“My whole being will exclaim, 'Who is like you O Lord? You rescue the poor from those too strong for them, the poor and needy from those who rob them.” Psalm 35:10
Dear Friends and Family,
Here we are amidst the holiday season and my heart is filled with joy. Last year at this time I was preparing to say goodbye to my host family and friends in Galati, Romania, with whom I had shared four precious months of my life. On the last evening with my host family I invited them all to gather in the living room so I could present them with a gift. I had wrapped a box with an assortment of trinkets and games for each of the eleven children and their widowed mother.
Later that same evening I returned to the living room. What a surprise to see the children gathered together facing the door, waiting for me to come in. With smiles they began to sing “Silent Night” followed by several more carols all sung in their native Romanian. I had never seen or heard anything like it. A family of eleven children singing in unison Christmas tunes that they loved. They knew how much I loved music and they gave me a beautiful gift, far beyond anything I had anticipated.
This Christmas I am reminded again that gift-giving goes both ways. These past few weeks have been very exciting for me because I've joined the staff of a Christian organization called Word Made Flesh and signed a contract to give two years of service among street children in Galati, Romania. In giving, I'm sure I will also be blessed in return in many unexpected ways. Currently I am considered an inactive staff member with Word Made Flesh until I arrive on the field in July 2002. You will soon receive an issue of The Cry, their quarterly publication, that will introduce me as a new staff member and give you an idea of what this organization is all about.
As I think about what has led me to this point, I turn again to the theme of gift giving. Christmas is a time that we celebrate God's gift to us. Jesus Christ, God's Son, came into the world in the flesh of a little baby and lived among us. But God's gift didn't stop there, for later, after Jesus was grown, He gave up His life for us, dying a painful death so that we might have a way to live eternally with Him in heaven if only we believe. By believing in Him, I have received this gift of eternal life, a gift far greater than any other. And I want to give back to the Giver of life some small token of thanks. Not that I could ever repay God for what He's done for me, but I believe that serving the poor is a way of demonstrating my love for Him. Jesus himself said, “If you see someone hungry, feed him. Whatever you do for the least of these, you do for me” (Matt. 25:40). As I go back to Romania, I do so out of love for my God and a desire to serve Him.
On this journey of giving and receiving that is leading me back to Romania, I want to invite you to join with me. Working with Word Made Flesh means that I am required to raise support for all my financial needs. Before I leave for Romania in July, I need to have enough funds to pay for roundtrip airfare and at least two months living expenses. I have estimated that my annual financial needs will be $8,442.33 ($703.53/month). Any amount that you can contribute is a blessing to me. Please send the enclosed response card with any donation.
In addition to raising financial support, I am seeking those who could commit to praying for me in the months and years ahead. My task over the next few months is to prepare my heart and mind through reading over a dozen books and writing responses to those books in an effort to broaden my worldview and equip me for serving in Romania. Please pray for me as I work at this task. Also please pray for my relationships with those in Romania as I try to keep in contact with children, families and friends. Bridging the physical distance and language difficulties on top of being very busy with my senior year at Gordon College is a constant challenge.
If you'd like to support me through prayer, please provide your email address on the response card so I can keep you updated on current prayer needs. In response to the support you offer, I am committed to continue sharing with you through mail, email and personal conversations my experiences of how God is working and what He is doing in and through me among those I work with and seek to serve.
I am so thankful for you and the love you have shown me through the years.
Have a joy-filled Christmas!
With love,
Rachel Simons
Gordon College ~ 255 Grapevine Rd ~ Wenham, MA, 01984
Rachel.Simons@wordmadeflesh.com