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June 09, 2007 - UPDATE!
Dear Beloved Family and Friends,
I pray that this letter finds you all well and joyous. Life has been continuing on here as usual and I can hardly believe that I have been back for over a month already. Time has flown by so quickly, yet at the same time I feel as though I have been back for at least 3 months already.
A quick update on the boys:
As I stated in my last newsletter that when I first came back things were not going so well with the boys so we had to put boundaries and guidance back in place. Things are getting back on track and almost all of the boys are back in school, as well as the stealing problem has diminished greatly. I have had many opportunities to talk with many of the boys about respect, responsibility and having conversation that pleases God. This has been a joy for me to be back and involved in their lives. Since we have 30 boys who are all in school and need a lot of supervision and care in this area we have developed a plan to help them succeed in their education. I am in charge of all the boys that attend one of our primary schools close by call Josina, as well as one of our boys who is in the secondary school (Zacharias).
I am responsible for about 9 of the boys which in itself is a lot of work, but enjoyable as I get to interact with the teachers, directors and other students at this school. Of course there are many challenges with this as schools here are so different compared to schools in the West. Needless to say I am learning a lot – hard things to see along with the good. This Sunday afternoon Lisa and myself are going to do something special with the boys as we were not here for Children’s Day which was June 1st. It was a national holiday for Mozambique when they celebrate children. I am going to make them tuna casserole for supper which we have made for them before and really like.
Before I came back to Mozambique I received a precious offering for our boys from a beautiful family who had visited us here in Mozambique. They have 3 children who saved their personal money to give as an offering for our boys. This touched my heart so much. Because of their gift I am going to be able to buy our boys new blankets which is a praise report as we are entering our winter and it does get cold at night. Right now it is 9:40 pm and the temperature is 72 degrees with a humidity of 79%. This is actually pretty cold for here. Even as I write this I am wearing a long sleeve jacket and pants.
Quick update on my students:
My class is doing well. The Holy Spirit has been really guiding me as I teach each lesson. During one class the Holy Spirit prompted me to teach my lesson on “the problem and the response” which is basically about salvation and repentance…being pure in God’s sight. Jesus was so close and I felt such a fire and compassion as I taught. At the end I felt so strongly to give an opportunity for my students to respond to what they heard so I threw a net out for anyone who wanted to receive this salvation and get right before God. What followed completely blew me away as one of my students stepped forward and began to repent by saying he had cut his relationship off from God, but he did not want this anymore.
As more students began to come forward with different things I kept telling them that what they were doing was a symbol of surrender before God and that it had nothing to do with me or anyone else in the room. More than half the class came forward for pray. As they knelt with their eyes and hearts lifted to Jesus I felt Jesus Himself standing there with us. It was so amazing. God is really doing something in their lives. That same day another student said that he had wanted to quit the Bible School and go back home, but now his heart has changed and he is here with us. The one who said that he had cut his relationship off with the Father is now full of joy and I can completely see a difference in him. Please continue to pray for these students and that I continue to be sensitive to what Father is asking of me. I always want to be that sword in His hand that He can wield anytime He wants.
Quick update on me personally:
Glory be to God that He has kept me in health and is protecting me. I had been feeling a bit weak and one day even a bit concerned that malaria was trying to touch me, but I kept standing on God’s word and have not had any problems since. I will be honest with you all that there are some really tough things going on, but I just keep on being hidden in Jesus and continue to examine my heart. Without going into detail it has been a time that I am learning to guard my heart and what it means in 1 Corinthians 13:5 (amplified version) when it says “Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own right or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it (it pays no attention to a suffered wrong).” I can tell you it has not been the easiest thing to live this out, but it is good. When the fires of life come I always say we must cling to the cross….so I am clinging to the cross and He is sharpening me through it all. How amazing to walk with Jesus who is so faithful.
I have attached a picture of me and the boys watering our new grass and flowers. One of the boys took it. :) (click on it to see a bigger version)
I want to thank those who have been keeping me in prayer and for those who have kept in touch with me while I have been back. The cost of being away from family and friends is greater than I can say, so it is always amazing to hear from you. Also, thank you so much to those who have been faithful in supporting me financially (you know who you are). Without your financially support I would not be able to be here. Thank you!
Muito Amor em Cristo! (A lot of Love in Christ)!
Ashlee (aka: Mana Ashlee) J
To send packages:
Ministerio Arco Iris
Attn: Ashlee Cladek-Fletcher
Caixa Postal 1237
Beira Mozambique
Africa
Tax deductible giving:
FireStarters Ministries
18923 – 217th AVE E
Orting, WA 98360
(please put a note “For Mozambique Mission”)
www.ashleecladek.blogspot.com
Ashleecl@yahoo.com
I pray that this letter finds you all well and joyous. Life has been continuing on here as usual and I can hardly believe that I have been back for over a month already. Time has flown by so quickly, yet at the same time I feel as though I have been back for at least 3 months already.
A quick update on the boys:
As I stated in my last newsletter that when I first came back things were not going so well with the boys so we had to put boundaries and guidance back in place. Things are getting back on track and almost all of the boys are back in school, as well as the stealing problem has diminished greatly. I have had many opportunities to talk with many of the boys about respect, responsibility and having conversation that pleases God. This has been a joy for me to be back and involved in their lives. Since we have 30 boys who are all in school and need a lot of supervision and care in this area we have developed a plan to help them succeed in their education. I am in charge of all the boys that attend one of our primary schools close by call Josina, as well as one of our boys who is in the secondary school (Zacharias).
I am responsible for about 9 of the boys which in itself is a lot of work, but enjoyable as I get to interact with the teachers, directors and other students at this school. Of course there are many challenges with this as schools here are so different compared to schools in the West. Needless to say I am learning a lot – hard things to see along with the good. This Sunday afternoon Lisa and myself are going to do something special with the boys as we were not here for Children’s Day which was June 1st. It was a national holiday for Mozambique when they celebrate children. I am going to make them tuna casserole for supper which we have made for them before and really like.
Before I came back to Mozambique I received a precious offering for our boys from a beautiful family who had visited us here in Mozambique. They have 3 children who saved their personal money to give as an offering for our boys. This touched my heart so much. Because of their gift I am going to be able to buy our boys new blankets which is a praise report as we are entering our winter and it does get cold at night. Right now it is 9:40 pm and the temperature is 72 degrees with a humidity of 79%. This is actually pretty cold for here. Even as I write this I am wearing a long sleeve jacket and pants.
Quick update on my students:
My class is doing well. The Holy Spirit has been really guiding me as I teach each lesson. During one class the Holy Spirit prompted me to teach my lesson on “the problem and the response” which is basically about salvation and repentance…being pure in God’s sight. Jesus was so close and I felt such a fire and compassion as I taught. At the end I felt so strongly to give an opportunity for my students to respond to what they heard so I threw a net out for anyone who wanted to receive this salvation and get right before God. What followed completely blew me away as one of my students stepped forward and began to repent by saying he had cut his relationship off from God, but he did not want this anymore.
As more students began to come forward with different things I kept telling them that what they were doing was a symbol of surrender before God and that it had nothing to do with me or anyone else in the room. More than half the class came forward for pray. As they knelt with their eyes and hearts lifted to Jesus I felt Jesus Himself standing there with us. It was so amazing. God is really doing something in their lives. That same day another student said that he had wanted to quit the Bible School and go back home, but now his heart has changed and he is here with us. The one who said that he had cut his relationship off with the Father is now full of joy and I can completely see a difference in him. Please continue to pray for these students and that I continue to be sensitive to what Father is asking of me. I always want to be that sword in His hand that He can wield anytime He wants.
Quick update on me personally:
Glory be to God that He has kept me in health and is protecting me. I had been feeling a bit weak and one day even a bit concerned that malaria was trying to touch me, but I kept standing on God’s word and have not had any problems since. I will be honest with you all that there are some really tough things going on, but I just keep on being hidden in Jesus and continue to examine my heart. Without going into detail it has been a time that I am learning to guard my heart and what it means in 1 Corinthians 13:5 (amplified version) when it says “Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own right or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it (it pays no attention to a suffered wrong).” I can tell you it has not been the easiest thing to live this out, but it is good. When the fires of life come I always say we must cling to the cross….so I am clinging to the cross and He is sharpening me through it all. How amazing to walk with Jesus who is so faithful.
I have attached a picture of me and the boys watering our new grass and flowers. One of the boys took it. :) (click on it to see a bigger version)
I want to thank those who have been keeping me in prayer and for those who have kept in touch with me while I have been back. The cost of being away from family and friends is greater than I can say, so it is always amazing to hear from you. Also, thank you so much to those who have been faithful in supporting me financially (you know who you are). Without your financially support I would not be able to be here. Thank you!
Muito Amor em Cristo! (A lot of Love in Christ)!
Ashlee (aka: Mana Ashlee) J
To send packages:
Ministerio Arco Iris
Attn: Ashlee Cladek-Fletcher
Caixa Postal 1237
Beira Mozambique
Africa
Tax deductible giving:
FireStarters Ministries
18923 – 217th AVE E
Orting, WA 98360
(please put a note “For Mozambique Mission”)
www.ashleecladek.blogspot.com
Ashleecl@yahoo.com
posted by Andre at 11:35 AM
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