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Life in the States

I have been wanting to do an update now that I am back to college life in the United States. A lot has happened in the last 5 months since I arrived home from Costa Rica. 

To start I wanted to make sure that everyone that supported me, both in your prayers and financially, knows they are so greatly appreciated. My year in Costa Rica was life changing. Going into the year my faith in God was shaky at best and my knowledge of Him was minimal. I was not in a great place. However, in Costa Rica I had great mentors, friends, and teachers. I replanted my faith in Christ and in November I was baptized. If you ever want to hear my testimony I would be happy to share.  

Coming home to the states took some adjusting. My family for 9 months was gone and so were my ministries. Over the summer I worked a couple different places trying to save up money for college. For 7 weeks of the summer I worked for Upward Bound as a tutor/ counselor. The program is an academic summer program for high school students. I was in charge of a group of 9 girls. It was a challenging position that taught me about working with a team and working with students. 

Now the big story for me is that I am now attending Lancaster Bible College. My plan had been to attend Nyack college in NY. I had even already attended orientation at Nyack. However, God seemed to have other plans for me. I was in Lancaster visiting my roommates from Costa Rica over the summer and we decided to visit LBC while we were in town just because we knew some people going there and some professors who work there. But, by the end of the day I decided to apply to LBC just to see what would happen with credits transferring in and finances. After a few weeks of thinking about it I was sill pretty convinced I should go to Nyack for many reasons. One of those was that Lydia, my best friend, was planning to go to Mercy college, about 20 minutes from Nyack. But in the end multiple prayer requests were answered through LBC in ways I never expected. After taking some time to pray about it and seeking counsel from my parents and close friends I decided LBC was were I should go. I was excited I made the decision but I was sad I was going to be a couple hours away from Lydia now. 

Have no fear though because I am now completely convinced God cares about us immensely even in the little things and also has a sense of humor. Lydia came with me to drop me off at college the weekend before classes would start. While she was on campus she got connected to an admissions counselor and the vice president. They got her accepted to the college within a couple hours and had all of her paperwork rolling. I now attend college with my best friend who lives two rooms down from me.   

It is a really awesome story, and sometimes I am still in shock that I attend Lancaster Bible College. I still am struggling with some doubts. Did I choose the right school? Am I in the right major? Am I in the right classes? Am I serving in places that will prepare me for my future? How long will I be here? Will I be able to pay for college each year? But I am also learning to trust and rest in God. 

Please continue to pray for me as I am here at college, as I readjust to life as a college student, learning to manage my time well and work through my doubts and questions. I am currently double majoring in biblical studies and student ministries with a minor in inter-cultural studies. I transferred in as a second-semester sophomore. Currently I am taking 17 credits and I am serving in a girls high school student group at Calvary Church. 

Let me know if you would like to be added to my prayer email list, I would be greatly encouraged to know there are people praying for me as I walk through this journey. And again thank you to those who supported me throughout this last year in Costa Rica. For me there has never been and will never be another experience like it.  

Love has no borders, 
Rachel Martha
Visiting Lancaster over the summer
GAP reunion takes place everyday here at LBC
My group photo for Upward Bound
Welcome weekend picture, before we even knew for sure that Lydia would be coming
In the photo is Lydia (Left), myself (Center), and Jess, one of my roommates while in Costa Rica (Right) 
Incoming class photo at LBC, My address at LBC, in case you want to send me a little note is
901 Eden Road Stop #773
Lancaster, PA 17601
Jess, Lydia and I exploring in downtown Lancaster 



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