Happy Thanksgiving!!! We have so much to be thankful for!! I’m very thankful for this gift to be able to spend the holidays with my family this year. What a blessing.
As I write this letter to you I am sitting on the airplane heading from Jo’burg to Washington DC. It’s about an 18 hour flight so I thought I should take advantage of the time and do something productive. As I write this I am realizing that it has been a bit over a month since I last sent out any communication about what has been going on in Mozambique. The month of October was basically just a month of conferences. We had a women’s conference where Trafina (Pastor Supresa Sithole’s wife) came from South Africa with a large group to minister to the women of Central Mozambique. There was a lot of preparation that took place before this could happen. My part was to prepare accommodations for around 500 women. The conference went well, but it was very exhausting for all of us. The days were very long with early mornings and very late nights. My heart was to focus on serving the women as Jesus gave us the example of serving one another. I served them with all of my heart and strength. Unfortunately I was quite sick during this time so upon the exhaustion my health was not well, but God is good to have restored me. J I had one day to clean up after the women’s conference and prepare for another large team that came from Brazil to do a seminar for our Bible School students and pastors.
Farm ProjectWe are waiting for the rains to come so that the kids that are part of this project can go and seed the field. We have already bought the seed (corn, tomatoes and I believe they will buy pumpkin also) and the tools. I have attached some pictures of these so you can see a piece of the fruit of your giving. The kids are doing well. They are eager for the rains to come so that they can go to the field. They are really beginning to draw close to me. A few times that I was able to I went to a couple of their houses to visit them and see how they were doing. This past week on Wednesday I spent the whole afternoon with a handful of them. I wanted to do something special with them before I left (and they did too) J so we had lunch together at Esau and Cade’s house. About 5 girls stayed up really late the night before preparing cakes. The next morning when I went to the house they had it decorated and were cooking the lunch. We had a great time of fellowship, dancing, and just having fun.
In my last letter to you I told you about the three children who are siblings that were separated after their parent’s death. I told you about the youngest boy who lived in Beira and the two older siblings had to pay for him to be cared for. Last month the younger brother fled the house he was living in and came to Dondo. There are very strong signs that he was being abused. He walked from Beira, which is about a 40-45 minute drive…he is 9 years old. Rainha and I went and visited with him when we found out what had happened. Before I met this little guy I had such a big compassion and love in my heart for him. To see him for the first time and see such sadness in his eyes was difficult. When I looked at him I looked at him with hope knowing that Jesus has an awesome destiny for this little treasure and Satan is trying hard to destroy it, but He has lost the war! On this day he wouldn’t speak and couldn’t look at anyone – he was very downcast and scared. After some adjustments and getting the correct paperwork Rainha took Armandinho (the little boy) to stay at their ministry location. They are not set up to have kids in the physical and financial sense, but we know this is God. Armandinho is staying with Junito (who works with Rainha and her husband – he is a man of God). Junito is pouring out love on him. When we had our lunch and celebration on Wednesday I told Junito to bring Armandihno. I spent the afternoon gently pouring out love and acceptance upon him. For the very first time I saw him smile – not once, but three times! I even got him to give a little laugh at one point. The day after our special lunch I went to the mission where he is staying and spent more time with him. I gave him a picture that I had taken of him and the joy that filled his face brought tears to my eyes. It was great seeing his beautiful smile as Junito and I played with him. The pain is slowly falling from him and I see that it truly is Jesus’ pure love that is doing the miracle…..I’m seeing a little life being transformed by love in front of my face. It is about the one! I have said many times if I had my own house I would take him in as a son, but right now I know he is where he is supposed to be. He has never been able to go to school, but this January (when they start school again) Armandihno will be going! I attached a picture of him with me so you can see his face and pray for him....God is healing this little boy's heart.
It’s About The OneMy heart is so passionate to stop for the one. Incarnational ministry – loving people where they are at and seeing them being transformed by the power of Jesus’ love and truth. This past Sunday I took, David and Naza, two really good friends of mine to a church in Beira where Jesus is exalted and His presence and power is more than evident. I wanted them to see real Jesus and a healthy church. Naza is a friend who did not know Jesus – she knew about Him, but she did not know Him. I want her to know Him. When I invited her to go to the church she was very ready and excited to go. So last Sunday morning David, Naza and myself hoped on a chapa (Mozambiquen transport – like a mini bus) and headed to Beira. It was a powerful time. Naza gave her heart to Jesus. She told me later that that was her church now. Afterwards we went to a restaurant on the beach and had lunch together. It was such a good time. After lunch we played in freedom on the beach. It was so good to see Naza so free. She is the same age as myself, but already a widow with two children. On this day it was like the stress of life was lifted off of her shoulders and she was free to have fun. All three of us played and had great conversations – I didn’t want the day to end – I didn’t want to go back home.
Yesterday (Thursday), I went to Naza’s house to spend time with her and her family before leaving for America. It really touched me as I was with her. I know she loves me deeply. She said, “Ashlee, I believe God brought you here just for me.” She told me to always remember that I am a part of many people’s lives here and to come back to Mozambique quickly. She placed her hands on each side of my face and gave me a big kiss on the forehead. This was symbolic to me as I know that it is a symbol of acceptance as intimate family.
Sometimes we don’t even realize the deepness of how Father uses our lives to touch and draw others to Himself. It’s through true intimate relationship that I am seeing people truly coming to Jesus in Mozambique. Rainha told me something one day that really hit me. She said, “Ashlee, as a missionary you can come to Mozambique and work for years, but if you never go and be a part of the people and their lives you will leave after years without anyone knowing you or making a deep impact because Mozambiquens will not come and open to you unless you embrace them first….but when you open to them they will not let you go.”
I love the people of Mozambique more than I can express. They truly have become my people and this has become my home. They tease me sometimes and say that I have become more Mozambiquen than American – to me this is a compliment because what they are saying is that I understand them and the culture.
During this time that I am in America I have a lot to think and pray about. I really need direction from the Father in some decisions that I must make. I would be so grateful for your prayers in this regard.
Thank you for your continued support because without you I could not be in Mozambique. Thank you so much for believing in what God is doing in Mozambique and what He is doing through my life. You each are such a precious gift to me.
“That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all Your wondrous works. Lord I have loved the habitation of Your house.” Psalm 26:7-8
Because He Is My Everything!!!
Ashlee
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