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Dondo, Mozambique- February 19, 2008
Hello once again!
I pray that this letter finds each of you well and abounding in grace. J It’s hard to believe that we are already in the middle of February. Time seems to be going so quickly as each day has been so full of activity. After I read an email from Elizabeth (a girl from my church) who is finishing up a missions trip it brought back realities of life here that I don’t necessarily think about anymore, but in reflection it gave me a chuckle and thought you might like to hear some of those thoughts. So let me take you into Ashlee’s world for a bit; let’s venture into some realities you might enjoy hearing. J I began to think of my time back in America - the times I go to visit family and friends. Because of Elizabeth’s email I began to think of things I don’t miss from Mozambique while I am in America, one of them being what my friend called the “bloody Satan bugs” of which I would have to add to the list cockroaches, mice and ants that are always on the march but never seem like they have a destination. I don’t miss the sound of fighting drunk people in the village at night or the yelping dogs because someone is abusing them. I don’t miss malaria and always having to wash my feet before going to bed or the constant sweat that strolls down my back everyday because it is so humid and hot. I don’t miss the drums of the witchdoctors or the silent cries of the suffering women and children. But there are so many more things that I do miss…..the faces of the Mozambiquens, the high spirited, full of joy dancing and singing; simplicity of life; no vanity; sound of the guard and students sweeping outside early in the morning; smell of the fires in the cold season; the greeting of the children as I walk through the villages; the yes of the people to salvation; the prisoners singing with such tenacity; …the list can go on.
Tony
I am sure many are wondering about Tony as I had sent out updates on his situation with TB. Well, I am very happy to tell you that he actually started school on Monday and is doing very well. He still will be sleeping in a different room then the other boys until March 9th and is not allowed to do any physically heavy work until his treatment is over. Other then that he is doing great and so happy to be out of the clinic and with his friends again. I too am so thankful that he is out of intensive care as it was not easy for me these past two months. It was a sacrifice of love caring for his needs each day, but it was worth it. This morning I woke up for the first time in a long time feeling rested. It felt so good.
New Boy Added to the Family - (Zito is on the left)
In January we received a new little guy to our family. His name is Zito. Zito is 9 years old and was being cared for by one of our pastors in Beira , but due to lack of resources he was brought to our center to stay with us. I have attached a picture of him so you can see his cute little face. He is fitting in nicely with the other children, but is a handful at times as he learns the ways of life here at our home.
More Prison News - Aginaldo
In one of my past letters I told about the story of Lazaro and some have asked about him since that time. I have not seen him since Christmas evening. I know that he came to the center a few times looking for me, but I was not here. I pray that he is still walking with Jesus. Since that time God has been doing beautiful things in the prison ministry. A couple of weeks ago another young man was released from prison when he was supposed to be sentenced to stay there for at least one year. His name is Aginaldo. It all started about four weeks ago when I went to the jail to ministry as usual, but this time I brought one of our visitors with me. There was one inmate who spoke English (Aginaldo) so as we were leaving he struck up a conversation with the visitor. In his words he was very oppressed at this time and had no hope. He had already been in prison for one month and found it to be very difficult. While he was talking with this visitor she encouraged him that he would get out as she had faith in this. Something in her words breathed life into his heart; it was something he could grab a hold of. The following Thursday when I returned to the jail he told me that in the morning he was given a clean slate and his case was being dropped; he was free to go after he paid some type of jail fee. This particular week the guards were not hurrying us out as usual so I was able to stay in the prison just talking with him and speaking life into his spirit for almost 10 or 15 minutes. It was such a neat time as each person on my team also had the opportunity to mingle with the other inmates spending time speaking life into them one-on-one. It was a God given time. Aginaldo said when he got out that he would come and visit me to show that he was free. That Saturday he showed up here at the base in a state of gratitude and awe that he was actually free. This day there was not much time to visit as it was getting late and he needed to get to his cousin’s house which was about a 10 minute chappa ride away. That following Monday morning when I came back from the hospital he had just arrived to visit. I felt in my spirit to introduce him to my friend’s Esau and Cade as they are pastors in Mafambisse which is where he is staying. So after taking him with me to visit a boy in the village who was very sick we went to Esau and Cade’s house. That day alone he spent four hours discussing Scripture with Esau and the only reason they stopped was because Esau had to get ready to go to school. He is really hungry and seeking truth. His first question was how do you know the true Church? Esau and I began to explain to him the beautiful reality that we believers are the Church. Jesus is not coming back for a building made of bricks, stone, bamboo and mud, but for us His bride. Before he left to go home we prayed over him and I gave him a Bible. Since that day he has been in contact with me. I am praying for the seeds that have been planted to have landed on pure, clean, and ready to receive soil. I really feel that there is something very special about Aginaldo and I am joyous about what God is going to do in his life.
Clinic
Wow, Wow! So much has been happening in the clinic. It has been actually a very intense time for me as I have felt as though these past two months I have lived many of my mornings at the hospital. One good thing about this is that I have been with people who are suffering and had opportunities to pray healing over them. It has been a time to be a light in people’s greatest times of need. I see the clinic as such a mercy ministry which Father has entrusted to me. Dr. Neves and I have been taking each of our boys through a check-up process. We feel it is very important to have a health history on each one of our children so these past two months I have been taking small groups of our boys to the hospital early in the mornings to have a blood test done. Thankfully I am finished with this process! Yeah Jesus.
Today was my last day working with Dr. Neves for a few weeks as he is on his way to America . He will be there for one month staying with a doctor that invited him to go study there. During this month he will be looking at the University and location ( Minnesota ) where he will be staying. He then plans on coming back to Mozambique for a few months until he leaves for a more permanent stay in America to continue his studies. Please keep him and his family in prayer as he has a wife and baby of two months old who will be staying here in Mozambique this month while he is in America . God has His hook in Dr. Neves and is working in his life. He has been such a great blessing to me and I will miss him during this month that he is away. I have attached a picture of us so you can put a face to the name.
Evangelism
As many of you have probably already heard that we are once again being hit with the yearly floods. Because of this flooding I have not been able to do any evangelism, but hope to be able to go in late March or early April. At this time Julie (another missionary who I work with here) has been working on flood relief to the places that have been hit the worst.
“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end.”
Once again with a heart full of gratitude I say “thank you” to those who have been keeping me in prayer. Thank you to those who have given financially as I would not be able to stay here without your giving as it is a walk of faith. Thank you for loving sacrificially with me as we labor in the harvest together!
Because He Lives,
Ashlee
I pray that this letter finds each of you well and abounding in grace. J It’s hard to believe that we are already in the middle of February. Time seems to be going so quickly as each day has been so full of activity. After I read an email from Elizabeth (a girl from my church) who is finishing up a missions trip it brought back realities of life here that I don’t necessarily think about anymore, but in reflection it gave me a chuckle and thought you might like to hear some of those thoughts. So let me take you into Ashlee’s world for a bit; let’s venture into some realities you might enjoy hearing. J I began to think of my time back in America - the times I go to visit family and friends. Because of Elizabeth’s email I began to think of things I don’t miss from Mozambique while I am in America, one of them being what my friend called the “bloody Satan bugs” of which I would have to add to the list cockroaches, mice and ants that are always on the march but never seem like they have a destination. I don’t miss the sound of fighting drunk people in the village at night or the yelping dogs because someone is abusing them. I don’t miss malaria and always having to wash my feet before going to bed or the constant sweat that strolls down my back everyday because it is so humid and hot. I don’t miss the drums of the witchdoctors or the silent cries of the suffering women and children. But there are so many more things that I do miss…..the faces of the Mozambiquens, the high spirited, full of joy dancing and singing; simplicity of life; no vanity; sound of the guard and students sweeping outside early in the morning; smell of the fires in the cold season; the greeting of the children as I walk through the villages; the yes of the people to salvation; the prisoners singing with such tenacity; …the list can go on.
Tony
I am sure many are wondering about Tony as I had sent out updates on his situation with TB. Well, I am very happy to tell you that he actually started school on Monday and is doing very well. He still will be sleeping in a different room then the other boys until March 9th and is not allowed to do any physically heavy work until his treatment is over. Other then that he is doing great and so happy to be out of the clinic and with his friends again. I too am so thankful that he is out of intensive care as it was not easy for me these past two months. It was a sacrifice of love caring for his needs each day, but it was worth it. This morning I woke up for the first time in a long time feeling rested. It felt so good.
New Boy Added to the Family - (Zito is on the left)
In January we received a new little guy to our family. His name is Zito. Zito is 9 years old and was being cared for by one of our pastors in Beira , but due to lack of resources he was brought to our center to stay with us. I have attached a picture of him so you can see his cute little face. He is fitting in nicely with the other children, but is a handful at times as he learns the ways of life here at our home.
More Prison News - Aginaldo
In one of my past letters I told about the story of Lazaro and some have asked about him since that time. I have not seen him since Christmas evening. I know that he came to the center a few times looking for me, but I was not here. I pray that he is still walking with Jesus. Since that time God has been doing beautiful things in the prison ministry. A couple of weeks ago another young man was released from prison when he was supposed to be sentenced to stay there for at least one year. His name is Aginaldo. It all started about four weeks ago when I went to the jail to ministry as usual, but this time I brought one of our visitors with me. There was one inmate who spoke English (Aginaldo) so as we were leaving he struck up a conversation with the visitor. In his words he was very oppressed at this time and had no hope. He had already been in prison for one month and found it to be very difficult. While he was talking with this visitor she encouraged him that he would get out as she had faith in this. Something in her words breathed life into his heart; it was something he could grab a hold of. The following Thursday when I returned to the jail he told me that in the morning he was given a clean slate and his case was being dropped; he was free to go after he paid some type of jail fee. This particular week the guards were not hurrying us out as usual so I was able to stay in the prison just talking with him and speaking life into his spirit for almost 10 or 15 minutes. It was such a neat time as each person on my team also had the opportunity to mingle with the other inmates spending time speaking life into them one-on-one. It was a God given time. Aginaldo said when he got out that he would come and visit me to show that he was free. That Saturday he showed up here at the base in a state of gratitude and awe that he was actually free. This day there was not much time to visit as it was getting late and he needed to get to his cousin’s house which was about a 10 minute chappa ride away. That following Monday morning when I came back from the hospital he had just arrived to visit. I felt in my spirit to introduce him to my friend’s Esau and Cade as they are pastors in Mafambisse which is where he is staying. So after taking him with me to visit a boy in the village who was very sick we went to Esau and Cade’s house. That day alone he spent four hours discussing Scripture with Esau and the only reason they stopped was because Esau had to get ready to go to school. He is really hungry and seeking truth. His first question was how do you know the true Church? Esau and I began to explain to him the beautiful reality that we believers are the Church. Jesus is not coming back for a building made of bricks, stone, bamboo and mud, but for us His bride. Before he left to go home we prayed over him and I gave him a Bible. Since that day he has been in contact with me. I am praying for the seeds that have been planted to have landed on pure, clean, and ready to receive soil. I really feel that there is something very special about Aginaldo and I am joyous about what God is going to do in his life.
Clinic
Wow, Wow! So much has been happening in the clinic. It has been actually a very intense time for me as I have felt as though these past two months I have lived many of my mornings at the hospital. One good thing about this is that I have been with people who are suffering and had opportunities to pray healing over them. It has been a time to be a light in people’s greatest times of need. I see the clinic as such a mercy ministry which Father has entrusted to me. Dr. Neves and I have been taking each of our boys through a check-up process. We feel it is very important to have a health history on each one of our children so these past two months I have been taking small groups of our boys to the hospital early in the mornings to have a blood test done. Thankfully I am finished with this process! Yeah Jesus.
Today was my last day working with Dr. Neves for a few weeks as he is on his way to America . He will be there for one month staying with a doctor that invited him to go study there. During this month he will be looking at the University and location ( Minnesota ) where he will be staying. He then plans on coming back to Mozambique for a few months until he leaves for a more permanent stay in America to continue his studies. Please keep him and his family in prayer as he has a wife and baby of two months old who will be staying here in Mozambique this month while he is in America . God has His hook in Dr. Neves and is working in his life. He has been such a great blessing to me and I will miss him during this month that he is away. I have attached a picture of us so you can put a face to the name.
Evangelism
As many of you have probably already heard that we are once again being hit with the yearly floods. Because of this flooding I have not been able to do any evangelism, but hope to be able to go in late March or early April. At this time Julie (another missionary who I work with here) has been working on flood relief to the places that have been hit the worst.
“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end.”
Once again with a heart full of gratitude I say “thank you” to those who have been keeping me in prayer. Thank you to those who have given financially as I would not be able to stay here without your giving as it is a walk of faith. Thank you for loving sacrificially with me as we labor in the harvest together!
Because He Lives,
Ashlee
posted by Ashlee at 12:11 PM
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