Ash...sweet sweet chariot...

Wow, today. Today I received an email from my amazing friend Katie. This email...well I hate to use dumb phrases like "changed my life" or "made my day", but it really was phenomenal. It's like through this email I remembered that I am more than a LifeForce team leader, and that my life consists of more than these last 7 months. I definitely came into this year with a different mindset, but because I'm so isolated and far away it's easy to get consumed by all Jesus is doing in me and easy to get overwhelmed by how much I desire to be changed in my life. I knew that this whole experience would considerably change my life and it definitely has. Much has been birthed and developed in me. Even this morning I realized how desperately I want to spend closet time with Jesus. This week I've been more alone than any other time this whole mission (I'm being billeted alone) and I had forgotten how phenomenal it is to be alone with Jesus. I'm so bad at just making the time and effort to really pray and worship just because I love to do so. Then I got an email from Katie reminding me of the absolutely amazing times of intercessory and prophetic worship times we've had. It was really what I needed to hear after everything I was thinking all morning. I was reminded that there was an Ashley before this mission started and that there will be an Ashley in 4 weeks when this is all over. It will definitely be a changed Ashley. It will for sure be a renewed Ashley. But I will still be Ashley.

I thank Jesus for Africa. I never imagined I'd go and there were times throughout that I didn't think I'd survive, but if I hadn't gone it would be unlikely that I would have Katie and Amber in my life, and that surely would be one of the greatest losses in my life. I love you two so much. You inspire me to abandon myself more and more to Christ. Katie--your heart of worship...it makes me speachless and I'm just overwhelmed that I have even been a witness to it. Amber--your passion is like nothing I've seen and being able to hear how you've lived your life is one of the greatest privileges I've had. I love you both so much! Thank you for being my friends.

It feels good to remember.
It feels good to look ahead and dream.
It feels good to love and be loved.