Rachel's Viewfinder

As next week approaches, we are getting more and more excited about this trip. So far we’ve packed the camera and equipment we’ll be using, and settled on the schedule for getting there. We’re still looking for someone to take us to the airport Monday afternoon, but God will provide.

The only things left to do are clean up the house before we go, buy those last minute items for the trip, pack our clothes, get some information to the bank about our trip, finish up the things at work that need completed before we leave, and then we’re off.

So there’s a lot to get done basically.

Thank you for your prayers. Rachel and I are still very stressed, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. Keep praying for us. And keep those interesting facts about Thailand coming. We love it.

Just for kicks, the next 5 people to comment on this post with a random fact about Thailand will get a postcard from us while we’re there!

(Originally posted on www.rachelandrobo.com)

My fiancé could have died last night.

All day long yesterday, my tummy was in knots.  When I’m stressed, it goes straight to my stomach.  But praise the Lord, we had a small answer to the prayers for the house when my landlord called at 4:30.  We have a place to stay for the month of February.  My landlord knocked the rent down a bit for us as a wedding present.  Thank you JESUS!!!

I relaxed a bit last evening.  Having our wedding shower helped a lot. We got home late, talked for a bit, and then Robo started back to Rock Hill to spend the night with his host family.  I dropped off to sleep.  At 12:30, my phone went off and I answered to the words, “Rach, I just got hit by a drunk driver.”

Two weeks ago, I received a similar phone call.  Robo hit a pothole too hard and blew out his front tire.  He replaced them.  Come to find out, his old tires were balding anyway.  Replacing those tires helped save Robo’s life last night.  But who knew that two weeks ago?  Then it had seemed an unwanted expense to shell out $200 on new front tires for his car.  But now I’m thankful.

When Robo started back to Rock Hill last night, he came across three separate packs of deer within 2 miles of my house.  One he even saw bounding across a field, even though it was pitch dark out.  Robo took it to be God telling him to be wary.  20 minutes later, he came up on the exit he needed for Rock Hill.  Just before, there was a stopped truck on the side of the road, lights blinking.  Anybody who’s driven around Charlotte and Rock Hill knows that there are stopped cars on the sides of the road all the time.  And the lights are never blinking.  Especially at 12:30 at night.

Wary of the situation, Robo pulled into the other lane to give that car space, and then proceeded to switch back for his upcoming exit.  He checked his blind spots, then his rearview mirror.  And saw the guy ready to plow into the back of him.  Robo put on the brakes to slow down, in case the on-coming car decided to swerve around him.  That brake check also probably saved his life last night.  Instead of the oncoming car hitting him square in the back, the other driver actually hit under the back bumper.  This prevented the bumper from squishing his rear wheels. Between that and the new tires, Robo kept his car on the road, slowed to a stop, and then called 911.

The driver of the other car is unknown at this point.  The other car veered off the road, so when Robo called 911, he ran back down the highway to check it out.  At that point, there was no driver in the drivers seat, and the passenger insisted he wasn’t driving.  But the guy was also plain drunk.  

I got to the scene around 1:00am and waited with Robo.  The police finished their business and the tow truck came.  We took his busted car back to Rock Hill, and then I took Robo to the hospital.  Praise the Lord the only thing he is only suffering from sore muscles in his shoulder and back from absorbing the impact through the seat and steering wheel.  I took Robo back to my house and put him to bed so I could take care him.  As he drifted off to sleep, I fought back tears of relief and joy.  Getting that phone call last night was one the scariest things I’ve had.  God has been asking me to trust Him with everything again.  Right down to His care and protection for the man I’m going to marry next Saturday.

Please continue to pray for us.  We are now probably down to only one car.  Thankfully, mine can get us to Ohio for the wedding.  But as Robo starts looking for a job, we don’t know what that will mean with only one vehicle.  We also don’t know yet how much the other car’s owner’s insurance will pay.

Last night, I made a quick post on Facebook.  The immediate feedback of prayers, love and support has been overwhelmingly helpful.  Robo and I both thank you for letting us know we don’t stand alone.      

Believe it or not, my fiance and I may soon be homeless!

I mentioned in my last post the need for us to move due to some issues with the septic tank at the house.  Come to find out, the rent for the two of us there will be higher than I remember splitting with my two other roommates.  And it’s higher than we can afford to pay on my salary alone.  Which we kinda have to do, because my fiance doesn’t have a job yet!

Please pray.  This isn’t the first time God has taken me completely out of my comfort zone and asked me to completely trust Him with EVERYTHING in my life, right down to the roof over my head and the food in the cabinets.  But it’s a different ballgame having somebody else in my life.  I suppose the hardest part is watching my fiance step up to the plate with somebody to take care of, but with no way to do so.

Pray for us.  We are trying to negotiate with my current landlord for a lower, final month’s rent for the month of February so we can have a place to stay.  We do not have enough for a month’s rent at the current house, plus a month’s rent AND a deposit at a new apartment to be able to move immediately.  Not to mention, we don’t have time.  Saturday, Robo and I are supposed to drive back to Ohio so we can prepare the last details before we get married on February 5. 

Both of us don’t know what to do, except call on the Lord.  Please join us in prayer.

“So where will you be living?” 

That’s usually the first question after the initial, “Wow! God is so GOOD” comment on my recent engagement.  It always catches me off guard, but I suppose it shouldn’t.  I’m getting married, and I’ll be following my husband’s lead.  So the assumption seems to be that I’ll be leaving Charlotte, and my work with SIM. 

The beautiful reality is that God has called Robo to Charlotte and to work with SIM once his school loans are paid off.  The Lord has not only brought someone who suits me as a life companion, but who compliments me as a workmate.  Right down to the same ministry with the same organization.  Praise the Lord!

Our plan as of right now is:

1).  We continue living in Charlotte, NC, or somewhere in the near vicinity.

2).  Rachel continues to work with SIM USA in the Media Department as a supported missionary.

3).  Robo get’s a job and works to pay off his school loans as quickly as possible.

4).  Robo joins SIM USA as a supported missionary and together we continue to serve in the Media Department.

A lot of this is in need of PRAYER!  The Lord has blessed us with the option of living in the house I currently live in.  My roommates are moving out just before the wedding.  While this provides us with a place to live, we’re currently experiencing problems with the house that our landlord has preferred not to fix.  One of these is the septic tank.  Pray that the Lord would either provide us with a new home, or that our landlord would make the necessary repairs.

Another prayer request is for my continued support.  Right now, SIM USA has made me a permanent part of the Home Staff.  This means my support requirement is higher (about $2700 a month), but I now have health care and retirement!  I also have a higher “salary”.  Robo and I plan to live on my “salary”, so we can put the entirety of whatever his paycheck will be towards paying off his school loans.

Which brings up another prayer request!  Pray that the Lord would bless Robo with a job in the video production/web industry.  Reasons for this include the need for Robo to maintain his production skills in a media environment, as well as earning a paycheck big enough to pay his loans. 

For those of you giving financial to my ministry, my support account information will still be the same, save for the fact that I will be Rachel BOGAN.  :D  *excited*