Saturday, July 28, 2012

Go. Be. Love..


Today is the day!!! Our flight leaves around 3:50 out of Tampa into Miami. We have a short lay over and then fly through the night into London. Our initial flight from London to Nairobi, Kenya was cancelled leaving us with a 12 hour layover. We are going to be adventurous and head into London. Our hope is to be able to see Olympic Park, Buckingham Palace, and Big Ben! Hopefully we will be able to grab some fish and chips and soak up the culture. Our flight tomorrow night out of London is at 8:00pm. We then fly through the night again to finally arrive in Nairobi. Once we get through customs and find our baggage we will load up on a van and head straight to Haven of Hope and Grace Children's Center. By Monday afternoon I will be loving on orphans!!! (Granted that will be day 2 of no shower. Oh well! It's Africa!)

So above is a picture of our itinerary. Will you join me in praying for our team? We want to make a HUGE impact on the lives of orphans. We want them to know that their Heavenly Father has sent us to temporarily care for them. We want to be able to meet any needs that we see in the orphanages and baby cottages. We are prepared to purchase beds, shoes, food, diapers, whatever the need is!!
Additionally, please pray for our ability to share the gospel with nonbelievers. We have an amazing ministry called the Wordless Book. We have 700 beaded bracelets and over 100 packages of face paint. We are ready to share our ministry with all of the children that we meet.

Thank you to everyone who has supported me financially and emotionally.  My photography clients raised over $2000 for this mission. Additionally, many friends and family made contributions online. These donations will enable us to meet needs of orphans. I personally will miss my boys (Easton, Preston and Ryan) terribly. Ryan has a spreadsheet set up for activities and meals for the boys. I know that he will be "Super Daddy" while I'm away.  I am praying that God gives me the strength to fight the sadness and loneliness. My focus is that Easton was once an orphan. He was simply one of the babies that I will be holding and feeding. I am doing this trip for him. I am doing it because I want Easton and Preston to grow up with a passion to SERVE others! I am doing it because we are commanded in James 1:27 to visit orphans in their distress. Here I am Lord, Send me! (Isaiah 6:8)

I am hopeful to have limited internet access. I will text Ryan whenever possible and he will update my Facebook for me. Not being able to communicate will be difficult for me. I will make due and focus on the task that God has entrusted to me.
And with that, I'm out! xo
Go. Be. Love.

1 comment:

Brandi said...

Praying you have safe travels and a wonderful trip Ashlie! I will be thinking of you and all the precious orphans you will be loving, give them hugs for me, you are such an inspiration to me...maybe one day I will be able to do a trip like this.