Rachel Riehle of Wausau, WI, traveled with Sister Mary Angela Sackmann, Wausau, WI, and Holy Cross Associate, Mary Duginski, Merrill, WI, to Kingston, Jamaica, to work with the Missionaries of the Poor. The following are her thoughts from that trip.
Photos from the ghetto in downtown Kingston, Jamaica
My Encounter with Holiness
By Rachel Riehle, Wausau, WI.
Actually, I'm still trying to put my trip thoughts and feelings together. All I know is that God changed me in Jamaica. He asked me to be more of Him, in Him, and through Him. My choices are to leave God's request in Jamaica, or to grasp onto all that He asked me to be.
I've chosen to follow Him. I have yet to learn all that a brief trip to Jamaica will become. All I know is that there is no turning back. God is taking me on a trip to holiness; my life given to Him
.
Returning to America has been difficult for me. Prayer was a rhythmic part of our days in Jamaica. My time in America is more cluttered and less flexible. I'm still attempting to adjust my days so that I give complete portions of my day to God. That is one thing that I learned in Jamaica: I must first and continuously give my day to God and Christ if I want fruits of my day to be of God and Christ. The more completely I give my day to Him the more He will pour through me - holiness.
The other thing I learned is that the fullness of our work can exist where we are. We don't have to go to Jamaica (or Calcutta, as Mother Theresa said) to live the holiness we are called to be. I missed my work in America. I missed the people God gave me right here in Wausau. I couldn't wait to hug and kiss them again. The beauty of my work is God. No matter where I am, if I am of God, for God, and through God, His holiness is with me. That is where my happiness lies
. 
(L-r) Rachel and Shakey and a scene in the new Beatitudes home for children.
Finally, I learned that God desires ALL people to live in holiness - not just the poor, the healthy, the rich, or the dying. He wants all of us to know and serve Him. The poor and/or handicapped that I met in Jamaica served God in the capacity they were called or able. Giving love seemed to be their greatest gift of holiness. "Shakey" wanted to sit on my lap and just be part of the gift of love. His eyes and smile radiated innocence and affection, just as one would imagine coming from God. Actually, there were times when I looked into "Shakey's" eyes and knew it was Christ looking at me through him. I could say the same about almost every person that I met in Jamaica, except the two blind children at Lourdes Place. When I sat by them, they'd reach out their hands and touch me - my arms, hands, and legs. They sought to know me as Christ knows us - our every hair. They were such beautiful, loving, and generous people. Jamaica was a 12 day encounter with holiness, everything I'd like to be.
The above photo shows the building where the women stayed while in Jamaica. (L-r.) Christina, Kathy, Moreen, Mary Duginski, Grace, Rachel Riehle, Sister Mary Angela, and an unidentified person.
