I feel like I’ve aged years since being in PA because the days are long and (to be completely honest) work is more difficult than I was anticipating it to be. I’m not complaining, however. I really like doing things and I really enjoy having full days. I feel rather accomplished, no matter how hard the tasks at hand may be. It’s been quite the transition for me, but I feel as if it is a good change of pace and a good insight as to what I will be doing in the next year, which is essentially working, but instead of being paid for it, it is out of the desire Jesus has placed in my heart to know others and share His light with them.
While my paid job requires what I consider to be long and difficult work, I also consider this opportunity to be a lesson on Discipline. While I really don’t like shearing trees for 6 hours with my right arm, dodging holes and sprained ankles in the ground, and trying to get a Christmas Tree to look perfect; I do enjoy being able to spend time thinking inside of my head, wondering what it is I am exactly doing with my life, praying to God for me to make it through another hour (no matter how long it is), and thinking about World Race… What I will be doing, who I will be meeting, praying for my Squad, and everyone we will encounter, etc…
Shearing trees does have it’s positives. I did want to quit after the first day. I might still want to quit after the first week! But the word Discipline keeps popping inside my head every time I think about quitting or complaining out loud. After all, this job is a blessing to have in the first place. There are a lot of people who are unemployed and the fact that I have a job and have been given a chance here is so huge.
In Hebrews 12:11, it says “For the moment, all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness of those who have been trained by it.” So, as I look at this verse, I think about how hard it is to get up for this job and how hard it is for me to continually look up and clip tops of Christmas Trees and then shear the sides of them, the end of this verse leaves us with hope. In the end, there will be peace and fruitfulness! In three and a half weeks, after I have endured day after weekday of shearing trees starting at 6:00am, World Race Training Camp will be an entire breath of fresh air, a hard, but good, breath of fresh air.
I think about this verse in terms of what is to come at Training Camp, too. There will be difficult things that we are going to have to endure, whether it’s physical, mental, emotional, etc… It will be painful and it will not be pleasant at all. I am preparing myself for this, as I know there are things stuffed deep inside that I have locked away in the past few years. Those things need to come out and stay out; but not only that, they are demanded to come out and stay out by the God of this universe. I know that through breaking and healing, there will come peace and fruitfulness that only God can bring.
We are going to be trained and prepared for the rest of the Race God has placed in front of us in just a few short weeks, and I am nervous and excited, but it will bring discipline in the Lord and trusting in Him even more. Maybe shearing Christmas Trees is giving me a glimpse of how it will feel to get that discipline from the Lord… But I can only imagine the outcome, and the feeling of freedom I will feel after enduring something I consider to be hard and difficult.
The truth is that no one enjoys being disciplined (introduce me to someone who does!), but discipline brings joy, peace, and patience. I’m sure I will be enduring these things as I embark on what is the World Race. Why not get a small taste and glimpse of what it looks like before even starting? I am thankful, through all circumstances, because everything God gives us is a blessing, even when it is hard.
Thank You so much to everyone who has already donated! I am a little over $4,000 away from my launch goal of 10,000 by Mid-August. I am picking up the fundraising again as I am here in PA and some new things should be coming up within the next week or so. I am also selling more T-Shirts for $20.
Please pray about becoming a monthly donor. If I had 30 people commit to giving $50 monthly from now until the end of the year, I would be completely funded for my entire trip and have enough by each of my set deadlines in August, October, and December. If you give monthly, you are not only helping to send me, but you are impacting the lives of hundreds, maybe even thousands in the world.
Everything is a ripple effect, and it starts with One person willing to give, share, etc… I hope that One would be you. Please pray about helping me out, it would truly mean the entire world to me.
All my Love,
Ashley
