Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachelle Morlok.
Hi Rachelle, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for sharing your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers.
My story is a story of Christ at the center of it—a story of losing my life to gain my life in Christ. My trauma has become my passion. A passion that has now been turned into a vision. A vision to see a world where every single woman and child knows they have self-worth and dignity. I have learned that to become the best you, you must leave the old you behind. The person the world tried to make is no longer held with fear. My “mess” has become my message—a message of HOPE. Hope in knowing that you are more than what the world says. The journey I embarked on in 2012 as a single missionary has been nothing short of transformative. Answering the call to move to Senegal, West Africa, I confronted numerous fears and questioned the purpose of living such a life. Nights were spent on a roof, relying on a bamboo bed and a bug net for protection. Adapting to new customs involved learning to eat with my hands, carrying water on my head, and burning trash on the outskirts of the village. Speaking another language and assimilating into a community with vastly different beliefs challenged me daily. Many tearful moments occurred in the corner of my room, where a humble bucket served as my pew, lizards as silent companions, and a concealed Bible became my lifeline. My entire life fit into a small black plastic box, holding my only possessions: 5 shirts, 5 pairs of underwear, 2 pairs of socks, 5 skirts, 20 photos, my Bible, and a notebook.
Living in that desert village for six months marked a pivotal period where God profoundly impacted my life. At the age of 14, I had dreamt of sitting on a mat, barefoot, wearing a shirt and a skirt, head covered, surrounded by children and women, reading a book about God’s love. In Africa, that dream materialized into reality. Upon returning to America and reviewing my photos, my grandmother stopped me, recognizing the significance. There it was, captured in an image—the vision God had given me, no longer confined to my dreams but manifested in the tangible moments of my life. I returned to America in June 2012 with a love I had never felt before, and I knew I had found myself in life. To go to the ends of the earth and share the gospel of Christ.
Matthew 28:18-20
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
The people once on a map were now mapped onto my heart. Upon my return to America, I crossed paths with Zeb, who would later become my amazing husband. Early in our dating, I laid out my overseas calling, challenging him to join me on this unconventional path. Remarkably, after just five weeks of dating, we got engaged and were married six months later. Eager to embark on a shared adventure, we visited Thailand five months into our marriage and fell in love with the country and its people. Determined to return, we revisited Thailand one year later, and as we bid farewell to Chiang Mai, we made a daring decision—next year, we would move there. In September 2015, we arrived in Chiang Mai to oversee three children’s homes, armed with only four suitcases, no car, no home, enough money for three months, and the unexpected news that I was 13 weeks pregnant. Yes, we embraced the challenge of moving to Thailand, with me expecting a surprise after two years of unsuccessful attempts to conceive. It was as if God, with a sense of humor, waited for us to surrender our entire lives before granting us our deepest desire—to become parents. The journey of motherhood began on March 27, 2016, in Chiang Mai, where I gave birth to our firstborn, Delanie, on Easter Sunday. The joy of the moment was tempered by the need for an emergency C-section, separating me from Zeb, as is customary in many Asian countries. As I lay on the operating table, I began to pray fervently, questioning why my birth experience couldn’t be “normal.” The unexpected twist came when my doctor inquired about Easter, leading to a conversation about Jesus with the Buddhist medical team attending me. Amid surgical procedures, I shared about the man named Jesus, His sacrifice, and the significance of Easter. Through tears of joy, I heard my baby’s first cry as seeds of faith were planted in that delivery room. I am confident that God will continue to water those seeds, allowing them to blossom into beautiful flowers in the lives of those present that day.
I long to work with women about a year into living in Thailand. I missed the connection with caring for women. I started praying and was connected to Sherry, a half-American and half-Thai lady who had been praying this same prayer. We sat, began sharing our hearts, and realized we both loved the nations. We quickly became friends, and now Sherry is known as Aunt Sherry to both my children. We were then connected with a sweet local lady called Bell. Bell had visited America and saw an “American Women’s Conference.” She asked us if we would come to her village in the middle of the jungle to do one for 44 women in September 2016. As of today, we have hosted 27 women’s conferences between 4 countries 5 of them being here in Kansas City, MO. What started as a singular event has become what is now known as the Bloom International nonprofit. Our Vision is to see a world where every single woman and child knows they have self-worth and dignity. You see, at the age of 7, I lost my self-worth and dignity. I was abused and raped until I was 12 years old. My trauma has now become my passion. Bloom International became a nonprofit just as COVID was beginning. Before COVID, we hosted conferences and taught proper hygiene in Southeast Asia. Once the world started to shut down, we found ourselves in prayer. What are we supposed to do now? We could not meet in large groups, and that’s what we did! We hosted conferences to share encouraging and inspiring words to women.
Upon hearing distressing news about mothers struggling to feed themselves and their children, especially in crisis-stricken areas due to their location, we recognized the urgency to take immediate action. Despite reaching out to established nonprofits in those regions for assistance, they needed more funding to help. With the $680.00 we had to our name, we swiftly provided rice to 68 widows and their children in May 2020. Since that initial response, our efforts have grown, and to date, we’ve served 15,000 women and children through our expanding programs in Southeast Asia and Kansas City, MO. These programs include women’s conferences, hygiene outreaches, clinics, Empower Her Education, Rice for Widows, our children’s home, hygiene kits, mentor training, and teaching English in village schools. At the core of our mission is the belief that meeting physical and emotional needs precedes addressing spiritual aspects. If our programs cannot directly provide worth and dignity, we are committed to connecting women and children with other nonprofits capable of addressing those needs. Our approach reflects a holistic commitment to uplift and empower individuals in tangible and intangible ways.
The decision for our family to move back to America in early 2018 was far from easy, marked by personal struggles and countless tears. The choice was made to allow our daughter, Lanie, to know her grandparents and will enable us to fundraise and discern our next steps. Despite the initial challenges, God revealed the significance of being in America during this season. While there were days I longed to return to Asia, witnessing the seeds planted since our return has been nothing short of beautiful. The shy girl who moved to Thailand in 2015 has blossomed into a woman on fire to share the gospel openly. I had previously shied away from my spiritual gifting in teaching and evangelism, partly because of my perception of being behind the scenes or limited to sharing the gospel overseas. This mindset stemmed from challenges I faced due to a rare disease called Pachygyria, which I discovered only seven months ago. Despite being initially misdiagnosed with epilepsy for 25 years, I am grateful for the late revelation, as it allowed me to overcome personal limits and fight against learning disabilities. At 37 years old, I recently completed writing my first book, “In the Trenches,” acknowledging its imperfections but emphasizing the point that if I, with a severe disability, can achieve this, anyone can. My life has been a series of battles, not always won on the first try, but each hardship has contributed to shaping the person I am today.
James 1:2-5
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that testing your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If you lack wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”
This year, I presented the opportunity for my children and me to return to Asia after spending four years in America due to the challenges posed by COVID-19. From June to October 2023, we lived in Thailand, while Zeb remained in the U.S. fulfilling his work responsibilities. This period was one of the most emotionally challenging seasons I’ve encountered. The journey involved traversing through various states, going to South Korea, and returning home to Thailand. After four years, stepping out of the airport in Chiang Mai elicited a surge of emotions— a profound sense of returning home and realizing how much I had missed during my time away. The mixture of familiarity and the recognition of the changes in my absence made this return a poignant and significant experience.
In my time in full-time ministry, this season has proven to be the most spiritually challenging. As a single mother residing in Thailand with two children, my journey took me to unexpected places like Cambodia, Malaysia, and the Philippines, circling back to Thailand. Despite encountering unforeseen challenges, I am now profoundly grateful for these experiences. This period marked the first time I grew intimately connected with the women of Thailand. My concept of family expanded to include those who differed from me in language, dress, food habits, and skin color. Witnessing how many perceive themselves as “less than” was eye-opening. From engaging in conversations in bars and streets to participating in schools, children’s homes, women’s conferences, refugee camps, trash villages, and supporting women emerging from abusive relationships, this journey has been a multifaceted one. The love I’ve developed for those God has placed in this season of my life has been humbling. This separation from the familiar was necessary to attune my ears to His voice amidst the worldly noise. After a decade of caring for and loving the people of Thailand, I’ve transformed from seeing myself as an outsider longing for inclusion to a person defined not by nationality but by a story and a heart dedicated to helping others discover their purpose — a purpose grounded in being loved by God. My story is someone else’s hope, a beacon that life is worth fighting for. Your mess becomes your message, a message authored and continuously written by Christ specifically for you. Embracing the unknown with the assurance that Christ awaits in the known invites you to seize the journey He has uniquely crafted for you.
It wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
My journey hasn’t been easy; in fact, it’s been incredibly challenging. Yet, I recognize that these struggles, these bumps in the road, have shaped me into the person I am today. They have been the crucible in which God molds me into the person He designed me to be. Through the pain of enduring sexual abuse, the difficulties caused by my disability, making learning a constant battle, and the unpredictable nature of my seizures, I have found unexpected moments of growth. These trials have allowed me to connect with others on a profound level, understanding their pain and struggles in a way that goes beyond mere empathy. In each of these seasons of hardship, I discovered resilience and strength within myself that I never knew existed. These experiences, though incredibly tough, became the raw material for my first book, a testament to the power of overcoming adversity. Looking back, I am grateful for these challenges, as they have allowed me to transform my pain into something meaningful that can inspire and uplift others facing similar struggles. I have learned that despite life’s darkest moments, there is potential for growth, strength, and unexpected blessings.
Let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am the founder of a non-profit called Bloom International. At Bloom International, we believe in feeding the hungry. We believe in empowering the powerless. We believe in encouraging, empowering, and inspiring all women and children to recognize their self-worth and live a life of dignity. Through our many outreach programs and ministries, we share and embody the gospel’s message of worth, love, and hope.
What do you do?
Our organization is dedicated to providing non-judgmental assistance to women and children who have suffered from traumatic experiences. Our team, comprised of women who have overcome their traumas, empathizes with those in similar circumstances. Our goal is to extend a helping hand to women and children who may feel voiceless and alone, regardless of their religious beliefs, socioeconomic status, or ethnicity. We specialize in addressing the urgent need for food and support among vulnerable communities, particularly impoverished Southeast Asian widows. Our primary focus is to provide these women with essential sustenance, such as rice, to alleviate their immediate struggles and prevent them from resorting to desperate measures like selling their children.
Additionally, we are committed to empowering women and girls through our Women’s Health and Self-Care Program. This initiative aims to educate and guide them on physical well-being while combating the social stigma that unfairly labels the female gender as a curse. Our conferences serve as a haven, fostering a supportive environment where women from diverse backgrounds can openly share their challenges. These gatherings are meant to provide a platform for them to express their struggles and equip them with valuable tools for healing and personal growth. We strive to convey that every woman is valuable, wanted, and cherished, regardless of her past experiences. In Thailand, our Children’s Home Program focuses on nurturing young lives by offering shelter, nutritious meals, and clothing, thus enabling them to pursue education. By providing these essential resources, we aim to break the cycle of poverty and offer these children a brighter future. Our ultimate goal is to instill a sense of purpose and hope in the lives of these women, girls, and children, fostering a positive impact on their communities and beyond.
What are you most proud of?
Bloom began with a small women’s conference in the jungles of Northern Thailand in 2016 and now has become a global nonprofit. All because 2 girls said YES and went into the unknown, not knowing that God had already planted the seed that would soon BLOOM into Bloom International.
What sets you apart from others?
We prioritize the holistic well-being of the individuals we serve, addressing their physical and emotional needs with utmost care and compassion. Our approach involves walking alongside each person, offering guidance and comfort, and empowering them to recognize their inherent worth. Often, these individuals have been marginalized and made to believe they hold little value, so our initial focus is on affirming their importance and nurturing their self-esteem. Once we have established this foundation of trust and support, we can share the message of hope and love found in the gospel of Jesus Christ through our actions. By demonstrating Christ’s teachings of love, kindness, and acceptance, we aim to meet their immediate needs and inspire lasting transformation and spiritual growth, helping them find purpose and meaning in their lives.
We have an office in Raymore, MO. We just opened headquarters 3 weeks ago. 406 W Pine St. P, Raymore, MO 64083
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
There is not much I dislike about KC. It is a gem of a city that most people don’t realize how special it truly is. You can experience the hustle and bustle of city life and, within minutes, find yourself in nature on a hiking trail. Few cities offer the joy of both worlds. To add to that, the fact that you can meet a stranger and, within 10 minutes, find your new best friend adds to the unique charm of Kansas City.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.bloomintl.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bloom_international2020
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bloomintl20
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJCMvUhwonQKa-evj7LAfiA
Image Credits
Victor Carr-Took picture of me in yellow sweater by tree.
