Summer

I decided that since I haven't written in a while I'd take short steps to tell you about my summer. Let me tell you this, it was L-i-f-e-c-h-a-n-g-i-n-g. But that's getting ahead of myself. Starting at the beginning. :)

  We traveled first to Oregon and spent two weeks at my aunt's house simply relaxing after a hard year of school. The sun, pool, volleyball, JAMBA, it was a beautiful thing. 

   Before I get going too much I need to share something vital to this summer. I was given the opportunity to go to Ecuador on a missions trip with a group called Global Encounter. My siblings had gone on trips with them before so I thought 'lets see if this is what God wants for me.' I applied and, to my surprise, was accepted as a team member. I was excited but still skeptic. You see I had no money and this trip cost a substantial amount of money. At this point I said 'Ok God. If you want me to go You are going to have to get me there. There is no way I can raise the money without supernatural intervention.' This was very hard for me to accept as I was used to knowing things were or were not going to happen. We were studying James during this time and I leaned on James 1:5-8. 

   

   " But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, not doubting, for he that doubts is like the surf of the sea tossed by the wind. That man will not receive anything of the Lord for he is a unstable man in all his ways."

  I thought 'alright. God I'm asking you without doubting. I know you can do this... but it's just soo hard to believe you can!' The weeks went by and my first payment was only a week away when my dad surprised me. He told me that someone had offered to financially support me for the entire amount. I was shocked! God had just proven Himself to me in a way I didn't think was possible. It was in that moment that a little seed was planted in my heart. A seed of Dependence. Totally dependence on God. 

   This story is too long to share over one post but I just wanted everyone to see a taste of what I started to experience over my summer.

  
   ~Ashley