Hey everybody! My name is Rachel, but you can call me Rachel! Or Rae, Rach, Rachie, you get the idea, I don't really have a preference. I originally hail from Arcadia, California, which is basically Los Angeles County, right next to Pasadena if you're savvy with cities. I currently live in Boulder, Colorado where I go to school at the University of Colorado. I'm a junior there studying psychology and studio art with an emphasis in sculpture. Right now I'm also working as a cashier at Alfalfa's, an organic grocery store that's crazy about delicious and healthy food.

Other than work and school, I'm on the student leadership team at the Annex, my church's college ministry. I lead sports ministry for all the students which is wicked sweet because it means that all I get to do is play games pretty much all the time. I love getting out and about when I'm not slaving over art projects; hiking, running, baseball, volleyball, the whole enchilada. I also love just goofing off with my friends. Laying in the sun listening to some Jack Johnson is the ultimate hangout. 

I also love to bake all kinds of treats and sweets! My favorite endeavor in the kitchen so far has been key lime cupcakes with a blackberry buttercream for frosting. I'm drooling just thinking about them. I used to be a ridiculously picky eater, but my taste buds have definitely expanded (although I still can't hold my hot sauce, call me a wimp if you must). Something that makes me unique is that I love to be organized but am unfortunately notoriously messy. I'm the kind of girl who knows exactly what part of the pile of clothes on her floor that her favorite band t-shirt is crumpled up in but just can't find the time to hang it up or throw it in a drawer.

I've never had any missions experience, heck I've never even been out of the country, but I LOVE learning about new cultures and experiencing brand new situations. I speak a bit of good old espanol (three years worth in high school) but I'm a wee bit rusty. Maybe a summer in Guatemala will make us all fluent and we'll come back sounding just like the locals! Hey, a girl can dream. I'm going on this trip with Lizzie Lefever and Sarah Ballard through a program at the Annex called Messenger. Basically you sign up for the program not knowing where you'll be going for the summer. Then a special committee interviews you and the other students and creates teams and chooses locations for them. When I found out that we would be going to Guatemala, God broke my heart for the people there. I feel incredibly called to this country and know that God is going to do great things with us this summer. I can't wait to meet every single one of you and I know that we are going to have such a blast this summer!