RachelWall

If you are anything like me, it takes a lot mentally to be 100% focused on a task. When I find myself dialed in and getting things done,  I get easily upset when something or someone interrupts me. Because that momentum is lost and usually really hard to get back.

I’ve noticed this tendency in myself for years. Why do I get so easily irritated and angered by this? I was talking to the Lord about this, confessing my  irritation, anger(in my head) and selfishness,towards interruptions. There’s good news, The gospel changes and transforms every area of our lives. How did Jesus deal with “interruptions”?  In Mathew 19, the disciples saw the little children as interrupting Jesus and starting to send them away. How did Jesus respond? Mathew 19:13-15 No, let them come to me. People weren’t interruptions to him, they were the reason he was here. He wasn’t irritated or bothered by it, he welcomed people to himself.

He didn’t see it as an interruption but an opportunity to bless others. Could we view “interruptions” in our day as blessings? Opportunities to bless people? To connect with others, to serve, to encourage and be encouraged?

Since that day a month ago, my perspective has shifted. Why did I used to get upset? Now I get excited at the honor and joy to unexpectedly Bless people in Jesus, to share time with others and usually be blessed in return, to be one with God’s heart.

We all need perspective shifts, whats an area you need God to help you see from his view?

 

We’re getting ready in (2 months) to head out again to some remote locations around the globe, backpacking.

In my research, it has been hard to find lists like I’m about to share, so for others benefit, I thought I’d share what we’ve discovered in the past decade of International Backpacking.

First of all, check with your CDC to see what vaccinations you may need for the area you are traveling. This will go a long ways in protecting your health. And buy a health care plan that covers where you are going, making sure they cover mountain rescues. I’m happy to share who we’ve used in the past and plan to use this year, just send me a message.

My husband has researched extensively what is mentioned below, we’ve tried it at home and then abroad over the past 10 yrs. **We are not Dr’s so please do not hold us accountable for anything mentioned, we are sharing whats actually worked for us and our friends**

Your body endures a lot during travel, you come across many different germs and your system can be compromised due to lack of sleep and stress.

Colds

To prevent snagging a cold on the airplane or from a team mate once on the trek:

Take daily: 1 garlic pill, 1 zinc pill, 1 vitamin D, 2 vitamin C

Also pack a cold care kit: We’ve used this on every single trip, either for one of us or for a team mate. Ricola cough drops, nasal saline spray, chapstick, a buff or bandana to wear around your nose mouth so you inhale warm/moist air instead of the dry cold mountain air. Mussinex or other decongestant/expectorant. tissues. tea. small thermometer (to help you tell if your sickness has become a bacterial infection and know what meds. to take)

Stomach/Digestive health:

Take daily: 1 probiotic pearl and all zyme-enzymes as needed

*A lot of stomach troubles can be prevented by keeping your gut bacteria health up as well as taking enzymes to help you digest your food. Enzymes also help when you are offered fried food or butter tea, this literally helps your body break down these hard to break down foods so you don’t feel sick later. They also help if you have food sensitives.

*Pack individually packaged prunes, often you don’t have access to many fruits/veggies/fiber due to them being washed in unclean water and they are harder to pack in. Its not uncommon to have problems going due to this, as well as lack of toilets.

Pack a digestive emergency kit:

Immodium, Zpack (prescription), activated charcoal (if you eat something bad, this will help absorb the toxins), chewable pepto bismal.

Allergies: 

Pack: benadryl pills and benadryl itch relief stick

 

High Altitude health: (If you are going to be camping/hiking at 14,000ft and above)

Take daily: Diamox (prescribed by your Dr., follow instructions on the bottle)

Pack: Dex (for emergencies only-also prescribed),

a Puls Ox (its a small device that goes on your finger to check heart rate as well as oxygen levels)-this is super helpful to monitor anyone who has become sick on trail to know when an evacuation may be needed, also its fun to see your stats when you are on top of a 16,000ft pass

Recovery: Electrolytes

Take daily: Electrolytes.   I recommend Gatorade chews but also packets you mix in with your water works.

pro-tip: Keep one water bottle strictly for plain water and your other bottle the one you use for electrolytes and coca tea (Peru). I promise after the first week you’ll be tired of tasting electrolytes or coca tea every time you sip out of your bottle, so do not “contaminate” both.

*Electrolytes will help your muscles recover after a long/hard day backpacking and keep all levels in your body balanced. Also helpful if you get sick with a bout of diarrhea and vomiting.

Hang nail health:

I know I cannot be the only one, but weeks of backpacking and not showering, in dry climates, living out there, I get hangnails and lots of them! Normally that is fine, but in these conditions they can become infected or allow pathogens into your body.

Pack: spray neosporan and small band-aids

Hygiene:

What to pack: baby wipes, hand sanitizer ,Toilet paper or wipes

Keep the hand sanitizer clipped to the outside of your backpack, this comes in handy basically all day every day for yourself and all your team mates.

Hand sanitize after using the bathroom and before eating anything. This prevents a lot of stomach/digestive health problems that can occur on trail

The other wipes: each night wipe your face off,clean your pits, your feet, and you’ll feel much better

 

Female health:

Backpacking for 2+weeks can cause some very uncomfortable issues for women. Getting a UTI or yeast infection isn’t uncommon, as you won’t be showering, you’ll be sweating, not changing your clothing often. Its hard to want to fully change when its 20 degree’s in the mornings and at night in your tent, and you are above 14,000ft and just trekked over three 15,000ft passes that day.

Take daily: 1 cranactin pill + 1 garlic (to prevent UTI’s)

*wear a panty liner and change daily if you cannot change your underwear and wipe down with a baby wipe every single night

Pack: prescribed medications for UTI & yeast infections just in case. Though if you follow the daily preventative measures, the likelyhood of this drops significantly. Once I started the above regiment, I’ve never had another UTI/yeast infection.

 

Has this been helpful? Please leave me a comment below.

Do you have other supplements/meds you bring that have helped you stay or recover your health abroad? 

I hope to share our packing lists later as well as  recommended gear.

 

 

 

 

No one wants to be known for being a chronically discontented person. However, this has been a theme that has run throughout my life. Lets take a look at what contentment is: A state of happiness, satisfaction,pleased, fulfilled, sense of well-being, peace. Discontent: restless, lack of satisfaction, disgruntled,unhappy…

This area of my heart distracts my attention from Christ and his kingdom more frequently than I’d like to admit. I fixate on what isn’t, whats missing. It keeps me from seeing and living in the abundant full life Christ came to offer us, no matter our circumstances.

Does contentment feel elusive?Always one more circumstance away? Just out of reach? *If we chase anything other than Christ…we will never be content*

I’ve lived long enough and been given enough of my “if only this… then I’ll be content” to see my heart is sick!

We often don’t want the Lord to examine our hearts, we don’t want reality to be exposed to us. 

But what is my dream life? What do I need to be content? If I could customize my life and make it everything I ever desired/dreamed of/wanted what would that look like? Answer honestly, don’t answer how you know you should or what you wish was true.

What are some things on your list? comfort, purpose, ease, abundance, relationships, experiences, certain jobs, material possessions,etc? Maybe you think I only have one thing on my list, so why can’t I just have that one thing, then I’ll be set.

We are so easily blinded and fooled into thinking If only.. then I’ll be content. because then my life will be satisfying,full, abundant. The reality is, certain circumstances, relationships, roles, abundance will bring temporary contentment and pleasure-but never lasting, never fully fulfilling. They will eventually ALWAYS let us down, dissapoint us, hurt us, some times leaving us.

I often get discouraged by my discontentment. By my foolish thinking, in thinking just this next thing will lead me to a full abundant life. I’m thankful my discontent doesn’t define me, because of Jesus. Jesus defines me. I’m thankful I’ve been set free from it to fix my eyes on Jesus.

It generally comes down to where is our focus? Am I focused on myself, my life, my circumstances, my wants. Or are my eyes fixed on Jesus and his kingdom?

Do we live believing that right this moment in my life, where ever I find myself, I have everything I need to live a godly life pleasing to Him? The abundant life is available to me right here, right now?

If I never ________ (fill in the blank) my life will be full, abundant, purposeful.

If I never: get married, have children, have a job I enjoy, get to travel, am recognized, have certain experiences, go on vacation, get to live abroad,have a soul friend, am healed, loved deeply by another human,etc…

All this to say, this does not mean that unmet desires and circumstances are not excruciatingly painful. I’m just saying these things are not where life is, they don’t fulfill, they don’t satisfy, give purpose, meaning, joy.

We all  have equal access to a full, abundant life. Peace, Joy, a sense of well-being, peace,purpose,etc.

Because its not found in a circumstance, situations,posessions, in any created thing. It’s found in Jesus, God our creator.

When we have Jesus we have life! We have peace, joy, a sense of well being, we have purpose, abundance, everything we need to live a life pleasing to God.

How do you “have” Jesus?

We were all created to be in relationship with the God of the universe. However, we were all born separated from God, because of sin.

All other religions on earth are based on works. If I’m good enough, If I do enough, then maybe when I die, I will get to be with God in the afterlife. Maybe I’ll get to be in heaven. No guarantee’s. You spend your life doing “good things” selfishly, because you are doing them to earn your way to heaven or favor with your god.

The reality is, none of us can ever live up to God’s holy standards. NO ONE! We could never be “good” enough, we could never do enough “good”.

God determines the standard and he is so far above, so holy, no one could ever be like him.

So he sent his only son Jesus to earth, to live a perfect life we never could live, then died a death we all deserve to die, paying for all our sins on our behalf, satisfying God’s wrath against sin. Then he rose again, proving his power over sin and death, proving his sacrifice was accepted. The work is finished. Connecting us to God here and now and for eternity.

It is a free gift, we just must receive it. Believe Jesus did what he said he did for you.

He is life, he satisfies, he is peace, he is joy. He is what you are searching for, because He made you for relationship with himself.

Our lives are then spent enjoying Jesus, and getting to love and benefit others not because we are earning something, but out of the abundance of what we’ve been given from the Lord.

For those of us who are believers, who call God our Father. Let us take our broken and hurting hearts to him, our dissapointments, or discontent, he is our healer, he is our sustainer, he is our source of all things. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, on his kingdom.

Let us live in the reality of what we HAVE in Christ. We are lacking no good thing.

Jesus is the only one who can never be taken away from us, will never dissapoint, He only has the best in mind for us, gives us value, purpose, unconditional love.

 

 

 

Before starting this journey, I was advised to have an on and off ramp. It is not wise to think you can go from being super busy and running 100mph to coming to a complete stop overnight and soaking in his presence day after day. So I gave myself a 2 week off ramp, to adjust to the new rhythms those months would hold.

The end of April when my sabbatical officially ended, I expected a 2 week on ramp would due. However, that ramp was one of those terrifying ones that almost immediately dumps you into 75mph traffic. I panicked, feeling I should be able to go back to large groups of people, lots of interactions, a constant pouring out but I just couldn’t handle that.

Thankfully I’m blessed to be surrounded by wise people in my life who love the Lord and love me. Multiple times I heard “give yourself time”. You don’t burnout over 7yrs and after 4 months of rest return to 100% normal. It’s more like, you’ll slowly come back and it will be years before you are at 100%. That doesn’t mean you recluse for years, but it means you give yourself grace.

Here I am, 6 months later. I’m super thankful for this past season and treasure it deeply. I’ve slowly been re-engaging life and the people God has placed in it.

I’m convinced HE is worthy and spending my days with him and being poured out for others is the way to live

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Your belovedness is not based on you. Just like every other aspect of our salvation and justification is not based on how well you can do something or how sincere you are. It has everything to do with Jesus.

How do you know you are his beloved? You are declared his beloved, when you believed that God sent Jesus to pay for your sins in full and that by him dying on the cross and rising again, he accomplished that. God accepted the sacrifice. Your sins are forgiven and fully paid for.

Will we believe that today and then re-arrange our entire life around it?

 

 

Here is what i’m learning about loss and grief,in the wake of our fur baby passing away. RIP Snowie Thunderpaw Wall 3/18/19

I think as people we are always trying to make sense of our lives, to keep them turned right side up, so to speak. When loss comes in, and throws us off, we quickly try to get life back to “normal”.

The initial shock of loss, leaves you reeling. It hurts so bad, you can physically feel the pain. You wonder if you’ll be able to function going forward. Will you get lost or drown in these intense emotions? Can life go on? will I ever stop crying? etc.

For the first time in my life, I allowed myself to sit and STAY in the moment.

The first 4 days were the hardest. Removing her items, cleaning up her shed fur, grieving at almost every spot in the house, because she was a kitty that followed us around and was always right there. She had her favorite window to sit in, her favorite arm chairs, blankets,spots on the deck, toys, curtains to hide in etc. She sat on the dinner table while we ate, hung out in the sink cabinet in the bathroom while we showered, slept in bed together etc. Her memories were everywhere. I had moments of wavering in my belief, that perhaps God does take all good things away from me-what will be next?

How I’ve always dealt with loss in the past is stuffing it, after giving myself a literal 5mins to cry and then move on or other times I would cry myself to sleep night after night wondering what was wrong with me. I’ve never allowed myself to face it head on, to sit there for a while. This is a big step.

Here we are 9 days out, Getting to feel and process through it has made me see, healing will eventually come. That though when you lose something you love, it will never be the same, there will be times and moments of triggered memories that leave you feeling things all over again, but healing does come. And comfort is offered in the darkest moments, God is there with us, holding us, weeping with us.

What has been the difference this time around?

1. I admitted it was a big deal, I allowed myself to feel whatever I was going to feel. Cry whenever I felt sad and know I can cry anytime I’m sad about it going forward
2. I had support of others. No one was trying to encourage me and push me forward. I was allowed to BE.
3. I asked people to pray for our hearts, to stay soft. Loss can harden us. I’ve seen this in my life regarding other losses.
4. I am able to  talk about the moments I miss, what still saddens me
5. In the initial moment of the loss, the Holy Spirit turned me to the father right away and all I could do was sit with him weeping and singing his praises. The following days I have submersed myself in God’s word, through reading and listening to sermons online. I know I’m weak right now and the enemy wants to get a foothold.
6. Being reminded of Gods goodness, through his word, through others sharing the word. The enemy will try to get in with whispering, God isn’t good to you, would he really allow this for someone he loves? Its easy to spot when you aren’t in that moment, but stand guard, have your armor on!

Loss shapes us, changes us, forms us, will always be part of us..but it doesn’t DEFINE who we are

If you believe in Christ, you are a child of God! beloved.

 

There are so many things God has been doing and showing me, its been too hard to keep up and share, so I haven’t. Also, this journey I’m on is way more intimate than I feel is appropriate to share on such a public forum.

The first two months have passed. They have been months of healing from burnout, being grounded in Christ and standing firm in him. Remembering truth and speaking it over and over, praying it, until it becomes my reality. I’ve been taking in a lot of God’s word and quiet reflection and conversation with him. This season will continue as I enter the next.

I know there are specific things that need to be addressed during my Sabbatical, but I have put no timeline on them. I resent this aspect of western culture: short timelines to accomplish goals with little  room for, waiting,listening to the Lord. In order to hear him, in order to walk in what he’s already prepared for us, we must abide, listen and then walk where he’s leading. He does not work on our timeline, nor how we often think He will.

So I’m simply abiding, listening, and doing my best to walk where He’s leading.

I’ve been studying “Standing Firm” in the word, and I believe God has been using that to prepare me, for the shift.

The story of Jehoshaphat really stood out to me. Check it out in 2 Chronicles 20. He and all of Judah had a very real enemy, they knew they didn’t have the ability to endure alone,but they remembered what God had done before and can do and  turned to Him. God reminds them, this battle isn’t theirs, its His and there will be victory. That they must not fear, but stand firm. Jehosaphat and his people must still get up and face the giant head on though.

I’m on a journey to learn what to do with grief. I’m expectant for this next season and what God will do in it.

 

I’ve just about hit the one month mark! I’m not sure if its gone by fast or slow, kind of both. Slow compared to when my life is jammed full of doing’s, but fast when I realize the month is almost up.

Up until this point, I’ve been enjoying every aspect of this quiet, unseen life.

I started out feeling successful If I got out of bed before noon, fed myself, kept the house running and I would be exhausted at the end of the day. Soon I started spending uninterrupted hours with Jesus. After the first week, I even added in side reading. Seriously guys don’t burn out, its not worth it. Its better to notice and do something earlier on. There’s a difference between tired/worn out and burn out. Its the difference between a fender bender and totaling your car. With the first one, some simple repairs/ changes can be made and you are on your way. The second one, you gotta scrap it and start over, or in this case take everything off your plate and cease.

I’ve actually done that this month; I took everything possible off my plate and reclused from people. I removed all social media platforms and only interacted with immediate family. For the first three weeks this is what I needed. My mind started feeling less scattered and pulled in so many directions, I believe this has to do with no social media (a post coming on that soon).

As of yesterday, for the first time I started to notice a shift. I’ve been resting and recovering and feeling a little better so there’s this inner drive to go back to DOING. You know like when you are really sick or recovering from a surgery (I’m told), or injury…you start to feel better and want to go back to your regular rythms-though your body is not quite ready. If you end up doing too much too soon, what happens? You end up back in bed or in the Dr’s office and often it slow long term progress.

I believe this is where I’m currently at.

I feel good enough again,to care. Which is a big step as this is something I haven’t had in me for a while. The growing list of thank you cards to write, the cards for those I know suffering, to the desire to see people. There’s so many ways I see a need and want to fill it. But thinking about it all fills me with major anxiety…the lists are long on the first two and as you don’t see people it all backlogs, who would you see first? If I see everyone, even little by little I’ll be exhausted. I can let that anxiety rule my days, or I go back to, am I being/doing what is needed for this current season?

Being with Jesus and delighting in Him, loving Jesus and others (mike, family), Recovering from burnout and dealing with deeper issues and lastly evaluating my future plans by listening to the Lord.

I can respond wholeheartedly YES! I’m being and learning to delight and recovering. As I am with him, it overflows into how I interact with my husband and immediate family. It is enough.

When the time is right the next phase will begin, perhaps in a week, perhaps in a month from now. I’m trying to not jump ahead, because I struggle soaking in and being present in the season that currently is and needs to be.

I will rejoice in this current season and stay as long as needed.

 

Mike has been eyeing push-pin world maps for longer than I’ve known him. Come to find out his grandparents had one growing up. There was no free wall space at our 800 sq ft cabin, but when we moved back in June, there was a perfect spot for it. This Christmas his mom surprised him with one!

I had the idea that we could make a date out of it. Eat International foods and put the pins in. Mike thought we could also watch Walter Mitty.

Friday night was quickly approaching, as I gathered ideas and supplies. We could have 3 countries represented (one for appetizer, one for main dish and one for dessert). You’ll see from the pictures what we chose.

The evening started off with the delicious food, then putting the pins in the map. Thankful for technology and being able to pin-point exact spots we have been. We decided on red Pins for mission trips we’ve done and then orange pins for where we were born and have lived. The map could quickly be filled up if we put all the places we’ve visited, it was decided to save the rest of the space for our students to put where they originated from as well as future mission trips we do.

That was fun!

The evening ended with getting cozy and settling in with Walter Mitty. That movie always stirs up the desire to GO on another mission! I grew up traveling quite a bit, as everything in Europe is close by. In 2 hours you could be in a different country and within 4hrs you could be 2 countries over. I’m one of those spontaneous types that’s up for any grand adventure. If Mike came home and said, we’re moving to Peru this summer! I’d start packing and selling our stuff now. He came home this past summer and said, lets go hike Cumberland mnt. right before sunset…I grabbed my shoes, backpack and of course snacks and off we went in a matter of minutes.

I’m thankful for a husband who is equally adventurous but is grounded and rooted. If I was single in this world, I would be ALL over the place, moving frequently;while that’s not necessarily a bad thing…he’s taught me to be rooted. To stay and not run, to deal with problems and differences head on-instead of flee, to know and find the true source of contentment rather than search endlessly by moving onto new adventures.

AS much as I’m eager to GO,  I’m just as much reluctant because of my insecurities. Though I want to see people know Jesus and the life he offers here and for eternity, I often think I’m the last person who should GO. The perfectionist in me does not want to GO on missions until I’ve overcome all of those insecurities (so never). But I see evidence of God at work because in his strength and power in me, I’ve been able to say  yes, even though everything inside screams: you have nothing to offer, you are not good enough, you don’t belong on the team, your socially awkward, your better off staying home). Thankful for the power of Christ in me!

I like how this “date night” blog turned into me spilling my heart.

Anyways, date night was fun, and a meaningful way to connect. I can’t wait to see where else the Lord may lead us!