Hey there,

It has been a while since I have written... So there is so much to tell you. I would like to start off by saying that I hope you are all doing well and that this letter finds you blessed and healthy. I can not wait to be able to catch up with all of you and hear what God has been doing in and through you!

Well here it is, the end of my 9 and a half month internship in Quito, Ecuador. But before I go into my feelings and thoughts of an amazing year, I would like to share with you what has been going on these past couple of months...
For starters, the end of the school year came with many bitter sweet feelings. Between Prom (or as they call it here Jr. - Sr.), Spring Concert, Graduation, and Summer Camp; I was able to spend lots of time enjoying the last days with many of the students I connected with this year. As in the "Third Culture Kid" world, I am not only saying goodbye to Seniors who are graduating but many others as well. Some students are headed back to the States as their parent are on "furlough" (a time to rest from the ministry field), or some are reassigned to other countries and must pick up and leave.
If I had to highlight one event this summer it would have to be Camp. Fifty students and staff totaled this five-day event on Ecuador's coast. We really saw God work through spending five straight days with students. For me, I was able to connect with some girls that I had been praying for all year. At first I was surprised that they even signed up for camp, but once they came, God really used the time for us to connect, and now a relationship has started. One that I hope will continue as God leads me back to Ecuador.
This summer the "Expat" team has been focusing on building stronger relationships with the students. We planned summer events for the months of June and July. Every Tuesday we play soccer at the school. Any one can show up and play. As well as every Wednesday we host a hang out event. These events included lunch and a movie, bowling and ultimate frisbee. It was great to just hang out with students.
Although my internship is coming to an end, I would like to share with you what God has been stirring in my heart. Around January of this year, I realized what a different type of ministry I was working in. Just like anywhere, relationships are key in youth ministry. But there was something different about this group of students. Every time I would meet a new students, they would all ask me the same question..."So, when are you leaving?" At first this puzzled me, I did not understand. Until I began to explore the world of a "Third Culture Kid" where change is just another word for everyday life. These students are dealing with change at an alarming rate. They loose friends every year and say goodbye more than the average person. This world that they live in has a continual flow of people coming and going. After beginning to grasp this, I began to pray what God wanted me to do. Now, six months later I feel the calling of God to stay right here with these students, so that they do not have to say goodbye, and I can begin to really "do life" with them. Relational ministry takes time. I believe that God has called me past my 9 month internship and into full time ministry with this group of students at Alliance Academy International.
There are a lot of logistics that go into this prayerful decision. I have been walking through this process for over the last 3 months. I have interviewed with my mission here, Youth World, and been approved my the Management Team (the leader of every ministry in YW forms this team) to return as a full time missionary. I just finished a 800 question psych test, that is required by our parent organization, International Teams. If all goes through, I will be attending training, again, in Illinois September 15th - 26th. I arrive in the States August 5th! (yes a week from yesterday) and will be spending some time with friends and family. My main focus will be to raise support. I will be meeting with my home church, Grace Baptist, and a church in Central California, River Oak Grace. I will be looking for prayer supporters and financial supporters as well. I know that God will bless my time in the States, I am very excited. I hope to be back in Ecuador as soon as all of my support is raised. The new school year starts in late August, I will obviously not make it back in time to be here, but would love to get back as soon as I can.
Thank you so much for listening! I really appreciate it! If you have any questions feel free to email me or call me at my parent's house, I will be available starting August 6th.
If you could please pray that my last five days here would be a blessing to me and to those I am around. I am a little sad about leaving, but am very glad to be coming home to visit. Please pray for this bitter sweet transition. Pray for God's guidance as I meet people who catch the vision of my ministry here.

Thank you and see you soon!

Hello All,

I am so excited to write you and tell you of ALL that has been going on! First of all I hope that you are all doing well! I pray and think of you all often.
So lately, I have been experiencing more "homesickness" than I ever have before in my life! I have been missing spending time with my family and being a part of their lives. I have a beautiful 7 month old nephew who I barely know, and of course my family who is constantly doing many things that I can barely keep up with! But don't get me wrong, I love it here! I am really enjoying my daily life and really getting used to the flow of life in Quito, Ecuador.

Speaking of life in Ecuador, there are many things going on here in this country as we speak. As some of you might know, Ecuador was having some political issues with Colombia. And you might know better than I do, but prayer for the relationship between these two countries would be great. I do not think that it would end up in a military war, but please pray for the negotiations between President Correa and President Uribe. Also along the coast here there has been much damage due to El Nina. It has destroyed much of the coast and there is flooding everywhere. I have seen news footage and photographs, and am amazed at the damage. There is much poverty on the coast, so there are many displaced families! The missionary community here has been gathering food, clothes, and hygiene items to take to the coast, but please pray for there is much work to be done and many hurting families in the midst of this disaster. Another huge story is the volcano, Tungurahua that has erupted just two hours from here! This natural disaster has also caused some deaths and many misplaced families. Please pray for these events going on here in this country. Pray that God would draw many people to himself through this time.

As far as my ministry here, God has been growing me and allowing me to be a part of some great opportunities and events. Just last month February 18-22, the Chaplains and I hosted a Spiritual Emphasis week for the students from 7th-12th grade at Alliance Academy. It was a week of success, solely because we felt God working through the speaker, Mike Forrest, from Southern California, and the local Ecuadorian band, Gedeon. The band especially was a blessing. They brought worship music to the students that was so God focused and really connected with the students. I really enjoyed them. Our theme was "Unconditional Surrender" as we decorated the chapel with white fabric, signifying the white flag of surrender in battle. I really enjoyed planning this week, and our 3-4 month preparation payed off!

I have really being feeling more and more connected as time goes on! My small group girls are great. Like I have explained before, I meet with 4 groups a week. My middle school group has been one of the most challenging, but how crazy it is to see so much of myself in them, when I was their age. I love hanging out with them and had the opportunity last week to really ask them where they are at with God! I was amazed to here some of their responses and others not sure where they were at. I hope to continue relationships with these girls and really pour out God's love to them. Almost all of them struggle with feeling God's love and God's presence in their daily life! But...... don't we all! Please pray for these girls, that God's love would fill them up and that He would be their satisfaction!

I have had the opportunity to speak in Chapel twice since October. God has really been growing me through these opportunities, and I am realizing how much I enjoy being able to speak in front of the students and share with them what God has put on my heart and what God is teaching me! The last opportunity I had was the Wednesday after Spiritual Emphasis Week, and I was able to challenge the students to what God was teaching them through the previous week and allow fruit to come of it, not for it to just be a great speaker, great band, and a fun week. I had one day to prepare, but felt that God was able to use it!

Probably one of the most exciting things for me is about to happen today! Most of you know that my favorite part of Ecuador is the JUNGLE, and last summer I was a part of Youth World's Quito Quest staff and leading short term teams. Well, I have the opportunity to lead a team to the jungle. I have been with the team since this Thursday, and they will be here for a total of 12 days. We are leaving tonight on a 10 hour bus ride to Coca (look at the map). We are having to go a little out of the way since roads are not good this time of year with all the rain we have had in the last month! A city close to the Colombian boarder, where we will then be taking a hour canoe ride to the village. We will be serving in a village of the Waroni people. These are the same people that Nate Saint and Jim Elliot served in the 50's. We will be there for 6 days, until Saturday! Please keep us in your prayers. Many people in this village are not Christians, and this village does not have any Christian leaders or a church. I am excited beyond words, but have no idea as what to expect. I have been asked to do some translation while I am there. I am no where near fluent in Spanish, and know that I need the power of the Holy Spirit to be with me! I want to be able to clearly communicate the heart of our team, the heart of the Waroni people, and most certainly GOD'S HEART! Please keep me in your prayers as I want to be a cultural bridge for the team and the Waroni people! There are two other hosts as well that will be leading the team with me, and we will be meeting up with a Colombian missionary who has been working with the Waroni people for the last 10-12 years. Please pray for all of these people as well as our safety.

In the midst of all of these exciting things, most of all God has been growing me sooooooooo much! I could not begin to explain how good God is! I have amazing accountability here! I meet with someone once a week and have been truly blessed by her! God is faithful to give us just as much as we can handle, and no more! I am feeling so blessed to be a part of this team here in Ecuador and love this country so much! Thanks you for all your love and support as I am serving here, I don't know what I would do with out you all back home, standing behind me! I will be back in a week and would love to here how you are all doing! May God bless you in each thing you do and may you bring Him glory as you live life! God Bless Dios le bendiga!

Chao,
Ashley

It has been a while since I have written.  Most definitely not due to a lack of events, but the exact opposite!  There has been so much going on, and I wish I could tell you everything!  God truly blessed me through out the Christmas season!  I was able to be in Valencia for 10 days.  They were some of the best times with my family.  We were able to laugh, eat, and just spending time together.  I was also able to go up to Central California and visit The Allen family.  As always they were a blast to be with, and a blessing to visit.  I miss them so much!   

For the New Year I found myself back in Quito riding on a Chiva (a huge party truck/bus with live music that drives around the city), a fiesta at the Kline's, and then out dancing with my friend, Sarah Miller.  After finally recovering from that amazing night, I found myself right back at school with the students from Alliance Academy.  I am really starting to find myself in deeper relationships with students and really getting a chance to just "do life with them."  I am learning more and more, how much of an advocate I am of relational ministry.  I have started a new small group at lunch on Wednesdays.  It is a group of middle schoolers.  They are all friends and all mainly speak spanish.  We have a meeting in Spanglish, I am pretty good at that, hahaha!  We are in the midst of planning a retreat for the Guardians group (a discipleship group for HS and MS kids).  We are planning on doing a "lock in" for the middle schoolers on Feb. 1st from 7:00 p.m. - 8:00a.m.  Basically we will have different rooms with video games, board games, movies, and pizza..... and we just stay up all night hanging out.  Five of us Chaplains and the 11 High school leaders.  Then the next morning we leave for the Youth World Retreat center, El Refugio, which is 30 min. away.  There we will have time to be with just the High School kids and pour into them.  We will camp there and return the next day.  I am really excited to have time with both groups and be able to get out of the city and spend time hanging out.  

Other than that we have our Yearly Youth World meetings coming up, this Sunday until next Thursday!  I am looking forward to those as well!  I always enjoy spending time with my YW family!  

In two weeks I start school again.  I will have one class online through COC, which is my last one, and then I might possibly be taking a couple of Bible classes as well.  YW is offering a study abroad program through a college in California.  I am super duper excited and hope that it all works out.  I would probably only take one or two, but I know that they would be a great opportunity to learn and use while I am on the field.  The classes would be on World Missions and the like.  I am also continuing my Spanish classes while I am here, twice a week or two hours.  I am continuing to learn so much and hope to continue to learn the language that I love so much!

One last thing..... how could I forget...... I had the opportunity to climb one of the mountains in Ecuador this past weekend.  To say the least it was one of the craziest/funnest things I have ever done in my life.  The mountains name is Cayambe, and it is Ecuador's third highest mountain/glacier.  I woke up at 5:30 am on Saturday morning to prepare for my adventure.  I  joined my friends on a three hour drive to the refuge of Cayambe.  As we arrived we unloaded all of our gear and prepared to  hike to the base-camp.  After a two hour hike we arrived at the place where we would be setting up camp!  How exciting!  We were at about 15,400 ft.  Once our tents were set up we ate dinner.  To follow was the most beautiful sunsets I have ever seen!  We were above the cloud line and I was able to see God's creation from a whole other view.  God truly used this time to reveal himself to me in new ways.  I took many pictures as almost everything caught my eye!  I never wanted to forget what I was seeing with my very own eyes!  Once the sun set, we attempted to sleep for 4 hours before we needed to get and and start preparing to climb the mountain!  Eleven o'clock didn't come quick enough!  We rose to a clear and bitter cold night and quickly ate "breakfast" before we headed off!  My friends Matt, Adam, and I started our ascent at around 1:00 a.m.  About an hour into the hike we found ourselves in the middle of extreme wind and ice blowing our way!  We continued on for a total of 3 hours.  We reached our max of 17,200 feet.  (in the pictures it is the rock to the left of the peak).  My body was physically and mentally beyond anything I had ever done before.  It was so amazing.  I am so thankful for the experience that some of my friends had who came along.  With out them I would have never gone as far as I did.  After not being able to go any longer, we returned back down the glacier, which only took us about an hour!!!  Covered in ice and colder than I had ever been I was glad to return to my sleeping bag, and get a couple more hours of sleep.  We returned at 5:45 a.m.  Eight o'clock came quick and we got up quickly to pack up our tents and gear to return back to Quito.  All in all I think I have found a new hobby!  I really enjoyed this experience and hope to do it again very soon!  

I pray that you are all doing well!  I know that the New Year brings crazy schedules and fun things, but I hope in the midst of all of that, you find time to bask in the GREATNESS of our GOD and KING, and truly see how GREAT HE IS!  His creation is screaming his name.  Here in Ecuador I have the privilege to see HIS beautiful creation on a daily basis!  I pray that you take time to get outside, look around and view our AMAZING GOD!  Read Psalm 19, it continually reminds me of the beauty of Gods creation!  May God bless you now and in the year to come!

because HE loved first,

Ashley

The Expat team in Papallacta, after going in the natural hotsprings! Me, Sharayah (my best friend here), Barney, Adam, Julie, and her husband Kyle!!!

We stayed at the HCJB radiostation guesthouse in Papallacta. I looked over the valley, it was beautiful!

Me and Sharayah at Chet's Birthday party. I was an 80's girl and she was one of the three little pigs! I love her!

A Church in Baños. It is beautiful in and out!

Me and Sharayah at El Pailón del Diablo, a huge cascada (waterfall)! We were really wet! So much fun! This was Thanksgiving weekend!

Hello all!

I am so excited to be writing you! Things are going great here, solely due to God's grace. I will start by giving you a brief update on my weekly events. My job at school is awesome. I love hanging with the kids through out the day. Usually they come in just to hang out and find a little fun or rest in the midst of their crazy day. Most recently the Lord has put some troubled girls in my path. I am very excited to start really getting to know them and hopefully being able to start some deeper conversations. I am ready to start using my past to help other people. I know that these girls could use someone to talk to.
My Spanish classes are going well. I would love to have more time in class, but my time at the school will not permit for any more hours. I have a tutor one-on-one twice a week for 2 hours at a time. I know I am learning a lot, but use my English a lot more. The great thing is that, the girls that I have met lately at school are both in Middle School and predominately speak Spanish, they would not really be able to connect with me in English. I would love to be able to speak more often, or more than just in a taxi, ordering food, or general talk.
I am taking my last college course online. It is a health class, and it is all I need to get my AA from COC. I would like to pass it, so that I could move on from my General Ed. I am constantly having problems with the internet here at my house. It is very unpredictable. I am praying that I will be able to finish the class with flying colors!!!!!!
I am just about to finish up my two Bible studies. My Beth Moore study is going well and have one week left, and about two weeks left of my CJ Mahaney "Humility" study is my favorite. He is a great writer and really challenging me to live a humble lifestyle!
That is the gist of my weekly events, thanks for listening, I am almost done, haha!

There has been a lot of other fun things happening, and fun things to come! I went to Papallacta, a town up in the Sierras, for a retreat with the Expat team. It was definitely refreshing to me. This is where I started to hear God very loudly about some things in my life! This past weekend I went on another retreat during the Thanksgiving Holiday. It was for all the interns with Youth World. We had a blast. We did have a Thanksgiving dinner the Wed. night before we left, which was amazing!!!! I did miss my family though! There is nothing like family on Thanksgiving!! Again God was talking to me so loudly about things in my life. It has been very exciting! About a week ago there was a birthday for one of the missionaries here. It was a costume party. So there are pictures at the end that will have me dressed up like a 80's girl. This was not Halloween! But so much fun. Probably one of the best nights here so far! Just to see all of the people I serve with dressed up so funny, was great! And the last very exciting thing has to be that it was my turn to talk in the High School and Middle School chapels. What a blessing this was! It went extremely well. I received positive feedback from the students and the staff! I really enjoy speaking in front of others and hope that gives me the opportunity to do that more often!!!!
So that is what's going on here! I love getting emails from you all! I enjoy hearing what is going on with each of you! I especially love pictures. Oh and by the way, I just received a card from Grace Baptist! So mail is not as bad as I thought it was!
Well here are some prayer requests! I hope you enjoy the pictures! Love you all!

P.S. I am coming home for Christmas from December 20th-30th!

In His Love,
Ashley



Prayer:

I am finding out that the students here have a lot of pressure in academics and in extracurricular activities. They are constantly stressed with their college prep (which I feel like they are very close to college classes) classes and then are in many other clubs and sports. There is a huge emphasis on doing A LOT outside of the normal school work. I find there is way more pressure than in the states! Please pray that the students would learn how to manage their time and put first their relationship with God!

I have met some girls who I would really like to start meeting with. They have some troubled pasts and feel that I could really mentor them. Please pray that I would be able to pray for them regularly and really start to build a good relationship. Also pray that my Spanish would be good enough to connect with them!

As far as my college class online, I would love to pass it, and finish well! Please pray that I have discipline in this area!

Please pray that my time with my family will be a blessing, when I come home for Christmas! Dan Klassen, my boyfriend will be visiting and meeting my family for that time as well! Please pray that God's will is done! I will be home the 20th-30th!

Thank you all so much for you love and support, I could not be here with out you!

Hello All,

I just wanted to put out a quick note to you all that I am speaking tomorrow for the Middle School chapel and then the High School Chapel, in the morning. I would love your prayer that the Holy Spirit would speak through me, His words not mine! I am giving my testimony and talking about who God has been to me in my life, the attributes of God! I am so excited, but earlier today school was canceled due to a bus strike (which is common here in Quito), so I had completely checked out from "speaking mode." We just got a call about an hour ago saying that school is back in. The mayor has apparently come to an agreement with the bus drivers here! So I am for sure speaking! I will for sure let you know how it goes, thank you so much! I pray this note finds you blessed! Good night!