Have I told you that I like airports?

And we’re off! 

-Stay up until 3:30 AM Packing- CHECK!

-Two bags (both weighing more than the weight limit)- CHECK!

-Pillow- CHECK!

-Passport- CHECK!

-Say bye to my parents (don’t cry, don’t cry, don’t cry, don’t cry)- CHECK!

-Drive to Dallas-CHECK!

-Meet a band member of Citizen Way in the line at Starbucks- CHECK!

-Talk to total strangers about mission work- CHECK!

-Safe flight to Washington DC- CHECK!

-Wake up call set for 7:30- CHECK!

So, it's almost here! Tomorrow morning I leave at 11:15AM to go to Kenya for 2 months. It didn't seem real until now. I mean, I knew it was real, but I'm an ideas girl. This means that I come up with all of these fantastical ideas, but rarely do I see any of them finished. This is no longer in my head. I am actually bound for the beautiful continent of Africa for the second time in my life. How blessed am I? God is just awesome. He has taken care of me so far on my trip! I am casting all of my cares on Him! Got to the airport without getting lost and Rachel dropped me off right where I needed to go. My gate was right next to the security check-in. I had plenty of time to find something to eat (really I was looking for a Starbucks) and after wandering down to the end of the terminals and back, I found it hidden right next to my gate (how embarrassing). As I was standing in line for my coffee and sandwich, I made conversation with the guy in front of me (shocking, I know) because he was carrying a guitar with all of these Christian radio stickers. I asked if he was a worship leader somewhere and this led to me meeting the guitarist of the band Citizen Way (check them out on Facebook). Then I enjoyed talking to an airman while waiting on the plane. After getting on the plane I enjoyed talking with the nice man from Ohio sitting next to me. He told me about how he's been married for 35 years and was very interested in my trip to Africa. He wanted to know all about the people and the culture. it was awesome. I dozed off a couple of times and realized my mouth was open and woke back up. I'm sure anyone watching this was cracking up. Then waiting on the baggage, this nice older couple talked to me about their mission work that they do with their church. She couldn't believe I was traveling alone. He got my bags off of the conveyer belt for me (they weigh 60 pounds each). I then successfully got on the shuttle to the hotel and am now about to float off into dream land before waking up and traveling back to the airport to catch my 13 and a half hour flight tomorrow. 

I don't know if you knew this, but I love airports. Here are a few of my favorite things about airports:

1. Watching people after they've just been through security. It's one of the only places that it is acceptable to walk around without shoes on no matter if you're wearing pajamas or a business suit. It brings everyone to the same level. 

2. Starting up conversations with total strangers. You learn some awesome stuff about people if you simply follow that gut instinct to just say "So where are you headed to?"

3. Diversity- there are people from EVERYWHERE coming together. 

4. Laughing at the flight attendant's face as the kid right next to her is screaming on the plane and won't sit in his seat and buckle up. We had a moment when she realized that i had seen her make the face. 

5. Not being afraid to ask questions. No one really knows what's going on and everyone is willing to ask questions to find out the answers. People don't assume to know what's going on, because if they do, they will end up in the wrong place. 

6. It cracks me up when I walk into the gate area and see everyone has skipped a seat. I chuckle every time. Then I sit right next to some one. :)

7. People running with their rolling luggage. I don't know why I enjoy this so. 

Please continue to pray for my trip. God is going to do awesome things this summer and I can't wait to see what's in store!!

In Christ, 

Ashley

Ashes

So I know I haven't blogged since last summer. I was planning on blogging on my mission trip last July, but there was not time or access to do so. I hope to keep this current as a chronicle of what's going on in my life, if for nothing else, to have a record of things that I would normally forget.

I was thinking about the title of my blog page "Ash for the Kingdom" the other day. When I created the blog the title represented what I was feeling at the time. I am supporting and working toward the Kingdom of Christ. Ash for the Kingdom. But as I thought about it the other day it took on a different meaning for me altogether. All of these posts, everything I do, it's simply ashes for the Kingdom. God doesn't need me. He doesn't need any of us. Everything we do is but ashes. One day everything we have will be ashes. No matter what we do, we can never add to God's Kingdom. We can simply humble ourselves and realize how big and mighty and powerful our God is and then submit to His will. We must realize that all we have is ash. I don't know how much you know about ash though. It's not useless. My dad actually sells ash to concrete and building companies. You know why? It increases the value of the concrete and building material. It creates a cool bond within the rest of the concrete that makes it super strong. If you don't believe me go read about it at http://www.flyash.com/. However, if not used properly, ash can be a pollutant. This is just like our lives! If we bring our "ashes" to God, he can then use us for His purpose, for the Kingdom, and we can be as strong as He is! I don't know about you, but I'm going to bring my "Ash" to God and let Him determine how it's used. :)

For those of you who don't know, I will be heading out on May 31 on my way to Malindi, Kenya. I'm SUPER excited about getting to spend all summer interning with the missionaries there on the coast of Kenya. I had an unforgettable experience there on our mission trip last summer and I can't wait to spend 2 months serving alongside the Bourlands and the Taylors.

To learn more about the work that is going on in East Kenya, go to http://eastkenyamissions.com/.

Until I get there though, there is much to do! The last month of school is a CRAZY time. You really can't imagine this unless you are a teacher or are in a family with teachers. We have already had a fun-filled May, and it's only the 5th! On May 1st we visited the middle school to get the kids pumped up about 6th grade, on May 2nd it was my sister's birthday, on May 3rd we hosted the 3rd graders to come see where they'll be going to school next year, on May 4th we had our last FCA meeting and our Field Day, and today, May 5th, we had our last Robotics competition! Mixed in there was our final deadline for ordering tickets to Destination ImagiNation Global Finals! We have 3 teams from our school competing in the international competition May 22-27 in Knoxville, TN. I am so excited that so many of our students get to participate, but boy is it a lot of work to get everything ready! We've been fundraising for the last 2 months to get all of our students the chance to go on this trip! Please pray for me as I try to cram in the end of the year and preparations for Africa!

In Christ,
Ashley