rachelrussophotography.com

Figured it’s about time I supplied an explanation for my lack of blogging….and well, just an overall update on my life.

An awakening happened in me one year ago (1/30/11) today…I was visiting Boerne, Texas…it was a Sunday morning…I’m standing in church at FBC Boerne and all of a sudden my chest gets tight. I mean like suffocating. I have NEVER felt anything like that before, but I just had this overwhelming sense of urgency…it felt like someone had reached into my chest and grabbed onto my heart and started wringing it out. Why? I had no idea, but it caused me to start asking questions I hadn’t been asking. What was God doing at FBC Boerne? Definitely something new….I assumed God wanted me to be praying for my church family (although I hadn’t lived there in 3 years).

1/24/11 – I receive an email from Danny Phillips (Minister to Students at FBC Boerne) inviting me to join in Disciple Now that year. My response: No way! I’m too old for that! Youth Ministry was something I thought I had kind of outgrown or something (considering I had been a volunteer/intern the past 5 years). Still there was a little part of me that was sad. A part of me that missed just hanging out with and loving on teenagers. Being able to share what VERY LITTLE bit of wisdom I have been given over my short journey with Christ. But those days were over….

3/7/11 –  On this Sunday morning, I was standing in the shower praying (like I often do). I was just having this great time chatting with Jesus. Thanking Him all over again for how He has blessed me. Thanking Him for paving the way for me to start my own business, and to grow it to the point where I could be self-employed and do something that I love every single day. As I continued to pray, I told God that I never wanted to get so comfortable that I cease to be used by Him. I told God that I was ready for whatever was next and that I’d do anything/go anywhere He asked me. This is a common shower prayer for me, nothing out of the ordinary…but this day was the day for change, I suppose. That Sunday morning, I had a very clear, VERY random thought….”Would you move back to Boerne if that was the next thing?” Now, of course I loved Boerne and visited frequently, but moving back was definitely not on my radar. WHOA. Weird.…..I’d spent the past 2 months praying for the leadership at my church in Boerne, but never considering that I was supposed to physically be there. It didn’t make sense. The majority of my business was in San Angelo, God had clearly led me to San Angelo for a reason (specifically my family) and now I had this stirring in me saying it might time to head back to Boerne. Was I crazy?……

3/9/11 – A couple of friends and I took a day trip to Austin. There wasn’t anything special about the trip, but the in the conversations we had on the way there and back, I began to recognize a little bit of a fire/passion in me that I thought had been diffused years ago. As I spoke with my friends about different random topics, I kept coming back to the fact that I believe that God has big plans for the next generation and I have a deep desire to teach/invest what I have been given to them. I had to ask myself the question “Am I fulfilling that desire/calling?” and the honest answer was no.

That night (3/9/11), I sat down with a pen and paper and started just jotting down thoughts. I wrote down my gifts, strengths/weaknesses, what makes me happy, my deepest desires….some of the things on the paper were:

I thrive on helping others realize their full potential (spiritually and in business).

God has transformed me on the inside, how am I communicating that transformation in my daily life?

Life is beautiful. I want to help others to see that, specifically “Christians” who still aren’t walking in His new life.

I desire to make enough $, so that I can give lots away.

Fears: Failure, being misunderstood, afraid that I will unintentionally hurt others

Need to be in an environment that challenges me to grow.

Gifts: Teaching, organization, discernment, creative, independant

Weaknesses: Humility, openess/vulnerability, tact/truth in love,

I’ve seen a glimpse of the harvest (seeds planted in young girls years ago, girls who are in ministry now).

He is most glorified in me, when I am most satisfied in Him.  – Piper

If YOU say go, I will go.

Then I cried a lot. I guess because it totally freaked me out not knowing why or when, but feeling completely confident that I would be in Boerne in the Fall of 2011. WHAT?!?! I was definitely in a position financially to just pack up and move to a place where I did not have adequate clientele for photography. That was so scary to me. I know that where God guides, He always provides…but this was my life we were talking about!

I wrote out a plan in my journal…

PRAY! PRAY! – SEEK! SEEK! – Keep on praying! – and make some money while you’re at it.

3/25/11 – At this point, no one in Boerne knew of my “revelation”. It was still freaking me out and it sounded crazy to say outloud, “I am pretty sure I am supposed to be in Boerne in September, but I have no idea why or how.” I decided to ask Danny (youth pastor) and his wife to be praying with me about it. Over breakfast, I fill them in on my conversations with God and where I feel He is leading me. I basically just say, “If things go the way I feel like God is saying they will…well, I guess I will be in Boerne when the new school year starts and I plan on volunteering in the youth ministry. I have a heart for young people (specifically in Boerne) and I’m ready to serve.” End of conversation. I mean, they agree to be praying and that’s that.

6/15/11 – I’m in Boerne (again) for a week of photo shoots and baby showers. I run into Danny at someone’s house and he asks me to come by his office to chat. This is where I will speed up the story….our convo went a little something like this (obviously paraphrased and cutting out all of our ridiculous banter)…

Danny: So, how are you feeling about Boerne these days?

Me: Well, I am still 99% sure I am supposed to be living here come August. I know that is less than 2 months away and I still don’t have a plan, but I feel like I am just supposed to wait on the Lord. Crazy, I know.

Danny: ((asks me lots of questions about photography and how many hours I work a week on photography stuff, what role I would like to play when I move, etc…))

Me: What is this? An interview or something? Haha

Danny: Kind of. (dead serious).

Me: Huh?

Turns out, the Associate Youth Minister that worked with Danny had been offered an incredible position at a church in his wife’s hometown and was getting ready to accept. Things were happening very quickly and Danny needed to find someone to replace him in a few short weeks. I’m usually a quick responder, but I remember it taking a while for what Danny was saying to really sink in. Was he asking me to consider WORKING at this church that I had been praying for for the past 6 months? What did this mean? I was completely dumbfounded, yet it all seemed to make sense. I thought back to that moment in January when I thought my heart would explode in church AND in the shower when God asked if I would move back to Boerne… God had been preparing my heart for MONTHS for this moment. I told Danny that I would continue to pray, but that my initial response is to continue where God was clearly leading.

7/30/11 – I packed up all of my things and moved to Boerne. Unsure of what the next few months would look like, but ready for what God had next. My first day at work at FBC Boerne was 7/31/11….as Interim Associate Minister to Students and their families (longest title ever). During the “interim” period, I had good days and bad days….okay, not really bad days, but days where I asked myself, “What are you doing?! You love being self-employed! You love photography! Are you really going to give up everything that you have worked the past 3 years to build to work at a church?!” and no matter how many times I asked myself, the answer was always “YES”…”YES”…”YES” My ONLY desire is for my life to reflect His glory. When I was looking ahead, it seemed like the sacrifice would be too great….but moment by moment with Christ, it’s perfect…it’s incredible…and I am completely satisfied.

1/16/12 – I dropped the ‘interim’ title. I am now officially a Youth Minister. It still sounds crazy. It was only a short time ago I was saying, “I am now officially a Photographer”. Let’s be honest, I may have many titles in the years to come, but my identity will always be the same “Devoted Follower of Christ”.

When I take a step back and look at where God has brought me from, where I am now and how He has gotten me to this place, it makes me so excited for the years ahead and all of the surprises and adventures He must have planned for me. I have only seen a glimpse of the depth of His love, the riches of His kindness and the extravagance of His grace. There is so much more…and I can’t wait to experience all that He has for me.

THE BIG QUESTION: WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR MY CLIENTS????

At this time, I am not accepting any bookings for Families, Children and/or Seniors.

I will be photographing a limited number of weddings (including engagement/bridal/newlywed sessions). I am only accepting 3 more weddings in 2012.

I want to be sure that my wedding clients get the quality experience they deserve and with my new commitments, there is no way that I could do that while shooting portrait sessions as well.

Any questions? I’m happy to answer.

Mine and Jesus’ theme song right now:)