Rachel Hampton

I’m not a liar! May 4, 2010

The above is just to clarify in case you’ve been wondering.  I know I told you two posts ago that I was going to talk about my job, but funny taxi driver was a story that just had to be shared! Now I will get down to business (ahem).

*pause to collect myself*

I’m sorry, I cannot take myself seriously right now. It is after 4pm, I’m in the home-stretch before the end of the work day, and I’m feeling a little random. Not like that’s a big shock to most of you, I know. Hush.

Focus Rachel. Ok.

My job. I am working for Monsoon, a communications office under Wycliffe International. The amazing people I work with have backgrounds in communications-related fields and focus mostly in consulting work for partners in the Asia-Pacific area. That cleared it right up, huh?

I am the electronic media specialist. This has meant a lot of research and thinking the past few months. Good thing I have that college degree under my belt! There hasn’t been a full-time staff person who has that background, so we’ve been trying to figure out how to best use my skills to help the need for translation throughout the area. I’m in recent contact with two partners and we hope to use local radio stations in their countries to not only promote their work, but get the Word of God onto the airwaves. I hope to continue working with our other partners to take advantage of the great resource that comes through radio.

In the meantime, I’m getting Monsoon set up with a social media strategy. Wow, there is a lot to consider that I never realized when you’re looking at social media. And it is blowing up in popularity. If you want to be on the cutting-age of communication, it’s important to recognize the role social media plays.

So hopefully that makes my job description a little more clear to you. It’s fun and I’m loving using my major to help with the Bible translation need!

Interesting facts about the past few weeks:

• I was able to use my own funding to get LASIK eye surgery. It’s a freaky procedure, but I’m very happy with the results. The first few days it felt WRONG to be going to bed with great vision. Poll: Should I put the DVD of my surgery on YouTube?
• I’ve killed three more cockroaches. I’m so ruthless I haven’t seen any in over a week. I guess I showed them who is boss. It’s ok for bosses to shriek and whine when they’re trying to discard cockroach bodies, right?
• Kelly Clarkson in Manila. Let me just say the opportunity to go to her concert was not passed upon. She was amazing!
• I epic-ly failed at ordering meat properly at the grocery store. I wanted a pound of ground beef. They don’t give it to you in pounds, they do kilos. My friend told me the conversion was 1 to 2.2. I didn’t ask which was which but instead ordered 5 kilos of meat. Wrong. Not that anyone would be foolish enough to make that same mistake but just in case; learn from me please. Save yourself the embarrassment.

That about does it. Next post in less than a month. Guaranteed. Anyone want to bet against me? If you lose, you send me a case of Dr. Pepper. Someone please bet against me. Anyone? Bueller…Bueller….

Taken for a mental ride April 12, 2010

Public transportation can be many things, but usually entertaining is not one of them. Enter Sunday afternoon. I was headed to a basketball game with my friend Camille so we flagged down a taxi and were on our way. There are many kind of taxi drivers. Some quiet. Some friendly and talkative. Some polite but leave you to your thoughts. Then there’s the guy from Sunday. Interesting. In the 30 minute ride to the sports complex, he never stopped talking and we learned many things. I thought this adventure would not be complete if I did not share his words of wisdom with you. I present to you THOUGHTS FROM A CAB DRIVER’S MIND….

1. We are all soon going to live on all the planets. Specifically Mars. But we won’t eat there. We won’t need food. The taxi driver will move there and sell books.

2. People need money. If they don’t have money they become cannibals and eat human beings.

3. People are always taking photos. click. click. click.

click.click.

4. There was one person who witnessed Princess Diana’s death. This is the same person who designed all the money in the world. And in the money designs are all kind of secrets.

5. Sometimes the driver has problems sleeping. Sometimes he doesn’t sleep. Sometimes he just drinks and drinks until he’s asleep. And if that doesn’t work, he smokes “the marijuana”

6. Saddam is his best friend

7. When you’re looking for a gate to enter at the sports complex, just roll down your window and yell “Bill Gate!”

I hope you feel enriched. There were many more interesting things but those were the notes I took in the car. Camille got some recordings that, I’m sure, are classic. So that was my adventure with public transportation. What’s yours?

I’m moving! April 8, 2010

But it’s not what you think. I love my cute little apartment. Instead, there is a movement in my spirit. A few weekends ago I was able to really sit down and listen to God and get some priorities situated. And what a difference it has made! I am so excited to see how God continues to shape me. I know what those things are in me that need work and I only pray God would continue to make me aware of those things so that I give him the freedom to replace them with things that are of Him. It’s pretty amazing to serve Him overseas, but I want to come out of this changed. I don’t want to move on thinking “well, that was fun”.

One of the things I wanted the chance to do was help with local ministry. My work with Wycliffe is exciting but does keep me in an office all day. There is so much need here and I’ve been looking for ways to help. Saturday, I’ll get to. I’m joining with one of my friends, Chona, to help with medical ministry in the slums. I’m also planning on meeting up with the missions pastor at my church to see how I can help them with local ministry. AND one of my new friends, Camille, is going to invite me to do some ministry at a local orphanage. It’s exciting to see all of the doors God is opening up. When you are giving, it really brings so much more joy!

This past Easter weekend was great. I, last minute, decided to use the couple days off from work to go to Singapore and visit a friend. I was able to observe (and sometimes help) their cell group with an Easter outreach. It was really encouraging to see the passion they had for putting the event together and reaching the lost people around them. It was also good to be with a good friend for the holidays and relax.

I am now back in Manila and still enjoying living here. EXCEPT for last night after I went to the grocery store and then proceeded to wait over an hour for a taxi. Thankfully, I had great company with me. And here’s an update….still no success on the Dr. Pepper hunt. I’m still determined. Also the massive cockroach chillin’ out in my kitchen was an unwelcome surprise. But life here is good. I’m so thankful for God giving me joy and excitement about living here. And I know that may not last forever but I have not yet gotten homesick. That may be credited to the amount of time I waited to come. See, there are some great benefits to waiting

Ok, that’s all for now but next time I am updating on my actual work! So get ready!

Somebody slap me! March 25, 2010

Do you ever feel sometimes like you really don’t GET it?  God is crazy about me. He created me and no one like me. He’s personal and understands who I am because I’m his daughter. I’m talking about the creator of the universe here. And not only that, His love for me and you is so intense that He sacrificed His son for us. Do you get it? I get it. In my head. Sometimes it really just doesn’t translate to my heart. I have heard it for as long as I can remember and I know it to be true, but the truth is not overwhelming me as I know it should. It’s a pretty big deal! I miss the place where the knowledge of that love just knocks me off my feet. That it’s mindboggling. It’s not. I mean it is but it’s not. Am I making sense? I want someone to slap me out of this laissez faire (look it up) acceptance of the facts and see it for what it truly is….unthinkable. Am I alone in this? While I am so thankful for the Christian home and church I grew up in, they can also be a breeding ground for complacency.  If you let them. And, God help me, I do not want to be that lukewarm person spoken of in the Bible. Serving on the mission field does not automatically make you a perfect Christian. You have the same struggles, and additional ones. I want to be overwhelmed by God’s love for me. I’m thankful, grateful, blessed by it…but right now, not flummoxed (Ha! Sorry if that killed the mood but I am so glad I got to use that random word in a post). My passion for God and love for Him is not failing, but I want more. So prayers would be appreciated.

God, break me of my simple acceptance of truth and make it appear new and amazing. As break-takingly beautiful of a sacrifice as it was. Give me new eyes to see your love for me.

Pay attention, class! March 22, 2010

Here are some lessons I have learned recently:

1. If there is Dr. Pepper in Manila it has so far eluded me. I am however, if anything, persistent so it won’t escape my clutches for long.

2. There is a taxi conspiracy. Everyday when I leave work, the one taxi that is empty at 5:15ish cruises by me right before I am in view. Oh yes, I can see it…but it cannot see me. It’s a cruel little game but I just expect it now. Right before I am to the main street…there it goes….everytime.

3. I need to be more careful in public transportation. While passing money from another passenger to the driver, I accidentally yanked out some hair of the lady beside me. I apologized. She said nothing. She was probably thinking “stupid white girl” Haha

4. “When in Rome” is a waste of 180 pesos

5. I’m still not a morning person.

6. Walking by pirated DVD stands almost everyday is seriously wearing on my will power

7. My Tagalog is not growing much but my desire to learn it is!

8. Manila. Still having a great time!

Go Clean Your Room March 12, 2010

Have you heard of Francis Chan? My first introduction to him was through a book he wrote entitled “Crazy Love”. Well, I decided when I moved to Manila that I would not get cable, but would use that time more wisely by spending time with God. Not easy; my mom passed down a strong TV gene. While looking for podcasts to download and listen to, I came across Cornerstone where Francis Chan is pastor. Tonight I was listening to one of his sermons and wanted to share some thoughts.

Basically, Francis (we’re on a first-name basis now) was talking about how church members are so often like the people God speaks of in Ezekiel 33. They will come to church, listen to sermons, discuss it, and then leave and do nothing with it. There is too much of a desire to live selfishly and continue fulfilling their wants.

Imagine this: you are 10 years old again. Since this is pretend, you can imagine yourself cheek-pinchingly adorable and not going through the awkward stage that inevitably many of us were at that age. Your parents command you to go clean your room. You come back an hour later and say “Ok, I prayed about it. In fact, I got together with a bunch of my friends and we discussed how I could do it. What is most effective, what it would look like when I’m done, what the best method would be. And in fact, in my heart, I really desire to clean my room. I know that I should and want to. But I just didn’t.”  What do you think your parent would say? Or DO. The phrase “young lady” would probably be in there somewhere for me.

But think about it, that is what we do with the commands God gives us. Specifically, Francis was talking about making disciples. Some of the first words we hear Jesus speak are “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” Then his last words command us to go and make disciples of all nations. I’d say He thinks it’s pretty important. We hear this and we pray about it. We get together in Bible studies and discussion groups with Christian friends. We agree something should be done and even talk about how to do it. But do we follow through? Francis said one of his fears is being surrounded by people in church who have been going for years and could not name one person they have discipled. Who are you discipling? Who am I? Let’s not be children who just listen to our father’s commands, but children who DO them.

Adjusting March 9, 2010

Life with God is never boring. I know that for a fact. Sometimes I might wish for a little “boring”, but if I had very much of it, I’d be back to wanting excitement again.  I’m kind of in an in-between stage right now. Life in Manila is definitely not boring. I am out of my element and experiencing new things regularly. I’m surrounded by people that look very different than me (though I do spot a whitey almost daily) and also speak a different language. None of that bothers me. What I want is to find my niche. Meet those people who are God-ordained to become my friends this year (Heaven help them). The people I text on the weekends to find out what we’re doing for fun. Those that I invite over for dinner and a game night. Close friends I can pray with and talk to about what God is teaching me.  I know I have that last thing with friends that aren’t here, but I’d like some face-to-face conversations about that as well. From people that live in the same place I do. I’ve made some work friends since arriving and reconnected with people I met last March when Doulos was here, but it’s different. I feel like they have their lives here and foundations built that maybe I don’t quite fit into.  I’m the new girl looking for my place to fit in. And that’s ok. It doesn’t depress me, but it does make me feel a bit bored sometimes at night. And I know time will cure the issue. I look forward to finding a church, joining a small group, and getting involved in ministry that will open up more doors to get to know people. Of course that’s not why I want to do those things, but it’ll be a pretty nice bonus.  Majority of people here are very nice and friendly. In fact, I have an amazing neighbor who is always checking up on me and making sure I’m doing ok.  I am also encountering the battle between being a good witness/showing love to non-Christians and not participating in their lifestyle. It’s a fine line and one I want to be very careful about. If someone asks me to go out, how can I constantly tell them ‘no’, knowing where they’re going but make them understand I’m not judging them but choose not to live that way? Will they give me the time of day later in a different environment if I’m always turning them down to go out? Just please continue your prayers regarding these issues.

Speaking of church…at least I was earlier…I’ve visited a couple different ones since arriving. My third I really enjoyed and I went back this past week as well. Now I know I probably should try a few more before I decide on one, but I really like Victory. The worship was led by different people the two weeks I went, but was very genuine both times.

In other news…*whispers* Wanna hear something exciting? I found an apartment! That’s right and it’s perfect! In the three weeks I was looking, there wasn’t one that I really liked (at least not one that was in my price range). I was so grateful to find one online that I thought looked really nice and scheduled a visit. Less than a week later, I moved in!  Many of the places here say they are furnished but are usually filled with leftover furniture that doesn’t match or is half-full but still wants to use the title of “furnished”. My place is actually furnished and furnished beautifully! The owner took care and made the place look like a home and somewhere you would want to live. The items I needed to buy were pretty minimal. Not only that but it is close to work, cheaper than most things I saw, and in a nice, quiet neighborhood. I felt God hand-picked this for me. And the owner is AMAZING. She actually took time out of her schedule to come and pick me up in her van and move me and my stuff in. And I’ve already had a visitor! My friend Ruby from the Doulos has stayed with me a few nights. I will try to post photos of my place soon so you can see where I’m spending probably way too much of my time.

Work also is going great! The office is filled with Mac users (yay!) who, on top of that, are pretty cool individuals. I’m excited to get started on the work I will be doing. Some of you probably have no idea what it is I am doing. How about I save that for another post? My fingers are begging for a rest. I’d better oblige, I’m pretty low on friends right now and I’m fond of those guys…:)

Birthday in Manila February 15, 2010

Spending your birthday in another country is pretty cool. No, you don’t have your friends and family but you do have a new experience. That is just what this birthday was for me

A few friends decided we would go get dinner and a movie. Well, Julia, one girl who lives near where I am living now, decided we should ride together to meet Aileen at Mall of Asia (biggest mall in Asia!). But getting there was no small feat. First we took a jeepney to a local mall where we could pick up the MRT or train.  We waited at the platform but realized as the train pulled up that…oops…the train did not stop that far down. So we ran down the platform a bit to try to find a door we could fit in. There was quite a crowd so it wasn’t easy. We ended up pushing and shoving our way onto a car with little room. But we had made it! We rode to the end of the line where we had to pick up a taxi or jeepney to go the remainder of the distance. Well, where we got off there were jeepneys galore but no taxis in sight. After asking someone, they directed us to what jeepney could take us to Mall of Asia. Finally, one was coming. Unfortunately, it didn’t stop. We saw a bunch of people running to jump on so joined in the group. I doubted the chance of us getting on but Julia kept urging “run, run!” I had this vision of me falling and injuring myself as I grabbed the back and attempted to hoist myself into the moving jeepney. Thankfully another passenger grabbed my arm and helped pull me in.  I couldn’t help laughing and loving it. I can’t say that on any other birthday I ran down my transport. The traffic was absolutely INSANE. If you are ever in Manila and want to go to Mall of Asia, DO NOT go on a Sunday night. Or probably any weekend night for that matter. We actually got out and walked the rest of the way. So we were there, hallelujah. Unfortunately we had to get to the restaurant. And when I say this mall is enormous, I am not exaggerating! And the people traffic was possibly worse than car traffic. As we are hurrying along, weaving between people, we ended up walking along side a playing percussion/band. And watching Julia dramatically launch into a marching band walk was pretty entertaining. Then maybe 5-10 min later, miraculously, the restaurant came into view. One problem: the thousands of people between us and the door. Shoulder to shoulder…barely room to walk. I have never seen anything so crazy! I’m sure it didn’t help that it was Valentine’s Day and Chinese New Year. Everyone and their mother was out. We employed the buddy system and, though feeling like fish swimming upstream, eventually made it.  Poor Aileen ended up waiting on us for about an hour!

After our dinner we headed upstairs for a showing of Valentine’s Day. Since it was my birthday, we decided to splurge on the Director’s Cinema. A small theater with reclining leather armchairs! The $6 price also included popcorn and drinks. Living the high life, haha. It was a great night and I am so thankful for another year of celebrating my birthday in the Philippines! Last year we were in Cebu, Philippines…I think

Today I was able to celebrate my birthday even more with my new co-workers who kindly bought me cake and presents. We sat around and got to know each other some before Aileen and I headed out to shop for an apartment. We went to 14 today and I’ll see more tomorrow. Please pray for wisdom as I choose a place that will be my home for the next year. Also I’d encourage prayer for a good deal as they are a bit more than expensive than planned.

God is good; he has granted me another year to serve Him. Here’s hoping this next year is better than the last and they keep getting better from here

My new home… February 9, 2010

I’m here! Manila, Philippines. Even though I’ve spent the past year on a ship that has traveled all over Asia, right now I feel like a great adventurer. There was a certain cocoon-ness of ship-life. Yes, you are exploring cities around the world and are constantly in new environments, but when you go home, you go home to a ship that is in the harbor and somehow cut off from the city in which it’s berthed. You are never alone and there is never one city that actually becomes your home. Those days are behind me. I am a resident of Manila, Philippines. For the next year, this beautiful, friendly, foreign place will be my home. It’s hard to imagine a life where newness and travel are not a part of it. I’m of the rare breed that loves change. It can sometimes be nerve-wracking, but in an exciting way. And traveling allows me to see even more of the wonderful world that God has created. It blows my mind to see how different (but still sometimes the same) the world is. God formed the people here in their mother’s wombs and cares just as much about the details of their lives as He does mine. We may not all speak the same language, eat the same food (except for McDonalds which you cannot escape from no matter where in the world you are), or come from the same culture, but we have at least one thing connecting us: we were brought into existence by a vastly creative God.

In the past few days I’ve walked down the street, ridden in a jeepney, hailed a taxi, wandered a mall, all the while looking at the people around me in my new home and being overwhelmed by God’s love for them. I have a purpose here that surpasses working in an office for a great organization that I believe in. And my purpose doesn’t require a job description, office clothes, or a business savvy attitude.  It all boils down to one word. LOVE. God has really been working in my life recently on this issue. When we truly have love for others, it permeates everything else we do. Our own desires and list of priorities are torn down to the very basics; from what we want to what we need. If I truly love my brother down the street who is struggling to provide food for his family (which is much more a reality here), how easy it will be to give up something totally meaningless like cable TV in order to use that money for him? I want to be filled with a love and compassion for the people here as I know God is. The line of a famous praise song constantly comes to mind “Break my heart for what breaks yours.” I know God’s heart is broken for the lost people here who are destined to spend an eternity without him. Is mine to the same level? I’m not sure that I can honestly say it is. But I desire for it to be. The line of that song is certainly a cry of my heart. I yearn to be a light to the lost people around me. To be as effective a disciple of Christ as I can be. To be emptied of the ugly pride, selfishness, and sin that is in my heart. To fill that with the love of God. On my own, I am incapable of living out love with complete abandon. But-can I hear an amen-I belong to a super-powerful God who makes that possible. And through Him, even this sarcastic, self-centered, failure of a woman is capable of anything! And I’m looking forward to what “anything” will turn out to be this year.

October 13, 2005 January 23, 2010

This date may mean nothing to you. It didn’t really mean much to me until about fifteen minutes ago. That’s when (while reading an old blog) I came across an entry that mentions, for the first time, my interest in the missions program I belong to now. It was written over four years ago!

I was talking to a friend online a bit ago who had a timeline for missions that was completely changed on him. We were discussing how God’s timing is often very different from our own. That’s not always easy. In fact, it can be extremely hard. Often because we have a “I want it now” mentality. But have you ever looked in the Bible at the people who God spoke to? Have you ever seen how long they actually had to wait to see His promises fulfilled? I have a whole list that, of course, I can’t find right now of people God made a promise to and then how long it took for that promise to turn into reality. Seems often “waiting” is just how God operates. But, we get into this “blame God” attitude when things don’t go our way. But just because God promises us something doesn’t mean He’ll do it on our time table…or right away. He has reasons, that are far above what we could conjure up, for doing what he does and when. It’s just our job to trust and obey. He told me to go to the mission field. I said ok. Then I waited. And I got impatient and a little peeved. Um, hello…God? I said ok…what are you waiting for? To this day I still don’t know why I had to wait three years, but I feel God taught me a lot about trusting him. Being faithful and willing to do what He’s called me to do and let Him do it when He wants. Not that I’m an expert or perfect at this or have amazing, limitless amounts of patience. No way.  Just ask those who ride in a car with me. It’s called a passing lane for a reason people!

But honestly, this is as good of a reminder for me as anyone. If we have surrendered our life to God, that should mean we trust Him to do what He wants WHEN He wants.

I’m doing a little bit of waiting right now. I should be on my way/in the Philippines right about now. That was the plan. My plan. I had it all worked out. Sounded perfect. I was ready. Then things happened to change that. So now my leave date has been pushed back a week or so. Thankfully, God gave me so much peace the day I found out and since. I just had this feeling that, for whatever reason, God was not surprised by this change in MY timing. Don’t think surprising him is really too possible. So if He knew, why get stressed?

I’m sure I’ll also be facing some waiting/patience tests in the Philippines as well. While I don’t look forward to them, I do look forward to learning more about the great God I serve. No matter how hard things get, He’s always enough. His grace expands to fit the need we have for it.  Pretty remarkable.

So please, continue to pray for me as I embark on the next year….a year in Manila. And I pray that no matter where we are in life, we’ll be able to trust more and more on God’s timing. I guess that’s a lifetime kind of lesson but…well….what else do you have to do?