What we need, when we need it

As Andrea was able to share a broad explanation of our work here last week, I wanted this blog post to focus on the little (and sometimes big) ways the Lord has provided throughout our everyday ministry. Us even being here at all is such a testament to God’s goodness as we faced so many roadblocks on the way. In the three short weeks we’ve been here, we’ve gotten to see a small glimpse into what God might have in store for us this summer. Upon arriving into China and our ministry here, we were greeted with open arms, huge smiles, and a lot of broken hearts confused about who Jesus is and the role He may have in life. By the Spirit alone I have already started having conversations about the truth of the Gospel. Throughout my tutoring sessions, I have been able to share my testimony and the ways Jesus has changed my life so many times, and I can only pray that my words seep into these beautiful people’s hearts. I want more than anything to spend eternity with these friends I have made here. They love us and their sweet students so well. God has truly used these tutoring sessions as a way for us to point to Him and I am so grateful.

God has also been giving us just what we need exactly when we need it the most. When we are tired, he gives us a rest day. When we are missing our friends back home, He gives us friends here (literally) knocking on our door and asking us to go out with them. When we are homesick, the teachers love on us by secretly rehearsing songs to perform for the Savannah team before they leave. I am just so in awe because I feel like I don’t even deserve these things, but God is just so gracious and loving and gives it to me anyway.

Last Sunday night, Andrea and I were trying everything we could do to watch Compassion’s live stream of the 9 o’clock service. We were really missing our home church, and we had some friends in our apartment that we also wanted to show what American church is like. We were frantically trying to set it up on all of our devices, but nothing would connect or load. At literally 8:58, my laptop suddenly worked. For NO reason other than God providing and wanting us to worship Him. We were able to watch the service without problems, and share the experience with our fellow Christians here. It was so amazing. It has all been so amazing. God is in this country and moving and I am so humbled to be here to see it.

Please pray for us and the people we are interacting with here. I so strongly believe in the power of prayer and the way it can truly impact our ministry. Pray that the Holy Spirit will give me the words when I’m asked difficult questions. Pray that I can adequately share the Gospel in this culture where so many of them know nothing or have very skewed perspectives of any type of religion. Pray that the words I say and the questions I ask them keep them up at night. Pray that they encounter Jesus in a way that they can only look to Him. Pray that I can be bold. I love these precious souls here and I so desperately want them to know the love and joy that God has for them.

-Ashley