Hey hey!! Long time no blog post. Things have gotten pretty hectic in my life and I kept telling myself that I would eventually write a blog post, but it has never happened until right now. I have lots of pretty crazy updates to share with you all so bare with me in this:
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ROUTE CHANGES. That is right as of the beginning of this week we received an email that what was once three routes launching across everywhere has now turned into ONE ROUTE. So we are now one big happy family. Though none of us could control this change covid played a huge factor in AIMs decision and felt that this was the best option for our route.
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We will be launching AUGUST 28th, 2022 – JULY 2023 and instead of having a training camp in June like previous routes have done we will be spending our first two weeks at Adventures in Missions base in Gainesville, GA as our training camp! Getting us prepared for all the things missions!
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Instead of 11 countries with covid they just don’t think it is possible for us to travel to 11 countries so instead of that we will be traveling to SIX COUNTRIES. They truly believe that the longer we spend in each country we will be going to, it helps us earn the culture more and build relationships with the people we are serving with is so important!! While we do not know the exact countries we will be traveling to, they do plan for us to travel to the following regions: Central America, Eastern Europe. The Levant Region (10/40 window), Southeast Asia. And if you think about it, that is four regions that we get to spread the Gospel to. It is a little bit of all the routes combined.
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Last but not least and this is not a big deal AT ALL to me, but feel like it was semi important to include in my update – beginning Summer 2022 everyone launching on any trips with AIM has to be FULLY VACCINATED against COVID which has caused a lot of people to drop the race and while it is sad I didn’t really have a decision to make considering the fact that I am fully vaccinated + got a booster the other day it didn’t really apply much to me, but some of the girls and I on my route was talking about this and why we think it is important for us to be fully vaccinated. For starters – we won’t be able to do a lot of ministry in the countries we are in. Some ministry hosts may want us to spend the first two weeks while we are there in quarantine while other ministry hosts simply may not welcome us in without the vaccine. REASON BEING is because we want to make sure not only are we protected, but our ministry hosts are protected, and the communities that we are in are also protected. We want to do ministry, but we also want to be sure our communities and hosts are protected and safe. We also want to be respectful and the vaccine I feel like is a respectful thing to get. The way I see it is this – it’s not about me, but it’s about the people we are serving and the communities we will be in.
So you may be thinking right now “Ashley how do YOU feel?” and to answer that question I TRULY feel great about all of this. I know this is what I am meant to do and if it means going to six countries instead of eleven and combining it into one big route then so be it. If it is God’s will for my life to do this thing then He will make a way for it and right now nothing has come in the way of me going. And God has paved a big way for me to continue down this journey.
Right now we have 17 people on our route which honestly is huge and applications are still open until sometime in March of next year if I am not mistaken. And all of these girls + our one guy is incredible. They truly encourage me more than they will ever know and I cannot wait to get to know them some more in the upcoming months! We also have a little Christmas get together movie night via zoom on Monday and I am very thrilled about that.
Life is good and Jesus is so so so good!
Here’s how you can be praying for me and my squad!
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Pray for CONNECTION with each other and that we will unite into one for the Kingdom of God.
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Pray for FUNDRAISING because that truly is my biggest struggle right now. If you feel led to donate there’s a donation bar at the top of my blog that you can easily donate to me from!
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Pray for the staff at AIM because they have been having to make a lot of decisions not only in regards to my route, but also the squads they currently have out on the field. They are truly rockstars and I am incredibly thankful to be with such an amazing organization.
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Pray for the regions and countries and ministry hosts where we will be serving at. Lift them up and keep them safe and healthy during this time!
God truly is moving and this is just the beginning!
ANW
