Raising the Roof

Posted on May 25, 2012 by Rachael Grace Photography

(After months of thought and reflection, I’m finally writing about my trip to Nepal. This is what I’ve learned and wish to share with you.)

I know I’ve said it already, but it deserves even more. I have SO much love, support and gratitude. Gratitude for all the people that gave money and sent prayers. It was so incredibly touching and humbling to see people getting excited right along with me. It got me thinking, everyone wants to be a part of something larger than their world. Something that is making a positive impact on others. It’s just part of the human condition to want a better life for yourself as well as others.
Raising money is never easy, but raising money for something you believe in and feel will make a difference is infinitely better. To get behind a cause that makes your heart go pitter patter, well that’s just what we’re made for. Building a school in a village where most girls aren’t educated past 5th grade made me feel humbled. Humbled by how fortunate we are here. Grateful for the opportunities I’ve had to better my world. I couldn’t help but get excited for doing the same thing for girls in Nepal.
Giving them a leg up on their future so that one day they can make a difference.
Giving them the tools to reach for their dreams. And inspire them, anything is possible when you believe in your dreams! And even more is possible when someone believes and supports you in those dreams!
Everyone wants to be a part of something larger then themselves. Be part of change for the better. Connecting people to the cause and what we were going to be doing in Nepal was the greatest challenge. There were so many people that stepped up though and helped and I am so incredibly humbled and honored for their support. Without them, I wouldn’t have been able to go. And with their generous support I raised an additional $1000 to go directly to the school being built. WAHOOOO! And when the building costs $20,000 that $1000 went a long way! Hellz YEA Baby!
Don’t let the fear of raising money take away from your desire to help. If it’s in your heart and your passionate about it, that’s what matters. People will gravitate toward that and do what they can to support you. It’s all about the passion baby! Things always work themselves out. Bam. Just get out there and do it!

xoxo – Rachael

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Getting past the nitty gritty

Posted on May 17, 2012 by Rachael Grace Photography

(After months of thought and reflection, I’m finally writing about my trip to Nepal. This is what I’ve learned and wish to share with you.)

It can feel like once you’ve made up your mind, the universe throws up a mountain sized road block. The kind of road block you’re not sure can truly be conquered. It looks like Mt. Everest covered in the blizzard of the century. Oh and by the way you’re out of oxygen.
My road block came from a place close to home. I had to convince the people closest to me that yes it was ok that I go. That I needed to go and not going meant a little piece of me was going to die. Dramatic? Maybe, but it’s how I felt deep down in my core. For me, going was so much more then, I wanted to travel. I wanted to feel like I was making a real instant impact on someone’s life. I wanted to do something for someone, that could never repay me back personally. I needed to know there was more to life then what I was starring at before I left.
It’s an incredible thing for a marriage to go thru, a cross roads that could either strengthen or tear you apart. For us, it strengthened our bond and marriage to a whole new level. A level of understanding and unwavering support. Through late nights and deep discussions we came to a middle ground and we are infinitely stronger because of it.
The lessons learned from this trip were already happening and I hadn’t even bought my plane ticket. xoxo – Rachael

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Reasons for living

Posted on May 7, 2012 by Rachael Grace Photography

At first I thought I would write a book. Then the very thought of trying to write my first book ever scared me right into ‘oh I’ll do that tomorrow.’ To much pressure. Instead I’m going to write a blog post from time to time talking about the very thing I would have written a book about. Why would you take a humanitarian trip to the other side of the world?A village in a remote region of Nepal needs a school, and it’ll take you two days to trek into the village…Oh Hell Yea, where do I sign up! Giddy with excitement way before I had even asked myself the practical questions. I just knew I wanted…no needed to be there. A complete unexplainable gut wrenching pull to go on this trip. I went crazy at the possibility of such an amazing opportunity.
Taking a humanitarian trip has been on my bucket list for years, probably since high school really. Something about traveling, adventure and seeing how other people lived fascinates me. How does someone live without running water, electricity, cars and what we consider to be can’t live without necessities of the modern world. But I think more than anything I wanted to learn and appreciate my world more. And the only way is to put myself in someone else’s shoes literally.
‘You’re what? But aren’t there people to help here in the US, why go to the other side of the world?’
When I decided to go to Nepal, people had on of two reactions. One, Holy Sh*t that’s awesome! I always knew you would do something like that. Or the response above. Why go at all? Tough questions I had to ask myself. What kind of impact would my leaving for 2 and a half week have on my family and my business? How am I going to raise the money to go? Like any major life altering dream, the excitement and passion comes long before you figure out the nitty gritty. It’s how you handle and get around the road blocks that make the dream come true or not. I almost didn’t go a number of times. What if I can’t raise all the money? What if my being out of touch for 2.5 weeks ruins my business? I’m the only one here, no one to pick up the slake while I’m away.
Every time I started considering not going, my head and heart felt heavy. I was sad ( I cried about not going more then once). I wanted so much to go. So I met each road block with a deadly stare that would take down a bangle tiger. Not Matter what, I was going. Done.
Have you had a dream like that? Something you couldn’t get out of your head? Every fiber of your being was saying you need to do this? Don’t ignore that. It’s what amazing life altering experiences are made of. Don’t let the resistance silence that dream…it is possible. As long as it’s in your heart, you can make anything happen. Done.

I’d love to hear about your life altering dreams and adventures, write a comment.

xoxo – Rachael

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So much graditude…

Posted on December 13, 2011 by Rachael Grace Photography

…for everyone that said yes, that said prayers, that gave words of encouragement before and after the trip, that where there when I needed someone and put money on the table. Thank you. I’ve left a piece of my heart in Nepal that someday I will have to go back to. The children are beyond adorable and melted my heart on more then one occasion. And the shire generosity and humanity of the Nepali people blew me away.

I have so many stories, photos and videos to share. I scarcely don’t know where to begin. I feel a huge obligation to the people of Nepal not to forget everything I saw. And to tell the rest of the world how incredibly humble, happy and resilient the Nepali people are.

I’m still working through everything that a trip like this gives you, but I promise to share more as the desire stirs in my heart. And as I find the words that the Nepali people deserve.

A quick glimpse into Nepal. My wonderful host family in the village of Phulali. We were the first westerns to ever stay in the village let alone help build a school. Honor doesn’t go far enough. Boys enjoying the view while reading

This is the view of Phulali as we hiked into the village. The pile of rock and dirt to the right is where the school will be.

The view as we left the village just 7 days later.

A progression shot of the site. All the rocks were moved, crushed, dirt sifted by us or the incredibly strong Nepali workers. No earth movers here!Bright, resilient, and giddy with happiness these are just three of the girls that will benefit from the school.

And just a few shots of Nepal life.

My life will never be the same in the best way possible. Nepal has a piece of my heart forever and I can’t wait to share more stories of these beautiful people.

Humbled and so much gratitude. Life is good.

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