Really Bad at Updating....

Well hello friends! I am bad at updating this! Just got back from St. Louis last weekend and the Cardinals beat the REDS!!! ( Just for you Jese!!!)

Things are going great.... I will update on what God is doing and what is up with me tomorrow.... Just wanted to tell you that I am STILL ALIVE!!!!

In His Grip.....

Our whole perspective changes when finding ourselves in a hard place , we realize the Lord has placed us there or allowed us to be there, perhaps for reasons presently known only to himself." - Robert Morgan in Red Sea Rules

Hope this email finds you well. I cannot believe that we are already in April. First of all, I am writing to tell you what love and encouragement you have been to me both financially and prayerfully over the last 8 months as I have been in Albania. What I am about to tell you comes with a heavy heart. As most of you know, I have been having trouble with health issues most of the time I have been in Albania.

The following was written by my team leaders, Peter and Melodye Bowers:

"As of Thursday a decision was made that Ashley VanDeburgh will be returning home within the month, earlier than originally anticipated, because of some medical issues. She has caught everything that has come around, as well as lost her voice for the last several weeks. Because she came to teach, as you can imagine, it's been hard to do this with no voice! We have been praying and hoping that her voice will return to a capacity that she can teach unhindered in the classroom. But it seems that God has other plans. After talking with Ashley, the school administration and Dr. Guy, a consensus has been reached that the best thing physically, spiritually and mentally for Ashley is to return home. Our prayer is that God will use this stumbling block in her life to further prepare her for ministry in the future---stateside or missions worldwide. We see this as a temporary setback from a human perspective---yet God knew before Ashley came what was in her future and will use this for His glory. "

As you can see, I will be coming home a little early from my assignment in Albania.

Here are some details :

* My scheduled departure date is Thursday April 29th. I will be arriving in Columbia, SC.

* I am working part time at the school so that I can finish my time in Albania

* I will be going to some medical specialists to try and nail down the problem with my voice.

Answers to prayer:

I had already booked my ticket home back in January, and to change the ticket only cost $ 5.00! Praise God!

Prayer Requests:

This has been a hard decision to make and I am feeling drained, so would you pray that these last two weeks would be a good time of closure for me here in Albania.

Thank you again for your friendship and encouragement! :)

See you all very soon!

IN HIS GRIP,

Ashley

P. S. For those of you who support me financially, I am still waiting to hear from the Christar Home Office in regard to financial support. I will let you know as soon as I hear, so you can plan accordingly

Well this time it was sour cream!!!

Hi,

Another culture story to add to my collection!

it is quite similar to the beer story! I was in the grocery store ( a different one!!!) and 1 things first:

1. I did not have my bag on--- I learned my lesson the first time!

Being the crazy person that I was just decided to not get a cart and I had some things in my hand. All of a sudden I hear splat! There goes the sour cream and it is all over the store floor! I am thinking not again!

Great... I am getting to be known around here as the clumsy american! Well now everytime I walk in there I think, " Well there is the sour cream american girl!!!"

Just to let you know, I ended having to paying for it too!:)

Oh well, another thing to put in my stack of stories:)

Thought this would make some of you laugh :)-

True Healer

Greetings from Albania!

I know lots of you have been anxious to hear how my voice is doing, and as of this point it is still out of commission. You can continue to pray for this.

God is so good though, because he is teaching me so much through this situation. I am learning that God still hears us even when we cannot speak. ( whether through worship, prayer, etc.). He knows our hearts. I went to the doctor on Wed, and said that I may only talk 50 % when my voice returns.

Yesterday, my voice returned. I tried to rest it most of the day, and then today had a class to teach. I spoke 5 min and my voice was out of commission! I am thankful that God is using this in my life somehow or another even though I cannnot see it right now, and I am glad that HE has the BIGGER PICTURE in mind!!!!!

Please pray:

1. God continues to give me peace and joy during this time of being voiceless. I ready for this sickness to leave, and I know that He is the ultimate healer!

2. Pray for complete healing for my voice, and that it does not return. Pray that I will know when and when not to talk to preserve my voice!

A big challenge for me being in Tirana has been sickness. I have been sick every month here. Please pray that I can April, May and June with no sickness!!!!

Looking Forward to see how HE WILL WORK, and trusting HIM as the being the ULTIMATE HEALER!!!

Trusting in His Word,

Ashley

FUN SPIRIT DAY!!!

Well here I am writing after having a crazy fun week at school!:)

Thursday we had a highschool from state of Washington in the US visiting. They helped out with the students and on Friday lead both upper and lower school assemblies!!!!

On Friday, we had pajama day to raise money for the flooding in Northern Albania. Each child paid 100 lek ( which is about 1.00 USD) and all the money went to help the albanians there! What a great way for the students to get involved.

Secondly our upper school student council is going there next friday to figure out how we can get even more involved there. What an amazing opportunity. I love working here!

i have posted some pics of us all dressed up yesterday in our pj's!

Observations from...

Hi ,

As most of you know I have been sick for almost 3 weeks, and out of school for 2 and half weeks. I returned to school today!

When I walked in, it felt like I had not been there in ages. People were just so nice, and considerate. I am definitely loved.

One thing that I am observing here at school., is how much an impact that you really do put into kids lives. The first thing the kids noticed, was that I was at attendance. I got hugs and said we miss you, and so glad that you are back. Now I really know that they like me and I am making an lasting impact in their lives. It helps to see from the outside looking in!

Thanks for your prayers. I am still not to my normal self. I feel weak and I have only been at school for about 2 hours today. I am leaving in about an hour because I am not coming back fully ( all day ) until next week.

You are all in my thoughts and prayers:)

Thanks for your suppport in my ministry...

In His Arms,

Ashley

We serve an Amazing God....

Hi everyone! I know that I am so bad at updating this thing! :) We just got back from Christmas break! It was wonderful! I got to go home for 2 weeks and see my family!

I believe that we serve and know that we serve an amazing God who can do all things! This past few weeks God has been laying it on my heart to start a small group with young career or college girls. GOd has opened a door of opportunity! My language helper has alot of English speaking friend and we invited them to a small group! We are having our first one on Sat at 2:30. The amazing thing is through her contacting people, two of her friends from work who are not believers are coming to the small group! What an amazing opportunity. Please pray for me as I prepare for these weeks. We will meet 2x a month and then one week have a fun night! So I guess three times a month! I am glad that God has allowed me to be here to do this! Please pray for two things:

1. For the Christan women- that they will grow and strengthen their relationship with God.

2. My friend , who lives in Durres ( about an hour from where I live) , who is really struggling in her faith. That she would be open to coming to the study. I have been trying to reach her all week, and not been able to. She would prob. be staying with me for the weekend, so that God would give me many opportunities to pour into her life. I would be open to mentoring her if that is what God wants.

3. For non believing girls that will be attending that they will come to SALVATION!!!! That as a group we can show God's love, and that they will come to know the ONE TRUE GOD! Praise God that they are open to the Gospel! Pray that they continue to be, and that I can pour into their lives not just in study but beyond.

Thank you for your prayers! I know God is already working and I am looking forward to what HE is going to DO through this amazing opportunity! Praise God!


For His Name,

Ashley