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The first 24 hours in a country have proven to be the most emotionally draining. Amidst the travel day(s), our life changes overnight. The only place I have called home may have been packed in a matter of minutes and carried with me – in the case of my tent – or I may have endured a bittersweet goodbye with the comfort of a host family – and the next day be waking up in a new city within nylon walls once again.

20-25 Sept. – Brasov, Romania – The Awakening – a conference with all 4 on-field World Race teams, alumni and staff – over 200 people.

The first night I zipped my tent door closed and collapsed onto my sleeping pad in Brasov – I cried myself to sleep. It might sound silly to those who are tucking themselves in around the world – as I am very aware and eternally grateful for the opportunities set before me. But it isn’t the accommodations which I mourn, but the rapid pace in which they change. Physically I tend to make the moves without faltering…it is my emotions which hesitate to adjust. (No sympathy needed – this is a reality of the World Race) J

26 Sept. – Morning train to Bucharest, Romania – later that same night – Overnight train to Sofia, Bulgaria – Our race route changed this month – Egypt was dropped for a variety of reasons, and our squad (J Squad) is now spread throughout Eastern Europe. My team (Proclaim i61) is serving in Bulgaria with Team Fuel – 14 people in all. Two other teams are serving in Albania and the two remaining teams are serving in Montenegro. Since no ministry contacts have previously been setup in these countries and no accommodations have been made, we’re ATL’ing (Asking The Lord – listening vs. talking prayer) and going for it. We are pioneering the land, getting a feel for the religion, needs, opportunities, etc. and reporting back to the World Race the potential for future races. We feel like spies being sent into the promised land. J (See Numbers 13:17-20)

(Ashlee on the train to Sofia with a happy border guard (rare) – middle of the night crossing into Bulgaria – a practical jokester – tried convincing me he‘d lost my passport)

 
 
 
 
 
 
But let me tell you what makes this possible.

People.

God’s people.

The body of Christ.

God has pressed on my heart over the past few days this notion of actually being the body of Christ. Seeing it lived out in believers around the world has certainly helped bring this picture into a fuller view. For example – Abundant Life Church in Ireland. The body of believers who attended that church welcomed us with open arms. People cooked for us, helped with our laundry, and hosted us in their homes. And we came to serve!?! It blew us away.

And here we are again…in Bulgaria…only this time we don’t have a plan coming in…we have our knees…made wonderfully for prayer. And where did He lead but to the doorstep of Al & Diane Mellinger. Al pulled some strings in order for a gal from another church (Kali) to meet us at the train station at 7am in Sofia…introduce us to the city…and walk us to her church. We immediately jumped into decorating for a wedding which was going to be held during the service. The church leadership welcomed us without hesitation (despite language barriers)…invited the other team leader (Melanie) and I into their pre-service prayer meeting and delivered our team water during the service. Mind you they had no idea we were coming until we arrived. When the bride walked down the aisle (a few hours after we had stepped off the train, with our packs piled in the front of the church) – we were blown away. “Is this really our life”?

Al (mentioned earlier) met us there directly after the service, as he was getting in town, gave us a quick walking tour around the city, and then put us on a bus headed to Petrich (3 hours away, where he and his wife live and serve as missionaries from the US). Since then…they along with two native Bulgarian woman have hosted our two teams…with lodging and food…until we head back to Sofia…to partner for a few days with the original church we attended. Breath…exhale – none of this probably makes sense. But God’s provision has left us speechless. In a nutshell – Al & Diane have taken us in, given us an orientation to Bulgaria, allowed us to setup a base camp in their home to scout out contacts for the rest of the month – many they have put us in contact with. Praise Jesus!

(a few of us girls sitting with the lovely Kali waiting for church)

May blessings rain down on Al & Diane (hosting our 4 guys and 3 girls), the lovely Miss Maria (hosting Melanie & I) and Peggy (hosting the remaining 5 girls).

(Melanie, Maria, and I)

Whenever you enter a city or village, search for a worthy person and stay in his home until you leave town. When you enter the home, give it your blessing. Mathew 10:11-12

These homes are certainly worth blessing!

When I used to travel for John Deere, I would pack my slippers as a comfort from home in the hotel rooms. As we were settling into Maria’s the first night, around 11pm, after the busy travel day – anxiety and exhaustion were natural companions.

When out of nowhere, through broken English…Maria presents us with slippers…amid the change…unexpected comfort.