Ash...still alive...

HELLO! No, I have not dropped off the face of the planet. In fact I’ve just moved about halfway down it, and have not been good at finding time to email. In case you haven’t been following the blog or just forgot, I am in Tobago leading a LifeForce team. It’s been good and really busy. My days are really full--even when we’re not in a school or ministering, I am kept busy with team and administration things. There is so much to do and remember as a leader. It’s a really great learning experience and growing experience, despite and considering the difficult times. I’ve thought quite a few times since arriving here that leading a team is actually harder than I expected. If I’m not meeting with teachers, principals, or pastors, I’m with the team, trying to love them and move them closer to Jesus. I feel inadequate for such a great responsibility but God is extremely gracious and He is the one who has called me here. I’ve actually had a really hard time adjusting to the culture this time, despite having spent 4 months here before. I’ve realized that it’s probably because I have so many things that I have to be in control of that I’m missing just having to be responsible for myself. But anyways, it’s been good and God is really great. I’m really seeing Him in a new way. Out of a really deep loneliness and longing to connect with someone, I’m turning to Him and relying on Him in a really new and deep way. Plus it’s been really hard for me to find time to email and receive news from home and friends so that’s also been a catalyst for the deepening of my relationship with Jesus.

I would really just like to encourage any of you reading to really seek out the reason that God has you where you are right now. It’s not any mistake or accident that you live where you live, work where you work, go to school where you do, or have the friends and family that you have. God has something for you where you are and He has you there for an specific purpose. It’s only in looking back on your life that you can see the different seasons of your life and the lessons you learned through them. Motivate yourself to seeking out the will of God for today. I’m realizing more and more the beauty of obedience. That we would wait and anticipate His voice and then be recklessly abandoned to obeying it--satisfying the heart of God for today. I had to speak at a youth group last night and the Lord really laid on my heart obedience to the plans of God. I was reminded of the calling of Levi. Once day Jesus just walked by Levi sitting at his tax collector booth and calls out, “Follow me.” Levi, without hesitation, excuse, or reasoning, just gets up, leaves his booth behind, and follows after Jesus. Are we so willing? Are we so obedient? Because today, and right now, Jesus is calling out to us to follow him. To be obedient to His voice. History is ripe with stories of the crazy things followers of Jesus did. Everything from ark-building to martyrdom, God has called out to His children. Why are you where you are right now? Tune your ear to His voice and see if there might be something Jesus has for you right now. Maybe he’ll ask for cartwheels down the street or a conversation with the person sitting on the other side of the room. Regardless, He longs to see you light up and spew that light all over the world. So let’s actively listen for His voice and recklessly obey it.

I love you Amber and miss talking with you so much. I can’t to hear the stories of this season for you! Much much love to you! (Say hi to your family from me!)