Saturday, September 20, 2008

The Last three Days

September 18
Good News! Today they announced that our field assignment will be in; Guadalupe, The Bahamas, or Antique/S.t. Kitt. We are not told where to go we will be praying over these places for the next two weeks, then sharing what the Lord has spoken. Please pray for me in this, I really have no clue. I don’t know much about these places so I’m worried I might just pick. I am scared I won’t be listening just guessing. I know God is going to use me anywhere, but it’s important I’m confident in the place I go.
Today we shared testimonies all day. It was really exhausting but freeing. I told these eleven strangers parts of my life that had been in the dark for a long time. The Lord is restoring and shepherding. I was so encouraged to here about everyone’s own journey to dts and their stories of faith. I am surrounded by committed people who also desire God to be first, and dts is what that looked like for all of us. How neat that God would have this select and willing group together to grow in our knowledge and love for Jesus together. Oh, cool fact there are twelve students here, twelve disciples, very significant eh?
Tonight we’re going to the YWAM Caribbean overseer’s house for some brownies and fellowship. I just found out they have a trampoline so I’m going to show off my cheer-skills. Really wow the crowd, ya know?! Anyway, blessing and thanksgivings I send home! Sleep well!

September 19
Today we learned all about Jamaica and its brutal history. We also learned all about the Rastafarian's and what they actually believe. It’s very complicated but basically they worshiped a man from Ethiopia and thought he was the actual Christ. The think that Jesus was a prophet but usually associate the name as a slave ship that brought Africans into Jamaica for slavery. They thought that Haley Salasie was the true son of God. I’m sorry if my Lord we’re in Ethiopia I’d be in Ethiopia, but most Rasta’s were in Jamaica, weird. It made me rethink my bob Marley music taste and understand some lyrics I had been questioning. That was an abbreviated version, but the main idea.

So we had a welcome home party tonight that was amazing. We played all these fun games and had a Jamaican Banquet. The food is really unique but not my style, too much starch! We had a dance party afterwards, there are a lot of cool reggae Christian artist, and many reformed Rasta’s!! The music is so fresh and full of life! I learned signature moves like, gully creeper, and the sweep, and heel toe, the Jamaicans told me I was pretty good and asked me where I learned to dance like them! I felt pretty accepted because some people on the base were a bit standoffish too me but loosed up last night, very nice. I also got cornrows, it was ridiculous.

September 20, 2008
Today I got up and cooked for and hour then feed the homeless at a shelter. I love ywam. We learn and we do. The people were a little scary, but God allowed me to speak John 4; 34 to them. I told them that Jesus gave them this meal, but his word and will are our true nourishment. They took pretty well to me and it was humbling to sit and talk with them. I met this one crazy woman who was really out of it. She told me her name was Monica then asked me about my bracelets. I told her about my people and the reasons I wore them, she really liked this orange, brown, and yellow one I had from forever ago. I put it on randomly before I left for no reason. On the plane I asked myself why I was wearing it and I guess it was for Monica. She gave me a string from her coat and we prayed together. How cool? I of course will wash the bracelet then wear it with pride! We went to another shelter and I made friends with this guy named Alvin. He said he wanted to write me and ask me questions about God. I’m not really sure what to expect, but yeah we’ll see. We prayed with them and then ran through downtown handing out meals to anyone who looked hungry. Seeing the kids starving stirred up something in me. I am certain this is my call in ministry right now. I’m really blessed by the work God is doing in this city. It’s breaking to see people with no home praise God for the little things they do have.
We went to the beach and met up with the rest of the students because the street feeding was optional and only 5 of us felt called to run around with Marion. The beach was amazing you have to pay $2.50 and it was worth it. We could watch the airplanes come in on these water trampolines and I swam about 30 feet down with my snorkel. The fish are see-through and the coral looks amazing. It was so nice to swim in God’s creation and give thanks for the blessed morning with his people. We had pizza Hut for lunch which really hit the spot and I had a Pepsi for the first time, soo good. It was a nice bit of home. I have to go finish hand washing my clothes and reading my book! God is good, God is always good.

4 comments:

yohoster said...

I can't believe that you snorkled down 30 feet! I remember when you were so scared of the ocean....

keep seeking and learning. your life will be forever changed!

Ghoster said...

ACTS 17:26!
Thank you for sharing you life with us.
Larry

masterg said...

WOW WOW WOW ASHLEY,
i can tell that god is putting you on a path THAT only HE could map out .your words made me stop and give thanks right here right now at work and praise him for your journey.you might be far away on the map but we are closer that ever because we put our faith in jesus. i love you xoxoxo pappa g

kerryberry said...

It's me--KT. I know what you mean about the "snorkeling in God's creation". The exact same thing that I told the praise band team last week, when Dewayne and I came back from Bermuda!! Love you and miss you much.