2009 has been a masterpiece of events. A crazy, beautiful, meltdown and rebuilding of events, and of a life changed. As many of you have read, heard and saw sense I have been home, my life has changed. Anyone you talk to who has gone to do overseas missions will say the same thing; you can’t even begin to describe all that you have experienced or what you have seen. However, I have appreciated in so many ways everyone who has allowed me to share my heart with them regarding this year. God has worked in mighty ways in many areas. One thing that sicks out profoundly is the Lord’s vision all across the globe. He has given his servants his eyes and allowed them to reign his truth over parts of his kingdom in every single place I stepped foot this year. It is amazing to come beside people who love the Lord and are doing his work and get your hands dirty with them.
One thing I learned this year is that short term missions work really is important and impactful to a community. Honestly, WE as American’s can’t reach people in other countries nearly as well as the locals can. So they need people in their towns and communities who will cry out to the Lord and allow Him to work through them. But they need help too. They need discipleship. They need encouragement. They need truth. They need us to pray with them. They need extra hands and minds to help. And nothing speaks more to them than a group of American’s leaving their country and coming to be with them, even for 2 weeks.
Dominican Repulic (above)…Youth Boys we discipled for the month. Haiti (above)…construction at YWAM base.
Anna, Jenn, and me on the plane to catch up with the group after our Miami incident.
The media team working hard in Cambodia Walking the bar area in Thailand praying
We had a lot of fun entertaining each other, watching
“Friends” and working on these videos for the church in
Phenom Phen, Cambodia. If you haven’t watch them
yet, you can find them on my blog, or you can go to my
Vimeo page (vimeo.com) and go to Ashli Hanna’s page
(This should help http://vimeo.com/4147752 copy and paste
into browser)
David and I in Laos
Mozambique was a hard month full of sickness and false teachings. However, the children will capture your heart any place you go. This girl looks so sad. And I know she doesn’t have much at all. But hopefully through our help in teaching the truth about salvation to her village, she will find the love and joy of Jesus in her life too.
The girls out by the water waiting for the beautiful sunset!
Malawi outreach day!
Swaziland (left) was my favorite month over all and I pray God allows me to go back some day.
Romania was a short month, but I loved the countryside and the people. Stella (right) was a women I fell in love with. This women is the only Christian in her family, and she is dying from cancer. As she walks to streets to meet needs and minister, you would think this 50 something year old women was pregnant. However, her belly is full of fluid due to her cancer. She is the biggest influence and disciple to her family who desperately need Jesus.
Working with college students in the Ukraine was a lot of fun. These are two of my favorite girls!!!
Italy is one of the most beautiful places I have even been and would certainly go back to again! We enjoyed our time there getting to know some backpackers and building relationships with people. It was a good end to our crazy year!
The year wouldn’t have been complete without the men praying over the women before we headed back to the states. We had been so faithful to each other in prayer before and during our trip, that it would have been silly to leave without praying with one another. Thankfully, our men really stepped up as leaders and took the iniciative to pray over us. This is Benny praying with me our last night together.
Even though I have traveled the work, I still am not sure what my calling is. I have experienced so many cultures, and so many ministries; some that I loved, some that I just liked. But I still don’t know what I want to do. I know I am called to full time ministry, but I don’t know where that is or what that is. So, as most of you know, I am heading to Spain in April. There, I will attend a Leadership Academy and pray the Lord will guide my path in the passions and specific minstry he has placed in my heart. I plan to write another blog about Spain to give you more of a detailed explaination about what I will be doing there.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for all you have done for me this year! From following my blog, to praying for me and the people I was with, to helping m financially. Thank you for allowing God to use his servants to bring His encouragement and truth to people all over the world. Thank you for allowing me to experience so many things, and for letting my life be changed forever. You all mean so much to me! Love.
