A GIFT FROM THE CHILDREN OF THE AGRICULTURE PROJECT - JUNE 6, 2009

Here is a picture of a blessing that I received today. The children's gift - the capulana and head wrap on me.

The picture with me inside of the church with the head wrap on and the capulana wrapped around me was when I was talking to the church - sharing my gratitude and praising Jesus for what He is doing.

They had blessed me. Yep, they said I looked like a real Mozambiquen women. They said that I looked very pretty.

This was a gift from the children of agriculture project. We now have an official name for our group - Blessed Generation.

Ashlee

HELLO TO MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS - MAY 27, 2009

Hello to my family and friends!

It feels great to be writing you once again from Mozambique. To be here once again with this people whom God has given me such a love for brings joy to my heart. Upon my arrival it took me a bit to get back on the Mozambique time schedule, but I am doing well now. I’m once again used to going to sleep with the loud sound of crickets and frogs outside my window. Thankfully the drums from the witchdoctor’s ceremonies have not been a normal thing as they are sometimes. Coming back to the smell of Mozambique and the humidity in the air is a nice change from the cold. The reminder of the roughness of Africa still has not ceased as the effects of it are all around me from the many deaths that I heard about within the first week I was back to the women laboring in their fields so they can have food for their families. It is the end of the rice season and we are going into the potato season.

So many transitions have taken place here on the base since my absence, but they have been for the good. The team that I am working with now has changed. Two of the women that I worked with in the years past have left, but we have two couples that have joined our team. I am enjoying getting to know them. It has been neat to see the different callings, giftings and personalities that God has placed in each of us and how they complement one another for the better of the whole. God is rewriting history here.

Our boys are growing and maturing into young men. Nelson and Domingos (two of our older boys) and I were looking at a picture of us all together about 2 years ago and we had a good laugh as they saw how “boyish” their faces were.

We have 4 new boys who are now with us. Three of them are brothers and one is an only son who is a complete orphan. His mother passed away while I was in America. His mother Rebecca was one of the first people that I started helping when I took the responsibility of the clinic on our base in 2006. Tuesday through Friday they have devotions in the morning which three of us missionaries take turns leading. Right now the older boys are doing a step-by-step study of the new birth that we have in Jesus. The little boys, who are mostly led by Julie, are learning a variety of lessons from not being fearful because God is their protector to knowing that God still does miracles today. She has been doing a great job with them and has been having fun making up songs to go with the lessons to help them remember. I love seeing Julie soar with this.

June 1st is Children’s Day here in Mozambique so I am helping organize activities for this day. It’s always fun coming up with things that our boys have never experienced before and then seeing their faces when we introduce them to it. So for this Children’s Day I am making a piñata! Anything with food is always a lot of fun. J Right now we are planning on doing fun games on Saturday because all of our boys will be here and they don’t have school commitments. On Monday, the actually date of Children’s Day; we will have a big soccer game between our boys versus our staff. The last time they played together our staff lost so they want a rematch. It will be fun to watch. We are also going to have the famous chicken, french fries and salad lunch that is always the special meal for any celebration. Let the celebration of the children begin!

As I have said so many times in the past there is no way that I could be here without your support. Thank you so, so very much to those who have supported me financial this past year. You have no idea how much you have helped me to be able to stay here and do what God has called me to do. Thank you so much! Thank you for believing in the vision that God has placed in me. Thank you for believing in me!!

Thank you for your prayer support and every note of encouragement to those who have sent them to me. It is always such a joy to here from people that I care about.

Richest blessings to each one of you!

With Love,

Ashlee

HEADING BACK TO DONDO - April 30, 2009

A big hello to you!!

Wow, it has been a while since I have sent anything out. I have had a wonderful time being back in America. So much has taken place since my arrival, but once again the time has come to head back to Mozambique. I fly out of Seattle on May 13 and will arrive in Dondo, Mozambique on May 15 to glowing faces of joy for my long awaited return.

I spoke with the boys a couple of weeks ago and they are very excited about my return and told me that we have 5 new boys who have been added to our family. I am looking forward to meeting and loving on these 5 new little ones. I know Papa has big plans for them and has given us the privilege to be a part of what He is doing in their lives.

I’m also looking forward to reconnecting with the people in the community which I have connections with. Many changes have taken place in Dondo since I have been in the States so I will be going back to a lot of new things. So much change has taken place at the base that I do not know the fullness of it until I actually get there and sit down with our missionary and Mozambiquen team. Father is good and He knows only good and has only good things in store for His kids.

Before I left Mozambique at the end of November I knew that God had a treasure chest full of treasures that He wanted to give me, but He was waiting for my arrival in America. Since my arrival here I have been so blessed by the many things He has done. His treasures are great. One of those treasures is meeting a man that I truly adore. His name is Samuel. I met Samuel in January when I went to Redding, California to visit Bethel Church (which God had told me to do when I was in Mozambique). As many of you know I have never dated before or allowed anyone to pursue me so this is a very new experience, but I’m convinced that it’s God. Samuel is an amazing person with a heart of pure gold who feels called to missions. There is so much that I can say about him and about our journey, but this is good for now. It has been a very fun few months hanging out with him as he has come to Washington a couple of times and I have gone to Redding, California to visit him. He is originally from Ohio, but is at Bethel church as a Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry 3rd year intern with the evangelism pastor there. This summer Samuel will be going to a remote island in Alaska to work. Our communication is going to be extremely limited during this time because where he is going they don’t have good Internet or cell reception. I don’t like this part as it is going to be difficult not having much communication, but God’s grace is sufficient. After Alaska he is not sure if he will be coming to Mozambique to visit me or if a door will open up for him to get his pilot’s license. Please keep him in your prayers regarding this and the decisions that lay ahead of us both. I have attached two pictures of us both. One is of us on my birthday and the other is us after we went skydiving.

Thank you again for all of your prayers and support. Please keep my family also in prayer as this is a difficult time for us as we spend our last days and hours together until we see each other again.

You are very loved and highly favored!

Because I love Jesus!
Ashlee

Happy New Years and an update on the Farm - 12-31-2008

Happy New Year Everyone and Belated Merry Christmas!!
I have been in contact with many people in Mozambique since my arrival in America. The rains have finally arrived so the people can finally seed their fields. I am very glad to let you know that the youth, with the help of men and women from the Igreja de Paz (Church of Peace), went to Tica and seeded the field with corn a little over a week ago. Esau and Junito (two people who are helping Pastor Jacinto, Rainha and myself with the agriculture project) said that it was a success planting the seed and that the youth/children did a great job. One of the pastors that is helping with this project in Tica was there to help instruct the people on how things needed to be done properly. Esau went back to Tica a few days ago to check on the field and he said that some of the plants have already sprouted. Praise Jesus!
Thank you so much for your support during 2008. I could not have been in Mozambique without you. It's with great appreciation and a heart of gratitude that I lift you up in thanksgiving to God for your love and support.
I'm full of hope and expectation for this coming year.
With Love,
Ashlee

Happy Thanksgiving - November 27, 2008

Happy Thanksgiving!!! We have so much to be thankful for!! I’m very thankful for this gift to be able to spend the holidays with my family this year. What a blessing.

As I write this letter to you I am sitting on the airplane heading from Jo’burg to Washington DC. It’s about an 18 hour flight so I thought I should take advantage of the time and do something productive. As I write this I am realizing that it has been a bit over a month since I last sent out any communication about what has been going on in Mozambique. The month of October was basically just a month of conferences. We had a women’s conference where Trafina (Pastor Supresa Sithole’s wife) came from South Africa with a large group to minister to the women of Central Mozambique. There was a lot of preparation that took place before this could happen. My part was to prepare accommodations for around 500 women. The conference went well, but it was very exhausting for all of us. The days were very long with early mornings and very late nights. My heart was to focus on serving the women as Jesus gave us the example of serving one another. I served them with all of my heart and strength. Unfortunately I was quite sick during this time so upon the exhaustion my health was not well, but God is good to have restored me. J I had one day to clean up after the women’s conference and prepare for another large team that came from Brazil to do a seminar for our Bible School students and pastors.


Farm Project

We are waiting for the rains to come so that the kids that are part of this project can go and seed the field. We have already bought the seed (corn, tomatoes and I believe they will buy pumpkin also) and the tools. I have attached some pictures of these so you can see a piece of the fruit of your giving. The kids are doing well. They are eager for the rains to come so that they can go to the field. They are really beginning to draw close to me. A few times that I was able to I went to a couple of their houses to visit them and see how they were doing. This past week on Wednesday I spent the whole afternoon with a handful of them. I wanted to do something special with them before I left (and they did too) J so we had lunch together at Esau and Cade’s house. About 5 girls stayed up really late the night before preparing cakes. The next morning when I went to the house they had it decorated and were cooking the lunch. We had a great time of fellowship, dancing, and just having fun.

In my last letter to you I told you about the three children who are siblings that were separated after their parent’s death. I told you about the youngest boy who lived in Beira and the two older siblings had to pay for him to be cared for. Last month the younger brother fled the house he was living in and came to Dondo. There are very strong signs that he was being abused. He walked from Beira, which is about a 40-45 minute drive…he is 9 years old. Rainha and I went and visited with him when we found out what had happened. Before I met this little guy I had such a big compassion and love in my heart for him. To see him for the first time and see such sadness in his eyes was difficult. When I looked at him I looked at him with hope knowing that Jesus has an awesome destiny for this little treasure and Satan is trying hard to destroy it, but He has lost the war! On this day he wouldn’t speak and couldn’t look at anyone – he was very downcast and scared. After some adjustments and getting the correct paperwork Rainha took Armandinho (the little boy) to stay at their ministry location. They are not set up to have kids in the physical and financial sense, but we know this is God. Armandinho is staying with Junito (who works with Rainha and her husband – he is a man of God). Junito is pouring out love on him. When we had our lunch and celebration on Wednesday I told Junito to bring Armandihno. I spent the afternoon gently pouring out love and acceptance upon him. For the very first time I saw him smile – not once, but three times! I even got him to give a little laugh at one point. The day after our special lunch I went to the mission where he is staying and spent more time with him. I gave him a picture that I had taken of him and the joy that filled his face brought tears to my eyes. It was great seeing his beautiful smile as Junito and I played with him. The pain is slowly falling from him and I see that it truly is Jesus’ pure love that is doing the miracle…..I’m seeing a little life being transformed by love in front of my face. It is about the one! I have said many times if I had my own house I would take him in as a son, but right now I know he is where he is supposed to be. He has never been able to go to school, but this January (when they start school again) Armandihno will be going! I attached a picture of him with me so you can see his face and pray for him....God is healing this little boy's heart.



It’s About The One

My heart is so passionate to stop for the one. Incarnational ministry – loving people where they are at and seeing them being transformed by the power of Jesus’ love and truth. This past Sunday I took, David and Naza, two really good friends of mine to a church in Beira where Jesus is exalted and His presence and power is more than evident. I wanted them to see real Jesus and a healthy church. Naza is a friend who did not know Jesus – she knew about Him, but she did not know Him. I want her to know Him. When I invited her to go to the church she was very ready and excited to go. So last Sunday morning David, Naza and myself hoped on a chapa (Mozambiquen transport – like a mini bus) and headed to Beira. It was a powerful time. Naza gave her heart to Jesus. She told me later that that was her church now. Afterwards we went to a restaurant on the beach and had lunch together. It was such a good time. After lunch we played in freedom on the beach. It was so good to see Naza so free. She is the same age as myself, but already a widow with two children. On this day it was like the stress of life was lifted off of her shoulders and she was free to have fun. All three of us played and had great conversations – I didn’t want the day to end – I didn’t want to go back home.

Yesterday (Thursday), I went to Naza’s house to spend time with her and her family before leaving for America. It really touched me as I was with her. I know she loves me deeply. She said, “Ashlee, I believe God brought you here just for me.” She told me to always remember that I am a part of many people’s lives here and to come back to Mozambique quickly. She placed her hands on each side of my face and gave me a big kiss on the forehead. This was symbolic to me as I know that it is a symbol of acceptance as intimate family.

Sometimes we don’t even realize the deepness of how Father uses our lives to touch and draw others to Himself. It’s through true intimate relationship that I am seeing people truly coming to Jesus in Mozambique. Rainha told me something one day that really hit me. She said, “Ashlee, as a missionary you can come to Mozambique and work for years, but if you never go and be a part of the people and their lives you will leave after years without anyone knowing you or making a deep impact because Mozambiquens will not come and open to you unless you embrace them first….but when you open to them they will not let you go.”

I love the people of Mozambique more than I can express. They truly have become my people and this has become my home. They tease me sometimes and say that I have become more Mozambiquen than American – to me this is a compliment because what they are saying is that I understand them and the culture.

During this time that I am in America I have a lot to think and pray about. I really need direction from the Father in some decisions that I must make. I would be so grateful for your prayers in this regard.

Thank you for your continued support because without you I could not be in Mozambique. Thank you so much for believing in what God is doing in Mozambique and what He is doing through my life. You each are such a precious gift to me.

“That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all Your wondrous works. Lord I have loved the habitation of Your house.” Psalm 26:7-8

Because He Is My Everything!!!

Ashlee