Update on Tony - January 23

Hello Everyone,
Sending a quick update on Tony's condition. Today is day 15 of his isolation since he began treatment for TB. His improvement has been amazing up to this point. He has a big appetite of which I have been spoiling him with great food....so thankfully he has put back on the weight that he had lost and is now looking healthier. He is much stronger now; though he does seem to have his off days. Today I took a bicycle into the clinic (which is where he is staying on our base) so he could ride around a bit. He enjoyed that. He is looking forward to the day he can go out and play futbol with the other boys. I have attached two pictures of him which I took this morning when I brought him his breakfast.

Thank you so much for your prayers for both Tony and myself. He knows that you are praying and is grateful for your love. Please continue with us as we continue to trust God for Tony's complete healing. I personally have felt your prayers very strongly during this time and am forever grateful.

Much Love,
Ashlee

Mozambique Update on Tony - January 16th

Since Tony's first day of isolation on January 9th until today, January 16 I have seen him come a long way. Yes, he has a ways to go, but his smile is back and so is his appetite. I now know what it feels like to have a teenager who is "eating you out of house and home". The meds he takes a very strong so he usually is in some pain and weaker after his first dosage in the morning, but by late afternoon to evening he is doing much better. Through this and other situations that I am facing in the clinic God is really pouring out his heart of passion and compassion within my spirit. As I go to the hospital and work with the people I see so much suffering which should not be because Jesus already paid for it....

Thank you for your prayers as I can sure feel them showing upon me. And I am seeing Tony become stronger. Thank you and please keep praying. :)

In His precious love,
Ashlee

p.s. Tomorrow (Thursday) I am going to the jail with my usual team that goes and we will be doing a special service where we are taking a snack for each prisoner. We were told today that there are 175 prisoners in the jail. Please pray for this time as we go to bless them with the Truth of God's Word and a snack. We bought bread and popsicles for them which are both big treats. We are reaching out to the guards too as known of them know Jesus. There are about 10 of them that will be there tomorrow. I am praying and contending for miracles to happen in the prison as we go back faithfully each week.

Hello Family and Friends - January 12, 2008

Hello Family and Friends!
Once again I am emailing you from a humid, hot Mozambique . As I write this letter to you it is almost 10:00 pm my time and the temperature is 83 degrees with 75% humidity. My Dad likes these types of interesting facts so I like to give them to you once in awhile. Perhaps while reading this letter you will feel the humid air pressing against your sweaty face and be able to relate a bit more with life here as I tell of the wonders that God is doing. Or perhaps you will feel the mosquitoes nipping at your feet as you try to type up a letter to those you love (that’s a tease. I wouldn’t want that for you).

Prayer Request for Tony


My first objective to this letter is a prayer request for Tony; one of our boys that is very special to me. Many of you may remember in May of 2006 when I sent out the story of Tony and how he came to stay with us later in August. When I first came to Dondo in 2006 Jesus told me very clearly to love on Tony. From that first day until today God has done a great work in this young man’s life of 15 years old. But right now he really needs prayer. This past week I have been at the hospital everyday either with Tony or on behalf of him as he has been very sick. After a process of tests we found out that he has TB. Once I received the results on Wednesday that he has TB I felt as though I jumped on a rollercoaster ride of activity which has not stopped. For the next two months he is not allowed to be with any of the other boys or have contact with other people. He is staying in a room alone on our base and is not allowed to leave and no one is allowed to visit him. Right now I am the only one who is visiting him each day as I attend to his special needs do to TB. Honestly it has been hard seeing Tony so ill, but my heart is not faint as I know the God I serve is the Healer. Though he is very weak and tired Tony’s spirit is up. He told me the other day that he knows he is going to be back to normal and healthy as he was before. I am so thankful that Father has allowed me to be able to walk through this with Tony. It is amazing to see what He is even doing in my heart through this. Though I am tired as this week has been very full; my heart is strong with holy compassion. Before I came back to Mozambique this last time my Dad had encouraged me to bring back walkie talkies which I thought would be a great idea for evangelism as I travel far distances with my team, but these Cobra two-way radios are very useful now with Tony’s situation. The boys are really missing his presence amongst them so I got out the two-way radios so that they can talk with Tony. I have been bringing the radios out in the evening time so they can communicate. They really like the radios and the fact they can talk to their friend who is ill. Thank you Dad for the great idea! Please keep Tony in your prayers, as well as myself as I am in close contact with him.

Evangelism

In my last newsletter I told you about my preparation to go back to the District of Buzi to do another evangelism trip. Since the rains came early this year and Buzi is being hit pretty hard I have not been able to go on this trip yet. The area that I want to go to is blocked by water. I am in contact with Pastor Miquel about the situation there. We talked about the possibility of going in March if things are cleared up by then. He said that the people are waiting for us and greatly looking forward to our arrival. With the news of Tony and the responsibility I have with him (especially during these two months) this will actually be better timing.

Since Bible School is not in session right now (probably starting up on January 20th, but it depends on the presidential elections that are taking place) I have more time to spend in the village. Those who know me well know that I have a passion for the salvation of people…to see people come to know my beautiful Jesus. It has been a wonderful thing to be able to spend time with the people in their homes, praying for them when they are sick, telling them of the greatness of Jesus. Since Mozambiquens are a relationship oriented people this is one of the best ways to reach them with the Word of God. As I spend time with the “one” I have been able to meet many more. It is about stopping for the one and loving on the one. As I stop for the “one” Jesus always puts another in my path to love on and speak truth too. There are many stories I could tell, but that would make this email many pages long….

Prison Ministry

“Remember the prisoners as though in prison with them...” Hebrews 13:3

God is doing a great work at the prison. I go each week on Thursday with a few precious Mozambiquens. At times it is only Lino (the barber) who has an evangelist heart and myself. Though many people may be intimidated by going into a third world prison I feel such life there because I feel Jesus is there in such a great way. One testimony of God’s goodness through this ministry was revealed to me Christmas night while I was walking to Chico ’s family’s house to end the evening with them. As I passed over the train tracks in the dark of the evening and passed the few remaining vendors on the side of the path selling their goods, a gentleman approached me from behind on my left side. He began to relay to me the testimony of what God was doing in his life. He remembered me from two weeks prior when I had gone to the prison with a small team to preach the Word of God. To be sure he was telling the truth and to see if he really heard the message Father spoke that day I asked him if he remembered what I said. He began to tell me the Word that was preached in enthusiasm. He said that God did a miracle in his life that day. The Father had me speak on the prodigal son. He is calling His disobedient sons to come back to Himself. It was a very strong word. And at the end I felt the Holy Spirit speak to me words of encouragement He wanted me to speak to the prisoners in the jail on that day. This man repeated these words which I told them by saying, “you told us that when we get out of prison to remain firm in the faith.” On the following day at least 5 – 10 of them were let free from that prison. This particular man (I believe his name is Lazarus) had a sentence of 10 years with no option out. The judge ruling his case was very difficult and there was no way he was going to get out earlier than the determined sentence. But by God’s grace Lazarus found favor in the sight of the judge which was ready to send him to a larger prison facility that very day. One of our boys came to me the other day to tell me that a man named Lazarus was looking for me because he wanted to learn more about Jesus and he wanted a Bible. Lazarus had also told this boy about his testimony of what God had done. Now that he has tasted and seen God’s goodness my prayer is that he will never look back. I hope that Lazarus comes to church tomorrow so that I can encourage him and be in contact with him as I know Satan wants him back.

I am so thankful that the Father does not look at us with condemning eyes, but His eyes are full of love and acceptance towards us. He is such a loving Father and I desire so much that others can know His love…that they too may join us at the banqueting table of His amazing love and goodness.

Thank you once again from the deepest parts of my heart for all of your love and prayers. Thank you for all of your support. My words seem so empty compared to the gratitude which is in my heart. Please know that my prayers and love are with you also. We are partners in the harvest. The day Father takes me to be with Him I want to turn to Jesus and tell Him “look Jesus, here is the reward you are most worthy of” as I present Him with multitudes upon multitudes of saved lives which have been washed by the blood of the Lamb. It is all for His glory!!

Because He Is,
Ashlee