Bring Life to These Dry Bones

About two years ago, I was waiting.

I was filled with hope, excitement, encouragement, strength...I was waiting for something to happen.

About two years ago, I was one month away from moving to Haiti. I just couldn't wait to get here. I couldn't wait to experience Christ, to be his hands and feet, and to serve him differently than I had ever before.

About two years ago...I was dreaming, about how great life would be in Haiti. The lost soles I would save. The relationships I would make. Intimacy with the Lord. I envisioned that my two years in Haiti would be me on cloud 9 the entire time.

Then I arrived in Haiti.

I hit the ground running, literally. I arrived with a team. Learned the ropes quickly. Developed relationships, lead teams, served teams, served Haitians, saw poverty, saw death, experienced poverty, experienced broken relationships, friends left, teams left....

Let's just say, it hasn't been cloud 9. A lot of times, it feels like cloud 2.

Moving has been the most difficult thing I have ever done in my life.

Somedays I feel very isolated, like I don't fit in, like I've done nothing, reached no one...

In my heart I know these words aren't true. I know they are from the devil and I need to fight them. I need to claim the God's truth...

I recently started the study "Duty or Delight" by Tammie Head...

"One thing is certain. You're going to learn how to put your foot down and stop putting up with what you've been putting up with. It's time for the condemnation to stop. It's time for the guilt to stop. It's time for the prayerlessness to stop. It's time for fear to stop. It's time for all of these false expectations to stop. It's time you enjoyed your God."

I needed to hear these words. I need some reassembling.

I need some refreshing...

Lord Reassemble Me.

Lord Refresh Me.

Bring life to these Dry Bones (Ezekiel 37:1-14)

** There have been many good things in Haiti. I have learned more than any other time of my life and learned how to trust God and lean on him....but I'm tired and weary **

{Friday Favorites} - April 5

1// Chalkboard Printables - I'm addicted. I love these things. So cute and for a home, so easy and inexpensive to change up. Plus they are really encouraging. This printable came from Sweet Blessings. Check their webpage out for more great stuff.

2// I love this Sandra Roberts Bag...I've been in search for a new "laptop bag" that doesn't look like a laptop bag, but can hold one and other stuff. I found this one, but it was white...which scared me. I'm still looking for the perfect bag!! (Yes, I'm a bag lady as my dad would say!!)

3// Dry Shampoo...why did no one tell me about this stuff before. Because I am a runner I was washing my hair about 2 times a day. I love that I can spray this stuff in and save my self from a wash!!

4// New iPad holder. I've searched and searched...found this at Marshall's for $5...I love it!

5// Roman's 12: 9 - 13 what a piece of scripture...Challenging...what does it mean to Hate what is Evil..then you get to verse 12....it's short, but watch out...A lot of commands that are difficult in one little verse!! I've been so challenged, especially to be faithful in prayer. It's an area that I have struggled with a lot in my life. How to faithfully pray for others and intercede. God has been stretching me. I've joined this blog in doing the #PrayerDare.

6//Coloring Easter Eggs...we didn't have dye...so we used MIO drink concentrate...They were odd colored Eggs, but we had fun!!

7// I've been trying to run more. Push to a newer level. I want to do another marathon this year. Yesterday I was feeling sluggish, then looked at my watch and realized it was the fastest run I've had here!!

I hope you have a good weekend!!

{Crown Him [Majesty]} - Chris Tomlin

Last week, my best friend bought me a ticket to the Chris Tomlin Burning Lights Tour w/ Louie Giglio and Kari Jobe...what a worship service...how awesome to have a glimpse of what worship in Heaven could be like!

Thanks Betha for taking me :) 

They redid, this old hymn....it's been stuck in my head since and I wanted to share it with you!!

Crown Him with many crowns
The Lamb upon His throne
Hark! How the heavenly anthem drowns
All music but its own;
Awake my soul and sing
Of Him who died for me
And hail Him as thy matchless King
Through all eternity.

[Chorus:]
Majesty, Lord of all
Let every throne before Him fall
The King of kings, O come adore
Our God who reigns forever - more.

[Verse 2:]
Crown Him Lord of life
Who triumphed o'er the grave
And rose victorious in the strife
For those He came to save;
His glories now we sing
Who died and rose on high
Who died eternal life to bring
And lives that death may die.

[Bridge:]
All hail, Redeemer, hail
For He has died for me
His praise and glory shall not fail
Throughout eternity.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!!

Thanking Him

I ran by this devotional from Jesus Today. It was exactly what I needed to hear today!

First attempt at Chalkboard art...lots of room for improvement :)

What's In Your Heart To Do?

What's in your heart to do?? This question pierces my mind....how can I even begin to answer all that God has put on my heart? I know it is a gift...it's a gift that he has called, that my heart is afflicted, that I wrestle with the injustice and poverty...it's God's grace to me.

Some days I find myself thinking about the future, the very near future...when we leave the field and move to the states for a little while. I have fears of moving back, fears that I will love it, that I will forget what God has put on my heart, forget what God has opened my eyes to see. Some days I find myself hoping I will forget, that I won't have to be afflicted any longer. Then He reminds me, it's His gift to me.

Some days I'm burdened by what God has put in my heart to do? I'm not capable, I don't have the right gifts, I don't always have the strength, I don't have the words to say...Today, I'm reminded again, this too is a gift. By his grace and his grace only and with his strength. He will do what He has put on my heart to do.

        2 Corinthians 8:11-15

So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have. For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. As it is written, “Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.”

I'm ready....

God has put on my heart

Isaiah 58: 10-11 - To pour myself out to the hungry and to satisfy the desire of the afflicted...He will make my bones strong.

Ephesians 1: 3-14 - The women of Haiti will know they are holy and blameless before Him...He is the redemption...They are forgiven....He has lavished upon them...They have an INHERITANCE.

Ephesians 3: 17-19 - The women of Haiti will be strengthened and powered through his Spirit...Christ will dwell in their hearts...They will completely grasp all HE has for them!!

1 Peter 2:9 - They will KNOW who they are!

To see the women of this nation FREE!!

To see their children have HOPE!! A hope of a future to look forward too!!

Find favor in my heart Lord..Hear my plea for your children!

What has God put on your heart to do??

{Friday Favorites} - September 14

It looks like I need to start adding more pictures to my blog, since I made my crazy mistake and have lots of black spots on my blog :) It's been a great week, living on a schedule, being a wife, a friend, a teammate...I'm blessed.

 1. Number One Pool: My friends at Respire Haiti had told me this pool existed. I must admit, I wasn't too hopeful that it would be nice..even driving in, I was skeptical. However, the pool was nice, clean, quiet..the only thing that was really weird, were the two giant naked statues that were peeing in the pool (not kidding). We had a great day!!

 2. Magic Bullet - Thank you Schmidgall Family! This has been a blessing. I was able to find some frozen fruit in town and make us some awesome smoothies...Claudy is in love, I'm already out of fruit!!

3. Hammock: Last Saturday, per the recommendation of Cherie and Kristi, we visited a store by the embassy. It was everything has great as they had said (Claudy didn't think it was great and couldn't understand my joy). I actually felt like I was shopping in a target (Ok, it wasn't that nice, but still..). I wanted to buy everything, then realized, I don't need dishes, serving plates, decorations, etc...so I settled on a hammock. Which wasn't settling at all. My parents had tried to bring me one from the states, but it didn't fit in the right dimensions. So, with the help of my wonderful husband, I now have a wonderful hammock on the roof. I have spent some great time with the Lord up there...

 4. It's fall...It doesn't feel like it in Haiti, but my mind knows it's fall. To help trick my senses, I have started burning my fall scents and keep the fan on me and I almost can believe that it is true :) I love this candle, seriously go now to bath and body and buy one for yourself! I will be buying more when I return to the states. If I didn't have a thing about burning scents in seasons, I would burn it all year long!!

 5. Soccer: I told you we were more on a schedule...It seems that 5 o'clock is fitness hour. I go for a run, Claudy goes and plays soccer..I finish my run and watch him play for a little while :) I love watching him play...love seeing him disciple the men that he plays with!! Please pray for him and a couple of the other guys. They are thinking of using soccer as their platform to help reach the community!!

6. Marriage: It has been eye opening.. others had told me, and it's not that I didn't believe them, I just didn't understand. It has shown me areas that I am weak and need to grow. Lately, I've been shown, how much I struggle with value and personal image. I never believe these issues would be solved with marriage, trust me they aren't :) But I didn't realize how much I struggled with them, until Claudy was telling me things, I didn't really believe them to be true.

 I've been spending a lot of time in the word, reading His words and His promises..that I'm fearfully and wonderfully made.  Last night, I was listening to this song and its as if the words were meant for me. Click here to listen.

"So with my arms stretched out I am swaying to your heartbeat.
I am growing with the sound of your voice calling
You are bringing out the beauty that you had put in me
For your joy and for your glory falling.

With my roots deep in you
I grow the branch that bares the fruit
And though I am small I still will be standing in the storm.
Cause I am planted by the river
By your streams of living water
And I will grow up strong and beautiful all for your splendor Lord."

I love that....I'm bringing out the beauty you had put in me....I will grow up strong and beautiful all for YOUR splendor Lord!!!

Thankful that as I walk through this journey, I can minister to others. The 2nd week of October, I will be starting a bible study with the 13-16 year old girls at Maxo's school. We will be focusing on identity! Please pray for us!!!

Hope you have a great week!!!

I Don't Understand

There are many days in Haiti, that it is hard for me to be transparent. I sometimes have a hard time allowing myself to feel. If I must admit, I'm afraid. Sometimes I'm afraid to feel. I'm afraid that if I allow myself to feel here, there will be so much pain, hatred, confusion, anger. Tonight, I want to be transparent with you...

I'm angry and sad. I'm angry that people are born into this poverty. I'm angry that almost 3 years later, many are still living in tents. I'm angry there is a storm approaching and not all the Haitian's even know when or that it's coming. I'm angry, that even if they did know, how do you prepare your tent for a storm.

I'm sad...on Saturday, I helped my friends desperately try to save the life of their beloved brother. I'm sad that he died and that there wasn't anyone around that could do CPR, that there is no 911, and that some of the hospitals wouldn't help, because he was too bad. I'm not even sure, how a hospital can say they are helping people if they won't take those that are fighting to survive. That makes me angry.

I'm angry...Today we found out that only 30% passed their governmental exams. What is that?? How do you have an educational system that doesn't provide funding, requires HORRIBLE curriculum, has no requirements for teaching and makes the students take a test, that NO ONE has any idea what is on! Worse...how can you allow 70% to fail and claim you have a good education system. How can you not even see there is a problem...they label it the students fault. I'm sorry, as a former teacher, if 70% of my students fail...I'm DOING SOMETHING WRONG!!!!

I could go on...

I have had a difficult day today, trying to be positive, trying to keep hope.

I know I need to cling to the word and cling to our Savior, because, I don't understand. WHY?? Yet, I know it's not for me to question.

Isaiah 55: 8-9 says, "I don't think the way you think. The way you work isn't the way I work." God's Decree. For as the sky soars high above earth, so the way I work surpasses the way you work, and the way I think is beyond the way you think." 

12 - 13 continue..."So you'll go out in joy, you'll be led into a whole and complete life. The mountains and hills will lead the parade, bursting with song. All the trees of the forest will join the procession, exuberant with applause.No more thistles, but giant sequoias, no more thornbushes, but stately pines—Monuments to me, to God, living and lasting evidence of God."

I cling to this hope...the only hope I can have...that I won't understand and at the end, It will be worth it. He will receive glory. There will be justice, no more pain, no more sin....

IDENTITY - I know who I am

In the last couple of months my role has changed. I'm no longer just a friend or girlfriend. I'm a wife. Also, I'm no longer on the field alone, I'm a teammate. All things exciting...only this isn't my identity and I can proclaim that truth. I have been told, I've read it, I've believed it and I've seen it work itself out in my life. I am so much more than the things I do.

"I AM...
a CHOSEN RACE, a ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, a HOLY NATION, a PEOPLE FOR HIS OWN POSSESSION, that I may PROCLAIM the EXCELLENCIES of HIM who CALLED me OUT OF DARKNESS into HIS MARVELOUS LIGHT."

There are so many days in Haiti that I hurt for my fellow Holy Nation...for His People, for the women in Haiti. The women that don't know this and don't believe it. The women that find their identity in their parents, significant other, church, children, vodooism, etc...The list goes on. They are chained and in an identity crisis. My hearts desire is to see them free. For them to KNOW WHO THEY ARE!!

I'm excited for this new season. I now have more time to spend with these women. Please pray with me, that I can be a vessel that God will use to bring them out of darkness and into HIS marvelous light.

Be an Encourager

In the last week God has been speaking to me about my attitude (along with my wonderful fiance, I love how they can point out your weaknesses). It's been easy here to get caught up in the difficulties. To focus, on the hardship, the sufferings, the trials, and the work you don't feel called to do. I've been stuck in a rut. I've been choosing to focus on the things that are hard for me, instead of the the blessings.

Yesterday I started reading through 2 Corinthians and I was so encouraged by Paul's words in chapter 1, verse 7...

 There is a reason for the suffering, for the trials and for the comfort...that way we can share with our brothers and sisters, we can extend grace and mercy and comfort them when they are going through sufferings, because we too, have been through them.

Yesterday, I was praying through what God wanted me to do with this, how to use my sharing of the suffering. I was convicted that I wasn't being a person of encouragement. He wants to use me to encourage His saints. Today as I read in chapter, I came across verse 15....we are called to be the aroma of Christ...

 My prayer today is that Christ will use me to encourage others and that everywhere I go, I will let off the aroma of Christ.

Picking up on my One Thousand Gifts...

55. Sun blisters from a relaxing day at the beach.
56. The smell of the Caribbean waters.
57. God's perfect creation of the ocean, it's simple beauty.
58. The fragrance of the rain.
59. Elaise's sweet smile of thanks everyday.
60. God sending people of encouragement at the times we need them most.
61. Book of letters from my family.

62. Mom's drawing of the farming, making me less homesick.

63. Notes from the children at the orphanage.

{Friday Favorites} - February 3

Yesterday marked 8 months in Haiti for me. I can't believe how fast the time as gone and how much as happened in the last 8 months. It's hard to put into words what all God has been teaching me, as there have been many lessons. However, I think the lesson I am continually learning is, I'm only adequate through His strength.

Laura and I were talking today about the video my church did before I left. God used my brokenness for teenage girls, women and the children of Haiti to get me here. However, that is not how he used me (I realize I still have at least 16 months in Haiti and he still could use me to do this). He has used me to be the leader on the ground here. I've had very little time to train teachers or to develop strong relationships with women. I'm leading in a country, that by nature is very Machismotic, which has added some difficulties. I've had some many moments over the last 8 months, where I have had to get on my knees and ask God to show up because it is more than I can handle, it's more than I can do. 

I've been reading the book, "Kisses from Katie" by Katie Davis, and she described this feeling so well. 

            "Remember, God will never give you more than you can handle. People repeat this frequently; I heard it when I was group up and I hear it now. It is meant to be a source of encouragement, and it would be if I believed it were grue. But I don't. I believe that God totally, absolutely, intentionally gives us than we can handle. Because this is when we surrender to Him and He takes over, proving Himself by doing the impossible in our lives."

She's right. Those moments where I have surrendered, God has showed up and proved the impossible. He has blessed our ministry beyond words, so much so, we don't even know what or how it is going to all get done....but He does. 

I've struggled this week. Struggled to see how he is using me, when all it seems like I do is plan. How the planning is advancing his kingdom. I've struggled with what my roll is in helping the poor. Do I feed people? Do I find jobs? What is my roll? 

I don't have the answers, but I'm surrendering. I'm asking Him to show up and make it clear!

I know this hasn't been much of a Friday's favorites, but I needed to share what the Lord has been teaching me. So this Friday, I'm showing you my favorite photo from every month I've been in Haiti. 

June - Girl at Tree of Life Orphanage. 

July - Roselane...I miss this girl :)

August...getting my hair braided during a soccer game. 

September...Kids in Bellvue watching the soccer match...some got to Maxo's school

October - Day at the beach...my friends Billy and Zicot

November - Olympics day...Wilby

December - The kids of OLTCH

January - We got engaged!!! Love Him!!

Hope you have a great week!!!

Compassion

If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. 
Isaiah 58: 10-11


I moved to Haiti almost 8 months ago. It's crazy how fast the time as gone. Prior to moving, I thought by this point I would understand how to handle the poverty, what the Lord requires to us as we are serving. I couldn't have been more wrong. The more I am here, the more I struggle with what is means to pour out myself. In fact, there are many times, like this week, where I am left feeling un-compassionate. One of the hardest parts of my day, is when I have to look into someones eyes, that is jobless, hungry, and desperate to feed their children, and tell them no, I'm sorry I don't have a job for you. I wish I could help them all. In my mind, I know the right answer, that I'm not called to help them all, but that doesn't help when I am staring into the eyes of the hungry.

My prayer today is that God will multiply what He is doing here. That He will speak to me when that "no" needs to be a "yes" and that I will always be ready to listen and hear His voice!

Days 19-21: {25 Days of Christmas} -Our Savior

I had a totally different post in mind today, but during my 7 hour layover in Miami, I was reading from the devotional that Claudy and I started this month. I am so thankful that God became man, lived a perfect life, so that we could have life. I really don't have much to add to the devotional..so here it is, 

In Jesus' genealogy is Raahab, a woman of questionable morals who helped the Hebrew spies as they entered the Promised Land. And a generation later, the Moabite Ruth appears. Then, within two generations, an adulterous king with a murderous bent shows up. What are a Canaanite prostitute, a Moabite outsider, and a law-breaking king doing in Jesus' genealogy? Pointing to the hope we have in Christ, that's what.

Think about it: Jesus - the incarnate God, the invisible Creator appearing in flesh - is a descendant of sinners. If Jesus could come from the seed of a prostitute, a foreigner, and an adulterer, He's just the One to represent sinners to God. While sinless Himself, the holy Son of God came in the form of fallen flesh, a descendant of sinful humanity in need of salvation. That kind of God-man could represent us well. In Him we can hope. 

We forget, with all of Jesus' holiness and perfection, the fallenness of the world He entered. He didn't take on Garden of Eden flesh; He took on the flesh that was forced out of the Garden to till the stubborn soil. He took on flesh that killed prophets and seduced God's people, the flesh of circumcised rebels, foreigners, and outcasts. He took on the flesh of all of us. 

God didn't just become man, He became man in the form of those who had fallen-miserably. Only that kind of Savior can give us hope. His discent to save us is greater than we thought, and our salvation is greater than we imagined.

From the One Year Worship The King Devotional

I am so thankful for the salvation of a sinless man in our fallen world. 

May Christ dwell in you,

Ashlee

Day 12 - {25 Days of Christmas} - and Day 10 & 11

I apologize that I didn't write the last two days. I have not been feeling well and couldn't find enough energy to write. I also ask for your patience with this blog post, I have two thoughts for today and they don't really connect, but bear with me.

 Last Monday, I wrote about the great super market  that we go to get some supplies. Well more frequently I got to a "Mache" which means to walk or market in Kreyol, which is an open air market. This is where I try to by our vegetables. Some of the common things that I buy are...
Chou - Cabbage
Kawot - Carrots
Betrav - Beats
Piman Dous - Green Peppers
Zonyon - Onion
Lay - Garlic

Tomat - Tomatoes
Pomdete - Potatoes
Piman Pike - Hot peppers
Diri - Rice
Pwa - Beans
Maggie - Chicken Bouillon
Lwil - Oil









I told you that I had two different thoughts today and I wish I had an easier way to connect them, but I don't.

WHAT IF....

 Have you ever thought about the "What ifs" in your life. Have you wondered what your life would have been like if you'd made different choices or been born in a different place? What if God hadn't delivered Israel from Egypt? What if God hadn't intervened and sent Jesus to live a sinless life for our sins. What if God hadn't given you insight to His plan and had never rescued you from your sin? I think about this a lot in Haiti and the picture of the girls to the left, is a picture of how God pursued me to Haiti. What if I had been born and not wanted by my parents? If I had been raised in an orphanage and lost hope? What would my life look like?
What if the only job I could find was looking for "usable" items in a garbage dumb? These thoughts, this season, has brought me to my needs in gratitude. Thankful for what God has brought me through, thankful for what He has opened my eyes to, thankful for what he has blessed me with, thankful that Christ loves me and pursues me despite my failure, and most thankful that He sent his SON to die on the cross for my sins!!




Hope you have a blessed day!!

Day 7 - {25 Days of Christmas} - Bible Study

So as I woke up this morning I was hoping all of my Kreyol practicing from yesterday would pay of for my lesson today. Every (well most) Wednesday's I have language lessons with Teresa. She is a PA and a missionary who has lived in Haiti. She has been such a blessing to me, not only because she helps me with my language, but because she is a great friend. She and her husband have two beautiful children. Here is Nora, participating in our lesson...well asking me to play house with her, but regardless, I love spending my Wednesday mornings with them!

If you have been following my blog in the last 3 months, you know that I started a bible study with my friend Laura. We meet on Wednesday's and we have been going through "A Women's Heart God's Dwelling Place", which goes through the Ancient Tabernacles and God's fulfillment of the tabernacle in our lives today! My lesson today was so impactful.It was talking about the design for the ark of the covenant, specifically how the poles were attached. One of the purposes for having the poles was for the Israelite's to be able to move the ark, because God wanted to be with them wherever they went. I am so grateful that God is moving with us, wherever we go and how much we need him no matter where we go, even when we enter the "promised land." Over the last 6 months I have needed him to be with me here...He has been my constant, unseen companion! I'm so thankful that we can count on that through our entire lives!

Blessings to you this day! I pray God will prove himself to be your faithful companion today!

Day 4 - {25 Days of Christmas} - With Everything

I love Sunday's in Haiti. I love the worship. I love that people give all of themselves and everything they have. It reminds me of Hillsong's "With Everything" 


Open our hearts,To see the things; That make Your heart cry,To be the church; The You would desire. Light to be seen.


Break down our pride, And all the walls; We've built up inside, Our earthly crowns
And all our desires, We lay at Your feet.

So let hope rise, And darkness tremble; In Your holy light, And every eye will see
Jesus, our God, Great and mighty to be praised.

God of all days, Glorious in all of Your ways. Your majesty, the wonder and grace,
In the light of Your name.

With everything, With everything, We will shout for your glory. We will shout forth your praise.

Our hearts will cry, Be glorified, Be lifted high, Above all names. For You our King,
With everything, We will shout forth your praise.

What does it mean to break down our pride, our walls, earthly crowns, and desires...to totally surrender with everything that we have. Since moving here 6 months ago, I have learned a lot about surrendering and about laying down my own wants and desires. I have not reached it all, I still like to hold on to things, but it is beautiful to see God when we have nothing in our way. It's beautiful to walk with Him, with no distractions. Thank you Jesus for showing me your glory!!

Hope you had a great day!!!

PS...cute little girl I got to sit by!!

This is the Day

Kids at Maxo’s School Singing this is the day!!

Yesterday, was a rough day for me. I struggled. I really didn’t want to be here. There was nothing in particular to make me feel this way. I wasn’t missing a holiday or a family event. I just did not want to be here. I don’t have many days like that, but when I do, it’s a good thing it’s not easy to hop on the plane and leave. I know it is during these days that the Lord is stretching me, showing me my dependency of Him, and wanting me to grow closer to Him. This morning, I was reminded that every day is His. Everyday I need to walk in His path and allow Him to carry me through.

The Unheeded Secret

My place of solitude each morning.

I had forgotten my small devotional, "My Utmost For His Highest," in my house in Florida. When I was home I grabbed it. I had forgotten how much wisdom was packed into each small reading. The last week as been focused on the journey of a missionary and so many things that he has written about has really encouraged me. Today's entry however, put into exact words what I have been struggling with over the last month in Haiti. It reads.

"It's entire strength lies in the fact that here you are immersed in the truths of God to soak in them before Him. You have no idea of where or how God is going to engineer your future circumstances, and no knowledge of what stress and strain is going to be placed on you either at home or abroad. And if you waste your time in over activity  instead of being immersed in the great fundamental truths of God's redemption, then you will snap when the stress and strain do come. But if this time of soaking before God is being spent in getting rooted and grounded in Him, which may appear to be impractical, then you will remain true to Him whatever happens." 
You can read the rest here... 


Before I left for Haiti, I had this pretty picture in my mind, that when I would come, I would have all the time in the world to sit and pray and soak up in God's word. While I don't have the same distractions here as I did in the United States, there are still distractions. I soon began doing, doing, doing and was trying to keep it all together, on my own strength. Then....I snapped....the stress was too much and I couldn't do it all. (I'm sure God was thinking, "Ashlee, when are you going to learn this lesson that I keep trying to teach you.") Last week I was able to have a great day alone in His word. It helped me regain my focus and to get rooted in Him. Sometimes, I become so focused on the tasks ahead, that I forget about the reason I am even here....I am here to share God's glory and his redemption.

God's Grace

Deuteronomy 4:32 - 40


" 32 “For ask now of the days that are past, which were before you, since the day that God created man on the earth, and ask from one end of heaven to the other, whether such a great thing as this has ever happened or was ever heard of. 33 Did any people ever hear the voice of a god speaking out of the midst of the fire, as you have heard, and still live? 34 Or has any god ever attempted to go and take a nation for himself from the midst of another nation, by trials, by signs, by wonders, and by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, and by great deeds of terror, all of which the Lord your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes? 35 To you it was shown, that you might know that the Lord is God; there is no other besides him. 36 Out of heaven he let you hear his voice, that he might discipline you. And on earth he let you see his great fire, and you heard his words out of the midst of the fire. 37 And because he loved your fathers and chose their offspring after them3 and brought you out of Egypt with his own presence, by his great power, 38 driving out before you nations greater and mightier than you, to bring you in, to give you their land for an inheritance, as it is this day, 39 know therefore today, and lay it to your heart, that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other. 40 Therefore you shall keep his statutes and his commandments, which I command you today, that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and that you may prolong your days in the land that the Lord your God is giving you for all time.”


It's amazing how easily, I like the Israelite's, forget what God has brought me through. How, He has proved his faithfulness time and time again, when He didn't need to. When I was in the wilderness and was chasing the wind....He continued to pursue me. He still pursues me....He still gives me grace. 

Why are we Here??

A friend was visiting from New Orleans, while we were talking about short and long term plans, the question came up, "Why are we here?" This morning God reminded me why we are here.
I'm in Haiti because.....

* God has commanded us to pick up the cross he bore and carry it for him.

* I am bothered by abuse, injustice, and oppression.

* I am convinced that I can change a little bit about what is wrong and make it a little more beautiful.

* I want to see the women of Haiti living FREE. Lives free from oppression and bondage.

* Children deserve the chance to know their is something better, that God has a wonderful plan for their life and that through Christ they can have hope.

* This is Holy Ground....

* God doesn't need me, but I want to be part of His mission and what he is doing.

* Isaiah 58: 10-11 The Message Reads...
If you are generous with the hungry 
   and start giving yourselves to the down-and-out,
Your lives will begin to glow in the darkness, 
   your shadowed lives will be bathed in sunlight.
I will always show you where to go. 
   I'll give you a full life in the emptiest of places— 
   firm muscles, strong bones.
You'll be like a well-watered garden, 
   a gurgling spring that never runs dry.


In ESV it reads...
If you POUR yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. And the Lord will guide your continually and satisfy you desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden like a spring of water whose waters do not fall.

In his book TRUE RELIGION Palmer Chinchen writes,"If you will give your life away to changing this world, God will change you."

Some days are hard here....but since living among the hungry, the oppressed and the injustice, I have experienced his fullness and his strength. He is changing me.

Goodness

Romans 12: 2-3 The Message 


Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

I'm speaking to you out of deep gratitude for all that God has given me, and especially as I have responsibilities in relation to you. Living then, as every one of you does, in pure grace, it's important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him.

How quickly I forget that I don't bring goodness upon myself or to God, but that I need to rely upon God for goodness. This is a daily surrender for me, a daily choice...if I don't do it daily my pride gets in the way. Life slowly becomes about what I can do and not what God is doing through me. 

One of my biggest challenges that I have faced in Haiti so far, as been trusting that God has gone before me. Learning to continually trust that he will guide me and our ministry. 

PS Stay tuned for tomorrow's blog about some light hearted differences between Haiti and the US!!