Blessings from Dondo

We just got back from an outreach. God is moving gloriously here. One of the other missionary women gave a message on Esther. Then I gave a message on the master potter and the clay. It is so amazing here. A man came to give his heart to Jesus. Some of the people brought him up and he knelt down to pray. As he prayed the people begin to dance and rejoice. The man had not been to church before. His parents were Catholic but he had not been to church. He came that day because as he was walking by he heard the people singing and saw them dancing. He stopped and listened and his heart was so warmed. He then heard the message on Esther.

When he got home his mom asked where he had been. He told her he was at church and heard the message. He then came back and heard me talk about the master potter and the clay. He then knew he had to accept Jesus in his heart. He knew he wanted to surrender. It is so beautiful to think he heard the messages and accepted Jesus.

Today when I was riding on the back of the truck coming back to the base I was able to talk with a man helping him understanding English. God is doing so much for these people. They have so many questions. They experience things and don't understand. This person was taken into heaven where Jesus healed him. He didn't understand what happened so I was able to explain to him.

The other day I went into the village to a store with one of the students. The spirit in the place was very depressing. I took this as a chance to teach. I told him the spirit in this place is not a good spirit and then begin to explain that we must be sensitive to Holy Spirit and decerning the spirits of places. When we walked out the student told me that I was right about the place that it was known for dealing many drugs from there and was a very bad place. I praise God for opportunities to teach in every situation.

There are so many things here that are so harsh. I pray that I will never become harden from all I see. My heart is so full of compassion for the people. The love of Jesus is so full for these presious ones. So many difficult decisions to make. So many times we need to step in and can't. There are so many things we see that are not right before God because of the culture of the people. They are learning the ways of Jesus but the culture makes many things very difficult. They need such grace, such grace.

We are feeding over 3600 children which are orphans (no parents at all) in the bush. There are some pastors that have taken in 20 or more children living in their homes with them. Iris is only able to help with one months worth of food. We are not able to go to all of the places each month so many are not provided for. The finances are not there for enough food or enough vehicles to transport the food. These pastors are living on faith to provide for the many orphans. Iris is going to begin to develop a data base of all of these children with their ages and how their parents died so we will have info to send out when people ask.

I am now in charge of finances here at the Dondo base. It is a huge responsibility. Pastors come to me asking for money for food or doctors. One pastor had 21 in his home. I had to look at him and say I am sorry. We had given to him three weeks ago and had to help others first before we could give to him again. As a result we had to turn him down. It is a very difficult position to be in. I have to be sensitive to what the Lord is saying. In another situation it was not time to give to a pastor yet but the Lord told me to give so I did.

We need people to give. This is such a fruitful ground to give, such fruitful ground. It is not just physical food but spiritual food.

As I was walking past the church late in the evening when everyone was gone one man was on his knees praying out to the Lord. So precious, so hungry. They ask of us to teach them more and more. Only through God's love and grace I have the strength to walk with such a load. Your prayers are so important. I bless each one of you for your faithfulness.

Ashlee