Adventures in Africa - August 15

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmxBPXUhd8M

Joanel's Story - Aug 26, 2009

Hello.

First I want to extend my gratitude to so many of you for your prayers and emails of care about the recent death of Domingos. I'm having a hard time processing through this, but I know God is going to walk me through it. Thank you so much for your prayers for all of us here.

I’m emailing to make you aware of another situation that has been taking place here. I'm asking for prayer for a 13 year old boy named Joanel who came to us for help this past Sunday. Joanel was afraid to go home because of his father's violent temper. His father would go home each night drunk and beat him horribly. Saturday night he had a knife in his hand and threatened to kill Joanel if he came back home. One of workers went to the father’s house to see if what the young boy was saying was true. Upon his arrival at the father’s house he witnessed the violent rage of this man towards his son and heard his threats to kill him. The police were contacted and the father was taken to prison. After going through Social Services we have received Joanel with open arms. He is now living here with us on our base. He is a precious young boy who needs lots of unconditional love and a place of security.

Our hearts are to see him be completely made whole again and hopefully be able to reconnect him with family that lives in Maputo.

Thank you for your care and love for me and for the people here in Africa.

With love and a heart of gratitude,
Ashlee

ONE HARD DAY - PLEASE PRAY - AUG 25-2009

Hello from Mozambique.
At about 5:45 this morning we lost one of our children. Domingos Fernando died of cerebral malaria. It has been a rough day and one that I am still processing through. I've never had to deal with death like this head on. Our boys, along with the whole base, are grieving greatly, but one comfort is that we know Domingos is having a great time with Jesus.
Please keep us in prayer. I really need it.
Ashlee

Busy with changes - August 22, 2009

Hello from Mozambique!

So much has been happening since my return in May. It has been a time of great change with a change in leadership and new long-term missionaries here to help us as well as some short-term help for the summer months. The dynamics of our expanding team has been great. We have had many visiting teams come and bless us with their talents and hearts of service. Each one has been a joy and blessing to us and to the people we work with.

Busy with Changes….
I have been very busy in the area of our children’s department. We have a team of three of us, Joseph, Carla and myself, which consist of the leadership team for our children’s department. We have been working a lot on restructuring this area of great need. We have been working a lot on laying out policies and procedures and bringing greatly needed organization to many areas with our children. One of these areas has been the process of reintegration. According to the Mozambiquen government (we have been working much closer with Social Services as well) our children are not allowed to stay on the base after 18 years old. In order to see a successful transition for our older boys when they turn 18 we have been working a lot on researching the possibilities of further education, on the job training, work opportunities etc. that they can get involved with before they are 18. It has been a good awakening to many of our older boys. They are beginning to think more seriously about their futures and what they want to do.

Boys Outreach Team….
On Wednesday mornings and afternoons I have a time of discipleship and training for our boys who want to be involved with outreach. From the very beginning I told them that it did not matter to me if there were 20 or if there were 5. I wanted it to be something they are doing because they want to and are hungry. From this group we have developed a drama team, a sound system team and soon a worship team. Since we have been having serious problems with our vehicles here (none of them work except one large flatbed truck) I have not been able to take them on an outreach far away like I would like to do. But this Saturday (August 15) we will be going to a pastor’s house to minister to 50 or more children. We are looking forward to this time.

Big Changes Ahead….
So as many of you know while I was in America this last time I met the most amazing man, Samuel Swartz, in Redding, California while visiting Bethel Church. God knows how to write the best romance stories ever. J Since my arrival back in Mozambique our relationship has grown even closer. It has been very difficult for me not having Samuel here to share in my life and to see what God is doing. We have spent many hours on the phone together during these past 3 months growing in deeper intimacy together. We both know the Lord is in our relationship and know He is good at divine setups. We are both looking forward to the future together and what it all holds. Samuel is making plans to come and spend at least three months here in Mozambique with me starting in October. We are both greatly looking forward to this time of working together on the mission field where we know God has called us both. Please keep Samuel in your prayers as he prepares to come. Please pray for finances to be poured out in abundance as he plans this journey because as of right now he doesn’t have them. There are a lot of unknowns that lay in front of Samuel and I, but we trust the Lord and know that He is guiding us in every step that we are taking.

Thank you for your continued prayers and financial support. I wish you could see personally what the Lord is doing here and what He is doing in my life. I know that I am in a season of preparation. He is teaching me a lot and I am trying to be a good student. J

With great love.
Ashlee