Hello Everyone!
It has been awhile since I have done an update on my Blog, I do apologize. Its been a CRAZY last few months, and spiritual Warfare like ive never experienced before; Nothing God can't handle though! Ive learned alot and I am ready for the new year 2014, to see what God does! So many new things happening here at MBI & future plans. Cant wait to share more with you after the 1st of the year!!!! Im like a little kid in a candy shop, I cant wait to tell ya'll. Anyways, Heres my New updated NewsLetter! Love you guys! Have a blessed Holiday Season!
Rachel Lynn Burns
Missionary With YWAM
Mission Builders International
WOW. I can’t believe it’s already December! The cold weather & snow has begun to settle in here in the Flathead Valley. It’s incredible to think that I have already been on staff with MBI for a year! It absolutely amazing to look back at all God has done in the last year, working in Volunteer Development and seeing so many volunteers going out into the world, serving in Frontline Missions world-wide alongside some of the 1200 YWAM ministries in 185 nations.
God is moving Mountains. Every-day I wake up and ask God “I’m here, use me, show me how I can bless someone today and help me to place volunteers around the world where you want them to go.” Not a day goes by that God doesn’t open up divine appointments. I have learned to live life intentional, and a life of blessing others, just as everyone has been a blessing to me in partnership with my ministry. I always look for opportunities to spark conversation and to encourage people. Recently, I was at the grocery store and an older lady could not find her debit card and was unable to pay for her groceries, In that moment I felt led to cover the cost. That moment of giving led to a conversation, where I was able to share Jesus with her & I still talk to her on a regular basis. It’s so uplifting to hear from volunteers that I’ve worked with, all their stories of how God worked through them in their experience serving, to serve and bless a nation, but ultimately how it changed them and their hearts.
We continue to see more and more volunteers seeking opportunities to go out and serve. Our staff continues to grow, and God continues to guide us in the blossoming future of MBI & all volunteers. It has been a blessing to work here. There are no words that can explain just how grateful I am for your partnership - love, encouragement, sacrificial giving and prayers. I could not imagine walking through life right now without you. The road and adventures God has called me to, working in full-time volunteer frontline missions also comes with obstacles and spiritual war-fare; nothing God can’t handle. Since July, I have been going through some spiritual warfare with many struggles and hurdles to jump through. Through it all God has taught me so much. God has given me visions, strength & drive through it all, and I cannot wait to see what God does here at MBI in the next year.
As I look into the next year, I hear God calling me to stay here on staff for another year. I'm beginning to see how the pieces fit together, and the reasons why God has me here. It has been a vision and prayer of MBI for a long time, to have a staff member be a part of the local Volunteer Fire Department & Volunteer Ambulance service. This spring I went through the Firefighter Academy and currently I am in the EMT basic school. God is showing me that being a part of both of these, is a ministry in itself. We respond to the most worst accidents, and in those crucial moments God is working through us to share Jesus, what we do here at MBI and so much more. Patients are being healed in the back of ambulances even before we arrive at the hospital. It’s truly incredible to see Gods power of healing and faithfulness.
I have had several friends and family visit me this summer here in Lakeside, to see “exactly” where I am and what Mission Builders is all about. It’s special to be able to share in person, what is happening here! I would like to welcome anyone that would like to visit to COME ON OVER! Don’t worry about hotel costs, we have a place for you to stay!
At the end of August I went on a Missions trip to the little village of Batey Antonci, Dominican Republic with my home church Stanwood Foursquare. Stanwood Foursquare has partnered with Food for the Hungary in this village for 5-10 years, assisting in community development – not that they become reliant on us, but that in time they develop skills to become successful. We spent a week, building relations and getting an overall idea of what their dreams and visions are for the community. We made home visits, praying for families and did interactive VBS with the children of the village. The first project we completed, was planting a fruit tree in every families yard – as a sign simple sign of unity to begin to build a sense of community unity; to then in six months when we return that the fruit trees will begin to bear fruit. Our church also sponsors the children of the village, my family sponsoring one boy named Ruben. It was so special getting the opportunity to spend the week getting to know him and spending time with him. I grew up, always having that picture on the refrigerator of the children we sponsored and wrote letters to, but never got to meet them in person. I have to say, it’s an experience that is unexplainable actually getting to meet your sponsored child. I believe it even means so much more to them, that you traveled around the world to see them.
Already being in the Dominican Republic, I stayed for another week traveling and visiting a couple YWAM bases that I have been working with, as we are in the process of building up the Mission Builder program in the Dominican. It was very fruitful and I am looking forward to seeing how God works through all that in the next year.
(Kent & Janet Norell - National Directors of The Dominican)
In June, I got the opportunity to visit Colorado – as a representative of MBI visiting the YWAM Cimarron & Colorado Springs bases. These are both locations we send volunteers to, a total blessing getting to see these places so when I send volunteers their way, I can understand more where they are going. I also got the opportunity to volunteer with Samaritans Purse, helping with the aftermath of the Black Forest Fire – helping sift through ashes of homes that burned, in hopes of finding anything that survived the blaze. It was a very humbling experience.
This summer we finished the Staff apartments and with a growing staff, currently we are in the middle of re-organizing the office to make it more comfortable like a “coffee shop” for visitors to come and feel welcomed. We have hung a huge world map on the wall, so we can put pins in it to show where we have volunteers in the world.
In November, I responded to my first structure house fire where I was on the first crew in on interior attack. It was an incredible experience, and so rewarding to see how God worked through that situation.
Alongside my ministry work here at MBI, with the training I have gone through this year - my goal and vision for next year is to join Rescue Net a YWAM Search & Rescue ministry working alongside the UN, being ready at all times to respond to natural disasters world-wide being on the Frontlines. There’s a lot of training involved, and will know more details after the first of the year!
This Christmas, I will be traveling to Colorado Springs to spend the holidays with my aunt and cousin. I will be driving with my friend who is on staff with YWAM Montana and also in my EMT school , a total drive time of 17 hours.
I hope that through this newsletter you can join in what is not only happening in my life but be a part of what God is continuing to do in ministry here at MBI.
Blessings to you all!!!
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