Age of reason; ray of sun

When I was seven years old, I bent down to "peg" (tightly roll) my lavender corduroy pant leg probably for the 5th time that day. A hard trend to keep up with. At that very moment, I felt a ray of sun beaming on me. I looked up and with the sun shining on my face, I remember hearing a voice that said "we are all one."
These words continue to fill me and fill my life as my path continues to share through expressions of love, tragedy, discovery, diversity, language, dance, food, exhaustion, joy and celebration the beauty of human connection.

At the age of 19, I heard that voice, again. Okay, "Rachel," you are thinking "voices?"
Stay with me, I promise, I'm not crazy! So, this time all I heard was "Guatemala." A year later I ended up in the highlands of Guatemala working with young single mothers and helping them start up their own small businesses. Within days my eyes were opened. Opened so wide in fact, that I knew this was no longer a 6 month field study I was there for, but a life study that would evolve and bring me back again and again. The deepening of friendships came as the Spanish lessons progressed each week and we began to understand each other. Understand that despite our many differences we were also so similar. Each seeking approval, love, laughter, peace.

When I came upon the Guatemala City dump and saw a complete violation of the human spirit as children and families scavenged in the dump for all they could to survive, I stopped. It wasn't so much the fact that they were working in the garbage dump - it was -that there was no social net, no other opportunity to choose something else, no resources for health, education, and basic necessities. I stayed and joined forces with Hanley Denning, the founder, of Safe Passage. The mission: to provide opportunities through education to the children and families living in Guatemala City's garbage dump.

I have been with Safe Passage for over eight years. I lived in Guatemala for years and saw things that still make me shudder. Images that haunt me and fuel me to make a difference every day. Two years ago the unimaginable happened - Hanley was killed in a car accident in Guatemala City. We lost a beautiful soul that day. Hanley had a vision and focus like no other - her daily mantra was "for the children." There were mountains of challenges yet she kept on and in doing so created an organization that is supported by thousands from all around the world. In the past 2 years we did everything to make sure that Safe Passage continues and thrives. And it is. I have been breathing and living Safe Passage for the last eight years... and now. And now.
In one week I am leaving. I'll be joining the board of directors. However first, I am taking time.

And that time will be taken in Haiti. The journey continues...