O Holy Night,

Hello Friends, 

  Merry Christmas to all of you. I pray that this Christmas season will bring you all so much peace in knowing our Heavenly Father. What a miracle it is that He sent His son to a virgin.

" Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel, (which means God is with us) Matt 1:23

 So often for me I get caught up in all of the busyness that surrounds this time of year and forget to stop and ponder all that Jesus is to me. I am so blessed to be able to go to India again and share with them the miracle of our Saviour's Birth. 

 I pray you and your families have a blessed Christmas. Thank you for all the love that you have shared with me. 

Love, 

Rachel

Back from India

Hello Everyone,
Well I came back from India on April 16th and thought I would up date you with my time there. It was a huge growing and learning time for me but it was the best thing I have ever done. I learned who Jesus Christ really was in my life and who He wanted me to be.

I really do miss the students of Green Valley though and wish that I could see them but Lord willing one day maybe I will see them again. I am praying for the opportunity to go back there in October. Thank you all for your prayers, love and support to me. May Jesus be all that you need .

Hello, I haven't blogged for quite a while now and thanks to my mom for keeping you all up to date.  I am afraid this will be the last one. I am flying home on April 15th. Graduation is on Sunday for the school.  I am so proud of all of them. Please be praying for them as leaving Green Valley is going to be very hard for them.  Some of them go back to very hard backgrounds.  

Well I hope things are going well for you all.  I love you all and can't wait to see many of you.  I am sorry this is so short.  

Rachel Asha~

Hi Everyone,

I have been teased that this should read Rachel and Rachel's mom's blog. Yes, this is Rachel's mom again.  There was a gap in postings because Rachel was on holiday with the rest of the staff for a week and we didn't hear from her for a couple of weeks.  She and the other interns went up north for the break. She actually got to ride an elephant (we're all jealous here).  She is back at the school now. Though things are winding down and they are getting ready for graduation of the students, there is a lot of pressure on the staff to help the students use this last bit of time to really grasp their English language skills, projects to finish, and graduation to prepare for.  Could you please be praying for both the staff and the students? Thank you!

Happily Settled

Hi Everyone,

This is Rachel's mom once again.  The internet is down at Green Valley, so Rachel asked me to update her blog for you all.  Life has been very full and happy.   God has been growing her understanding of Him and His character in the short time she has been at the school.

  

All is going well.  She is helping teach the English class where the parables of the Bible are being used, first translating, then discussing their meaning with the students.  She is enjoying it and getting to know the students well.  Each student has a different and unique personality.  She says they are the happiest people she has ever met, and they have next to nothing to call their own. Their happiness is rooted in their faith in the LORD.  Their faith is everything to them.  They are vulnerable, and trusting people. You can tell by hearing her voice when she talks about the students, that she is developing a deep and godly affection for them.

  

Life on campus is a full of new experiences.  Dishes are washed out-of-doors.  Cattle and sheep wander about unfettered.  A new baby lamb was born the other day. Rachel says she is getting a picture of life she has never seen before, and through this, an understanding of the tender shepherd heart of God, of what Jesus meant when He said He was the Good Shepherd.  Her perspective of the character of God is growing.

 

Rachel is starting to feel better physically.  She is avoiding spicy foods and her stomach is settling down some.

  

Prayer request:  Rachel is sensing that God may be leading her to work in India on a long-term basis and would like prayer for this to be confirmed or clarified.  She does not have a sense of what capacity it would be in.  She would like guidance on that too.

Thank you all for your prayers and support.  It is a wonder to hear Rachel talk about her life in India.  Her voice is so joyful.  She knows that she is exactly where the LORD would have her be and in the center of His will.

The Lessons

Dear Friends and Family,

Tonight I am heading to India and boy does it feel weird. Being here I am finding out more and more every day that this is where God wants me to be. To admit there has been some very challenging days in the last few weeks but God is showing me who I am and why I am here. There also has been times that I have wondered why me but the answer keeps coming back, "Rachel why not you".

I am so looking forward to seeing what God has in store for me. I found out that on top of English classes there are also some worldview classes that we will be in charge of teaching. One of the classes I am really looking forward to is about Mother Teressa.

Well I thought I would send one quick update to you all, I am praying and thinking about you. I love you all. God be with you as He is with each and everyone around the world.

In His Name,
Rachel Asha

Update from Malaysia

Hello Everyone,

I am really sorry this has taken me a long time to update.... We arrived safely here as I think my mom so kindly wrote letting you all know this. We are currently still in Malaysia for our orientation and will be heading to India on the 25th.

Our team consists of Jay and Stephanie Marten, (the Leaders) Kari, (who has been in India since Sept) Naresh (who works at Green Valley) and Phil who flew out with me. It has been an awesome time getting to know them all.

Malaysia is very pretty, very green and very friendly. We are currently staying at the Torchbearer conference center and have been most welcomed by our brother's and sister's in the Lord. They all have treated us so kindly. I had the most awesome time meeting with Chris Thomas as he came out here for a few days.

It has been a very different experience for me and God is really showing me His world, through His eyes. Things here are so poorly run down in spots, but it truly amazes me to see the people and how happy they are. I honestly can't believe it.

When we were in Penang, we had an opportunity to go into a Muslim Temple and watch them pray, it saddened my heart because it seems as though they are so lost but they REALLY think that they know the truth.

Thank you all for your prayers, I am needing them more and more as I step out into His battlefield. Please also be praying for stomach issues, I have been struggling with feeling very sick. I am thinking of you all and missing you. Praying God's blessings on you.

In His Precious Name,
Rachel Asha Cookston <><

P.S. Our Indian friend Naresh has been calling me Asha

Hi Everyone- This update is being written by Rachel's mom at her request because she has very limited internet access.  Rachel arrived safely and is in orientation right now with two other interns, a girl named Keri and Rachel's fellow traveler, Phil.  Chris Thomas is also there, which pleased Rachel a lot.  She was happy to see his familiar face.  She is getting to know a lot of people and will write again when she can.   

Well tomorrow I am leaving for India, I fly out of Seattle at 6:45 pm and arrive in Malaysia on Saturday morning.  I can't wait to finally meet the rest of the gang.  I talked to the director yesterday night and he said that there are about 10 to 12 girls that I will be with.  

 This is so exciting for me to be able to minister to young women.  Lately I have been feeling just how unsuficient I am but God knows just what my needs are.  God has been so amazing to me during this time.  Well I should jet off to bed I have a big day tomorrow. As soon as I get there, I will try and update you all.  

Rachel ~~

India here I come