Monday December 5th 2022 | Issue No. 17
The Rachel Report
Canyon County Republican Committeewoman
THIS MONTH’S LEGISLATIVE UPDATES
I had the privilege of attending the swearing in of the legislature last week and I wanted to update you on some things for the January session.
New leadership was elected in the Senate and the House last week. The new Speaker of the House is Mike Moyle, the new House Majority Leader is Megan Blanksma, the new Assistant Majority Leader is Sage Dixon, and our new Caucus Chair is Dustin Manwaring.
In the Senate, leadership is unchanged with Chuck Winder seated as President Pro Tempore, Kelly Arthur Anthon as the Senate Majority Leader, Abby Lee as the Assistant Majority Leader, and Mark Harris as the Majority Caucus Chair.
As each new “class” of legislators enter in, they are assigned new committees. House and Senate committee assignments for the 2023/2024 sessions can be found at this link: https://legislature.idaho.gov/committees/. I am excited to say that we have some strong conservatives on key committees in both the House and Senate!
Past Rachel Reports
The Rachel Report Issue # 16
The Rachel Report Canyon County Republican State Youth Chair (Click on picture thumbnail to see full size image) Past Rachel Reports This Months Liberty Gem Dear Liberty Lovers, Happy November!…
The Rachel Report Issue # 15
The Rachel Report Canyon County Republican State Youth Chair Past Rachel Reports This Months Liberty Gem Some Awesome Pictures Of My Travels (Click on picture thumbnails to see full…
This Months Liberty Gem
December 7th, 1941.
Naval Station Pearl Harbor, Honolulu, Hawaii.
7:55am is when it happened.
That morning, 353 Japanese planes were spotted, heading towards Honolulu. At 7:55am, they attacked Pearl Harbor, managing to damage or destroy eighteen ships and 164 aircrafts. One hour and fifteen minutes later, the attack was over but it took years to recover the Harbor and the devastation to the Pacific Fleet.
The attack on Pearl Harbor that Sunday morning which resulted in 2,403 Americans dead and roughly 1,000 wounded, remained the most devastating attack on U.S soil for six decades.
Pearl Harbor was the catalyst that launched the United States into World War II. On December 8th, 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered his infamous “a date which will live in infamy” speech which was immediately followed by Congress declaring war on Japan. While the first few lines of FDR’s speech are the ones most often remembered, my favorite part is his last few. He stated with thunderous power: “No matter how long it may take us to overcome this…the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory… Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory, and our interests are in grave danger. With confidence in our armed forces—with the unbounding determination of our people—we will gain the inevitable triumph- so help us God.”
For thousands of Americans, the attack on Pearl Harbor was a rally cry…And hundreds of thousands raced to answer it.
Our dear friend and local hero Sgt. Ernie Ferguson was one of the many, who, after hearing about the attacks in Hawaii, raced to a recruitment office to join the military in an effort to protect the home front.
A significant aspect of December 7th was the prompt of a second attack which followed a few months later that is rarely taught in K-12 classrooms.
On March 4th, 1942, a second attack was launched against Pearl Harbor. Though the December 7th attack was successful in damaging a large part of the U.S Pacific Fleet, the Japanese made a critical strategic error. They failed to destroy the American aircraft carriers and the oil reserve on Oahu. They damaged the American fleet…but they didn’t cripple it. And after the declaration of war, the Japanese knew they would need to strike again.
Just over a month before the Doolittle Raids, the Japanese launched their second attack with far fewer crafts but two specific targets: the 1010 Pearl Harbor dock and the oil reserve on the windward coast.
Due to a strong storm which caused low visibility for the pilots, the attackers mistakenly dropped their bombs in the ocean and on the slopes of Tantalus Peak resulting in zero injuries or loss of life and only minimal land damage.
Dear Liberty Lovers,
Happy December!
This is one of my favorite times of the year…the snow, the coco, time with family, snowboarding, snowshoeing, the cozy fires, Christmas music, Christmas movies, and a time of rest and reflection.
It’s difficult to believe that this year is almost over… At this time last year, I had zero intention of running for office or involving myself this deeply in politics. It’s amazing how much can change in the span of a year.
In 2022, God walked with me up on some of the highest mountains and in some of the lowest valleys of my life. The enemy has never attacked me harder or more pointedly than this year.
But this year I learned two very important things. One about Satan and one about Jesus.
I learned that:
1. Satan will do whatever it takes to kill, steal, and destroy. And he wages war against those seeking the Father and taking ground for the Kingdom. I told a sister in the Lord earlier this year that if I ever wrote a book about my life in 2022, I’d title it “On Satan’s Hitlist.”
2. The enemy can do what he will, and he’s still no match for God. No weapon he uses, no lie he speaks, no attack he throws, no power he wields can match the presence, the call, the Word, the strength, and the will of Almighty God!
I’m so thankful that sometimes God calls us into big things little by little. Sometimes I stop and look around and look at the things God is doing and say “Father, thank You for not showing me this far down the road way back then and for only giving me my immediate task and strength for the day to complete it.”
Anyone who knows me well is laughing right now. Because I am type A and the queen of strategizing and planning.
I plan something. I strategize. And I execute…
I don’t do well without a plan.
But God.
But God has bigger and sweeter plans than any I could ever make. And sometimes He desires to stretch us and walk us through a season of willingness to not know. I think sometimes He just wants to know that we’ll say “yes.”
Yes I’ll trust you. Yes I’ll deny my flesh the need for a plan. Yes I’ll take one step at a time. Yes I’ll fight for what’s right. Yes I’ll die on this hill.
One of my favorite Bible verses is Luke 1:38. An angel appeared to Mary and told her the most crazy, impossible, and radical news she would ever hear…The Savior was coming…And SHE would carry Him in her womb. Though she was a virgin.
Instead of panicking…instead of wanting to know the future…instead of making a plan…
She responded “Behold I am the Lord’s servant. Let it be unto me as you have said.”
Well, none of us are going to be sprung with the news that we will carry the Messiah. But, I do think Mary taught us a very valuable lesson that day. She just said yes.
She said yes to God.
She didn’t need to know the details or the plan…She just said, “let it be.”
I think that’s what God wants from us…For Him to say, “I’m calling you to this profession or to do this thing or to speak with that person…” and for us to simply respond, “I am your servant…Let it be.”
God is working friends. He’s working in people, He’s working in society, and He’s working in government.
I feel so honored to watch the work He’s doing
As we move into the holiday season, I encourage you to step away from the stresses, the worries, and the battle…to rest.
Rest your hearts.
Rest your minds.
A Korean War veteran I “adopted”…or maybe he “adopted me”… it’s really hard to say, became a believer in 1969 and has walked with Jesus ever since. Whenever we chat and he encourages me, he often says, “Soldiers have to rest between battles so they are stronger, more efficient, and stay alive longer. That’s true for spiritual battles as well.”
So rest and recuperate so we are ready for January.
2023 is a critical year for Idaho. 2023 is ground-work year. 2023 is preparation year. 2023 is education year. 2023 is mobilizing year.
That’s how we win bigger in 2024.
I’m so thankful for this year…
A year that has forever changed me, forever marked me, and will remain for me, my “why,” for as long as I live.
It would be impossible to express the depths of my gratitude for my family who supported me every step of the way and gave me a reason to fight this fight. For my battle buddy Christina who has been the firecest of teammates and has inspired me to courage. For our team…Rachel J. and Cory who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make our work come to fruition on the website, these reports, and all my designs. For the people who have joined arms with me and stood in the fire with us… the prayer warriors, encouragers…the Liberty Lovers.
What a year 2022 has been…
I can’t wait to see where God takes us and the work He’s going to do in 2023. We have BIG things coming so stay tuned in the New Year!
I pray you have a sweet holiday season this year with your loved ones.
God bless you, keep you, and strengthen you.
To Him be the glory.
Merry Christmas and I’ll speak with you all in the New Year!
For Idaho,
Rachel Hazelip
“He has shown you, O people, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8
P.S If you have family Christmas photos that you’d like to share, I’d love to see them!
P.P.S As always, if you have questions, concerns, or prayer requests, please reach out to me!
How To Contact Rachel
“There is nothing we should fear of but fear.” (Franklin D Roosevelt).
“No one can ride on our back unless we bend.” (MLK. Jr).
“The bottom of hell is reserved for those who stand in neutrality in times of moral crisis.” Dante Alegheiri).