Where in the world is…Ashley Holcomb? Well, I currently live in the outskirts of a village called Naslavcea. A village surrounded by hills, rivers and streams; where cobblestone or dirt roads mark your path and neighbors meet daily at the water well to discuss life while attending to daily tasks for survival.
How am I? Overall, everything is going great. Life here is very different than anything I’ve ever known, and has been teaching me a lot about obedience and patience. My asthma here has been pretty bad, so continual prayer would be wonderful if you would like to join me in praying. My team and I have had a wonderful time out here in Naslavcea. It is almost as if we have gotten to break away from the squad, and just rest in this beautiful countryside…it’s cold, but outstandingly beautiful.
What are we doing?
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!So because of you, yes YOU, I get the wonderful honor and privilege to serve nations of people all across the globe. And sweet thing is that YOU get to come with me…. SO, since you’re along for this journey, I wanted to let you know a bit of the impact you have here.
Maria, is a woman of beautiful character. Everything about her—from her eyes to her smile, to her sweet giggle into uncontrollable laughter, to her fascination and relentless attempts to speak to you in Russian (even though she knows you cannot understand)—declares her beauty. She is 80 years old, and her aching bones and body, callused hands, and cane give testament to her hard dedication and labor in life. BUT that will not stop her. She lives alone at her property, responsible for her acres of land, crops, animals, food, and personal survival. We got the honor to spend a day with this beautiful woman, this Queen of Naslavcea, as we like to call her. After working around her house, she invited us into her home, where she shared with us special homemade (and very delicious) cherry juice. It was here that she shared with us parts of her story and let us hear the cries of her heart. She’s lonely, tired, worn out, beat down, and there’s no one out here to help her anymore. She shared her cry of desperation and plea “I just want to die”. Those words were like shattering glass to our hearts. This woman, who we saw happy, giggling and full of life…not but minutes later reveal to us her pain and cry of loneliness, to the point she doesn’t want to move forward…afterall, what is there and who is there left for her? That day, we got to spend hours with her, giggling, praying over her, exchanging stories, sharing in life together, and just being Christ to her in any way we could.
Vlad—is a man of the age of 55, who has spent more than 25 years in prison and now has been living in a rehabilitation center for alcohol-abuse treatment. Multiple times a week, we have had the privilege of going to the rehab center and just helping him with the upkeep of the land. We hauled wood and sticks from the forest for him to chop for firewood, we gathered and de-shelled walnuts for selling in the market, we tore down a brick wall and are in the process of making a driveway, we tore down and rebuilt a new wall, we made cement and sifted sand, we cut down trees and hauled them onto the property, we chipped off paint, etc. Yes, it was hard work. But it was fun. Vlad is one of the sweetest man we have met here. He’s just in the search to figure out life and get some things straightened out. He may be middle-aged and have a hard time getting around, but Lord-willing, he still has a lot of life left to live and give. This man has a heart to serve others and is very appreciative for the ways we have been able to serve alongside of him. Our ministry host, Art, gets the wonderful opportunity to really pour into Vlad’s life and help him walk through this process of recovery and treatment. Art also gets to share with him about Jesus and the unconditional love, compassion, and grace that He has for Vlad. Vlad is a man worth being loved and known.
SO thank you, Thank you, THANK YOU for being a part of life here in Moldova. Seriously, without you, I could not be here. And together, we would not be experiencing what life looks like here, or be sharing in the beautiful stories of the people who live here, or get the honor and privilege to serve alongside of them, and to just really learn, grow, and love.
We are nearing our time to leave Moldova. So, you’re next question may be:
What is your next country and when do you go? We leave for Nepal around Nov. 8.
Finances:
I am currently at $8500 
and need to be at
$10,500 BY DECEMBER 1, 2011 in order to stay on the race with my team and squad.
Please pray with me and my teammates that the necessary money will come in so that we can stay out here on the Race. If you, or any one you know would like to give a financial donation, please follow this dynapay link and fill out as followed, indicating in the “individual to support” box my full name “Ashley Holcomb”.
Thank you so much for all your continual prayers, encouragement, and support. I absolutely adore hearing from you, so please feel free to send a message at any time 🙂
