Hi, I'm Rachel! Thank you for visiting my site, Count It All Joy!

Here's a little about who I am and how God has been working in my life to lead me to here.

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I am 24 years old and was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona by my parents, Ron and Brenda, and grew up alongside my older brother, Joel. I graduated from Graceland University in Lamoni, Iowa in April 2020 with a BA in Elementary Education and certifications in Reading and Special Education. During my time in college, I completed four years on the women's volleyball team, two years as a chaplain, two years as a Peer Mentor, one as the Peer Mentor program co-coordinator, one year as the School of Education club president, and helped to start a student-led Bible study on campus. 

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I grew up in a Christian home and had always attended church and youth groups. My faith journey really became my own when I moved away for college. I saw clearly how God is actively at work in my heart and on college campuses around the world, which opened up the door to start a student-led Bible study. During the Summer of 2019, I was given the opportunity to be an intern in the Dominican Republic with Kids Alive International. It was easy to see the ways God had always been working on my heart to prepare me for this experience. My passion for working with at-risk children, teaching them, and learning from them, aligns perfectly with this ministry. This internship allowed me to grow in my faith, serve others, and share about the Lord in various settings. As I learned more about the country, its people, and their culture, I fell in love and knew God was calling me back to serve here longer term. 

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I moved to the Dominican Republic in January of 2021 and am serving as a

special education teacher, child sponsorship coordinator at 2 sites,

and organize a yearly sports camp.