Good morning!! I want to share a personal testimony from last month in Kenya. This was originally written at the end of July which was the first week of month 8.
It’s been an interesting and tumultuous transition into month eight. In the past 12 days, I’ve spent almost as much time traveling as standing still. I have made my bed in eight different locations. Because of traveling, I’ve experienced three completely different climates. I’ve been welcomed with open arms and told there wasn’t room for me. I’ve cried out of frustration and pure exhaustion but also laughed with genuine joy. I’ve had more hard conversations in this span of time than in the past seven months combined. I have floundered as I covered covered my team leader’s role as she stayed behind in Uganda with malaria. My days off have been spent looking after sick squad mates, running errands for the team, and taking care of business with the office back home. At this point in the race, I’m worn out. I need a vacation.
I have sat quietly with the Lord asking “where are you?” I haven’t always had the words to articulate a prayer more than the simple words “I need you. Help me.” Two days ago, I asked Him to remind me of His promises. I know in my head that He is always with me. I memorized Philippians 4:13 as a child and do believe that I can do all things through His strength. But sometimes it’s hard to let that knowledge be transformed into faith.
Yesterday, as my team got off another long bus ride in northern Kenya and started carrying our bags up the road to our next ministry location, I looked up where the mountains touch the sky and saw a rainbow. I immediately knew this was the reminder I asked for. It’s like He was saying “I’ve kept my promise for thousands of years. I will keep all the other promises too. Don’t worry, I’ve got you.” Am I still tired? Yes. Am I still struggling? Yes. Am I still in need of more peace, rest, and endurance? Absolutely. But I am confident that despite the circumstances and my personal limitations, there will be fruit here because His promises remain.
It’s interesting reading and sharing this a month later. Since then I’ve been bedridden with Typhoid and learned some hard lessons about motives in ministry, prioritizing rest & full surrender.
“So no wonder we don’t give up. For even though our outer person gradually wears out, our inner being is renewed every single day. We view our slight, short-lived troubles in the light of eternity. We see our difficulties as the substance that produces for us an eternal, weighty glory far beyond all comparison, because we don’t focus our attention on what is seen but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but the unseen realm is eternal.”
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 TPT
I’ve also transitioned into month NINE and am currently doing some freestyle ministry in Ethiopia. The good news is, even though my circumstances are ever changing, He is always faithful.
“You keep every promise you’ve ever made to me! Since your love for me is constant and endless, I ask you, Lord, to finish every good thing that you’ve begun in me!”
Psalms 138:8 TPT
I will keep working on catching you all up on events of the past few weeks in upcoming posts. Be excited!! The Lord is choreographing a beautiful dance during this season & I can’t wait to share more with you. Thanks for sticking with me even when I stray away from my writing schedule. I appreciate your faithful prayers. Love, Ash
