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In the Beginning

Hmm... blogging? I'll take a whack at it. Writing is not my thing so don't judge too harshly. I am hoping this blog will grow with me. Who knows someday I might be good enough to actually buy my own domain. I graduated from High School June 2014. I went to community college and graduated with my liberal arts degree in a year. I think travel is my thing because every time I hear of a new place I spend a couple hours Googling pictures of the places to visit, the people, the scenery, the hotels, and the price for a plane ticket. So... I obsess a little, what's the problem?

I traveled to Costa Rica in 2012. I think I fell in love. Who knew that there could be a country that just felt different from home? A place where everyone I met was friendly and relaxed? #PuraVida
It was my first time away from home by myself and my first real adventure. We went surfing, white water rafting, zip lining, and horseback riding through the jungle. We also visited a couple of schools and orphanages where we donated clothes, money, and school supplies. We spent a few nights staying in tent hotel rooms in the jungle and staying at biodiversity research facility. Coming home felt more lonely than being there away from home. I swore that I would go back. People always ask really short answered questions about your trips. Q; How was it? A: It was good. I just added it was good and I will be going back.

Well I've been working on it. This August I will be headed to Costa Rica for a nine month mission trip with SCORE International. We will spend hours in classes everyday learning Spanish and studying the Bible. On the weekends we will go out on excursions to work in the community teaching English, organizing soccer camps for kids, and many other community projects.

My faith seems to be like a flower. (I have a black thumb, everything I plant dies). I am working on feeding my faith, developing it, and really concentrating on deciding how I will live my life more faith-based. I grew up going to church. I would say that I am a Christian. But to understand anything you have to do your research. No more blind faith. It is time to dig-in and really figure this thing out. And this trip back to Costa Rica will be that year of discovery and development: a time to go from a child's faith to a personal relationship.

During this past year of saving absolutely every nickle and working multiple jobs to save for the Costa Rica mission trip I did splurge a little. I went to Haiti. And I am going again. And somehow I fell in love again. It was beautiful. We worked with some of the most amazing people. We installed a water filtration system and solar panels in rural Grande Saline. We set up clinics in the largest slum in the Western Hemisphere. We gave children toys, soccer balls, and clothes.

And at the end of everyday I was happy and ready to do more. This blog, at this point, is going to be "the more". Instead of trying to explain what happened everyday here it shall be. So for any of those interested I am happy to share my experiences, adventures, and discoveries.

Love has no borders,
Rachel Martha

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