Step of Faith

After 2 years of praying and seeking God's direction for my life, I have decided to spend a little over a year on the coast of Kenya! I'll be on the ground from July 2014-September 2015. I've loved working with the Taylors these last few years, and God has opened doors for me to go homeschool their 5 wonderful children! This will free Kenya of homeschooling the children so she can participate in more women's ministry. I can't tell you how excited I am to embark on this journey of faith.

This is a bittersweet decision as I leave behind relationships and opportunities. God has given me the most wonderful job working with the most wonderful people. A lot of people say they are blessed by the people they work with, but I can guarantee that you will not find a teaching team like the ones at Curtis Elementary School. I put my faith in God's timing and trusted Him back in 2009 when I was looking for a job, but I never imagined that all of the crazy events that summer would lead me to such a fantastic group of people. I love them dearly, and they will always hold a special place in my heart. I can't believe we've been together for 5 years and that I won't be starting a 6th school year with them, but I know that God has amazing plans for this next chapter in my life, and I'm trusting Him through it.

This transition will also be quite difficult because I'll be leaving my family longer than I ever have before in my life. I know that this will be extremely hard on me and my family, so please pray for us. I have pretty much the best family in the world, and I know that they love me and want what's best for me, but sometimes the news that your daughter is moving across the world hits a little hard. I fully believe that there is no better place to be than in God's will, and I know His grace will sustain us all as I make this move.

I am so very thankful to my church family, Greenacres Missionary Baptist Church, for sending me as a missionary helper to the East Kenya Missions team. I will be joining James and Kenya Taylor and their kids, Josiah, Abigail, Lydia, Sarah, and Samuel. Also coming this summer will be Clayton Howell and his brand new bride, Lindsey. Clayton's work will be through Farming God's Way, a ministry that gets into the community and teaches better farming principles as a way to spread the Gospel. John and Amber Strader will also be joining the EKM Team in September. God is doing amazing things there, and I'm so blessed to be a part of it. You can follow Brother James' reports at missionarytaylor.blogspot.com.

I am in the process of raising monthly funds to serve in the ministry in Kenya. Please be much in prayer that the Lord provides this before I leave. I am scheduling visits to churches and groups, so if you would like to hear more about what I'll be doing in Kenya, please email me at ashleyjteacher@gmail.com. I would love to come talk to your Sunday School class, youth group, Ladies' Auxillary, congregation, or Life Group about what God is doing through East Kenya Missions.

If you feel led to give, please send all donations to Greenacres Baptist Church, 4802 Benton Rd, Bossier City, LA 71111, and be sure to note "Ashley Johnston-Missionary Helper" on all gifts. Most importantly, I need your prayer support! Please add me to your prayer lists because without the power of the Almighty God, all of this would be in vain.

Thank you for your prayers and support!
In Christ,
Ashley