God is amazing...this summer has been such a blessing in my life!

Last week ((as I stated in the previous post)) was absolutely awesome! My heart was broken and humbled in working in the favela ((poor area)). I went into homes that had dirt floors, barely a place to sit, maybe running water...terrible conditions. They were the homes of the children who were attending VBS that week...it broke my heart that the children went home to that each day...granted they were satisfied to have a roof over their head...there are so many street kids in the favela...that too is another story.
But what broke my heart even more...was that these people were turning Jesus away. I saw so many people reject Him and we would leave...praying they would allow God to change their lives... One woman stood their with tears in her eyes and said she just couldn't give her life to God.. I cried. My heart is broken for the people that won't accept Him...
I want so badly to work here among these people and to show them God's love...

I had an amazing talk with John and pam tonight... we talked about so many things. They were very encouraging and really helped me alot! I may even have another summer missionary opportunity next summer!!! It would be such a great experience--working in a village near the Amazon!

My family ((and the rest of our team)) will be here on Saturday at around 9 am! please keep them in your prayers as they are traveling!

love and blessings!

All I can say is it is 12:09 am and I am exhausted...therefore this post will be short. I will update again tomorrow...hopefully with more details!

This week we have been working with a team from the states. There is a VBS, Medical Clinic, Street Evangelism Team, and Construction Team all in the same place. We are doing a VBS in the children's home ((with the medical clinic)) the construction team is building another room onto the children's home so they can house more children. The street evangelism team is working in the streets of the neighborhood. Monday and Tuesday I helped with VBS ((working with kids and also translating some!!!)) Wednesday I was sick ((along with 25 other members of the team)) so I stayed at home. Today...I went out with the street team...more on that later! More on everything later!

Just please continue to pray for us. Satan keeps trying to attack..but he will not win..we claim God's victory!

We had a children's service tonight...over 600 kids were there...from that neighborhood! Saturday night we are having a youth service...please pray for safety that night. When you get a lot of young people together ((from the poor areas--which we are working in)) there is usually violence.

Thanks for your prayers and encouragement!!

((more later..))

blessings..

Wow! I can not believe I am finishing up my 3rd week of being in Brasil! It has been such a blessing to be here! I lived with my missionaries-John and Pam Weaver..and their 5 children-Issac (12), Sammy (9), Levi (8), Faith (5), and Meggie (3) for two great weeks and now they are at a mission meeting until Sunday night. For this past week I have been staying with my friends the Sampaios! I have known them for 4 years now..so it is great to finally be staying with them. Dalete (24) and Natan (19) came to visit my family in January! Dalete and I worked with a mission team Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday! It was amazing!! We made home visits and witnessed to people on the streets! The group I was working with was blessed to lead 12 people to the Lord!

Starting Monday I will be working with another mission team at the Children´s Home. We will be doing a VBS and also construction work. We will be there for a week, I believe. Then on July 29th, my family and the rest of my team from Arkansas will finally be here to being their mission work! I will be working with them until August 7th..then back to the states! I won´t lie...I am homesick and can not wait to be back home...but God has shown me alot in the past 3 weeks and I can only imagine what else He has in store for me!!

I pray everyone is having a great summer!!

Deus te abençoe!

So sorry...I am going on 3 weeks and haven't updated at all. ((ahhhh)) Things have been so crazy but I will be updating very very soon. Just please keep us in your prayers. Satan loves to try to get us down...but we know only God raises us up.

Blessings..
ash

I'm here! I made it safely and I am having a blast!!! I'll keep you updated on everything!!! Thanks for your prayers and please continue to pray!

Love and prayers,
Ash

Maybe I should give a little history about myself. I am a 20 year old junior at Ouachita Baptist University. I am majoring in Christian Studies: ministry and missions. I grew up in a small south Arkansas town. As nervous as I get about big cities and change...I can't wait to see if God has more in store for me than 'small town living'!
When I was 9 years old I realized my need for Jesus as my personal Savior. At age 15, I felt God calling me to surrender to missions. As scary as that can be...I did what He called me to do. Since then, I have been on 3 mission trips to Sao Paulo, Brasil and one mission trip to Montreal, Quebec. At this point in my life I am not certain as to whether or not I am meant to serve full-time overseas or short-term volunteer. I am just following God and learning daily to fully trust Him.
I am very excited to be an IMB Summer Missionary to Sao Paulo, Brasil. I will be living with a missionary couple and their five children. I will be ministering at orphanages, doing church evangelism, street ministry, and so much more! I know there will be times when I am terrified of stepping out on faith...but that is what we are called to do! Take a step and God is always there!
I probably won't post again until I get there! Feel free to comment/ask questions! Have a blessed day!

I leave June 27th!