda, Cambodia, and Colombia. I don't know exactly where I will be going or what I will be doing yet, but I will try and keep everyone up to date through this blog as I go :D I am both excited and nervous for this trip to happen... I have only ever been away from my family for three weeks, and that was only last year... and 6 months is quite a bit longer than 3 weeks, but ultimately I know that this is what I am supposed to do, and there is always skype! 
As for the trip planning for mine and Jocelyn's trip next September, it will continue to happen through Jocelyn back at home and communicating between each other... so far we have the change jar fundraiser (if you need a jar let us know - we still have some :D), we are having a pub night on September 23 (we still have some tickets - $10 each for a meal and a drink), and once I get back we are planning a golf tournament! We still have lots of fundraising ideas and are continuing to pray about what God wants us to do to prepare. Jocelyn will continue to keep everyone updated with her planning here at home through this blog and I will do the same from where ever I am at. 
As for right now I am asking for prayer in that all goes well in the next 4 weeks as I prepare to leave. I need prayer for calmness in knowing that this is God's plan and that everything will work out according to HIS plan.. (even if things don't go as I plan it). Sometimes I worry a little too much about the little things and forget that God's got in all under control. 
Thanks so much! I'll try my best to keep blogging while I am gone! 
Please leave a comment if you have any questions.. here or on facebook :D