HELLO!
It’s me! I’m alive! I am so sorry for being MIA the past couple of months. There has been a lot happening and I have not made blogging a priority- that changes now. I am so incredibly grateful to everyone who has supported me throughout this journey and I owe it to you guys to share all that God is doing!
Last time I blogged I was in Gainesville, Georgia at training camp- I am currently in Siem Reap, Cambodia, SO allow me to catch you up on everything i’ve been up to 🙂
On September 14th, my squad and I hiked up Mt. Yonah in GA. It was not easy, but that made looking down from the top that much sweeter!
team shalom <3
we did some yoga at the top
ate some boiled eggs
& then we camped up there!
Sometime in September we handed out flowers to folks & told them how much Jesus loves them, it was super sweet!
Isn’t Bernadette Beacham just SO beautiful???
At the beginning of October, The men & women of the squad split up and we went to do separate domestic mission trips. The guys went to Samaritans Purse in Kentucky to help with disaster relief- Us girls went to Black Mountain, North Carolina. During our two weeks there our ministries varied from construction work, landscaping, painting, cleaning etc. Let me show you!
this is where we slept for the duration of the trip- we call it “tent city”
A quick recap of a few ministry days:
we moved hundereds of life jackets
cleaned lots of cabins
& did plenty of construction work- we LOVE manual labor!!!
Dani looking so angelic at ministry <3
our boots were glued to our feet the duration of the trip
sunrise walk w olivia 🙂
Felt at home in this little bookstore!
QUICK COFFEE BREAK
Okay back to work- We got to decorate for the local fall festival!!
Olivia walked around as Dora at the fall fest- it was a big hit
We hiked to a waterfall- then swam in the FRIGID water
It was worth it though 😀
Bern & her cheerwine- a TRUE love story.
Said goodbye to our favorite coffee shop in Black Mountain- really hard day 🙁
& then we headed back to base! (I love Remy Shootman!!!!)
After two long weeks, the whole squad reunited in Georgia. We spent lots of time catching up & started prepping to go overseas!
We got to celebrate Sukkot together!
The squad said our final goodbyes to Georgia & then headed to the airport!
We had a long layover in San Fransisco so we explored the city!
I’ve never even seen full house lol
photo evidence of Maura destroying her blundstones
this picture documents the 2 hours Maura, Anna, Madeline, & I walked around the airport in circles because we couldn’t find our way back to our gate 🙂
our layover in Taiwan was STRESSFUL but here’s a pic of us ignoring all the chaos going on lol
I took this in the lavatory after balling my eyes- the reality of leaving the country for 8 months finally hit me lol
FINALLY made it to Cambodia & immediately hopped in a tuk tuk- we were super excited about it
tuk tuk views <3
We made a pit stop in Phnom Penn for two days & did a bunch of embarrassing touristy things:
went to a few temples- this one was my favorite bc there were lots of doggies running around <3
fed this little monkey jackfruit & became friends- I miss her…hope she’s thriving.
spent a few hours w these kiddos 🙂
madeline got a tattoo!!!
went to Silk Island & got to spin the silk wheel- I felt so cool lol
we went to a cat cafe- who’s suprised?
we went to the market and stood out like a SORE thumb- this picture is so horrendously touristy
& then got dinner with our tuk tuk driver- he took us to his favorite spot here & ordered for us… what is it? great question!
Then we took a 6 hour bus ride to Siem Reap 🙂
Then we arrived in Siem Reap to our home for two months!
my favorite corner of our little room 🙂
we have a few house cats that don’t like being around people so I admire them from the window lol
We’ve already been in Siem Reap for a while, so here are some of my favorite moments from the past month & a half:
worship in Cambodia- some of the most passionate worship I’ve ever witnessed
lots of coffee spills- team shalom consists of very clumsy ladies!!!
watercoloring, watercoloring & more watercoloring
this.
we found the coffee spot of our dreams <3
we’ve become best friends with the man who drives us to ministry every morning. his name is Mr. Wong, we love him & his tuk tuk more than words can express.
family dinner- we had Greek food & felt like we were in Mamma Mia 🙂
So that’s all super fun but what are we actually doing here?
My teams ministry is working with an international christian school. Most of the kids’ parents are missionaries based in Siem Reap. There is so much diversity in language/culture at this school & it is SO beautiful to see them all mesh together. We get to teach the kids, play with them, help the teachers, and most importantly just love on all of them! We had the privilege of planning their field day- which was super fun, and we’re in the process of planning their Christmas Program! (how fun is that?)
I have learned so much from these kids. They have reminded me of what it looks like to truly have faith like a child and it has been a big reality check for me. It has been so encouraging to look at God through their eyes!
Every day at the school becomes my favorite day- I am so filled with joy getting to serve these kids, teachers, & parents.
lydia grace having the time of her life on the seesaw lol
there are cats at school too- I LOVE CAMBODIA!!!
This past week has been utter insanity- I’ll give you a highlight reel:
LYDIA GRACE GOT ACCEPTED INTO GCU!!! so we had a “signing” party for her 🙂
We celebrated Thanksgiving while simultaneously finding out we have lice!
happy thanksgiving from team shalom & wong <3
andddd you’re all caught up! thankyou for reading! I am currently writing this with an itchy head but a full heart. I will try to be a lot more consistent with blogs going forward!
Here are a few ways you can be praying for me and my team:
-That we would see each other through the eyes of Christ and remember the value that each of us hold.
-HEALTH! we have all been getting a little sick (some of us more than others) so please be praying for healing!
-Prayers for lice to LEAVE!
-Over the rest of our time here!
your friend, ashley <3
Such a journey Ashley. Loved all the pictures and updates. Your joy is so expressive in this.
Thanks for sharing! Your pictures are worth a thousand words! Praying for you and your team as you serve the school there, and as you, Lord willing, start itching less!
– Kristen (Josh Ockrin’s mom)
My beautiful Ashley Ruth!
Thank you so much for your update and the amazing pictures. God is and will continue to do great things through you and your team. We are so proud of you !
Even in the hard times, he is there along side you .
Continued prayers for you and all the racers!
Love you!
Mom
Oh my goodness Ashley, thank you for the update… soooo beautifully said and captured!! I’ll be praying over your asks… hopefully the lice are a one and done, lol.
xoxo