Back-2-School

This summer has been great, but way too short! I bought a house in the spring so I spent a lot of the summer fixing up the house and getting settled. This summer I continued working full time with the Youth for Christ ministry (www.yfc.org) and I returned to be the pool manager at Fort Wayne Country Club for a 4th summer. This has kept me busy!




A few of the highlights of the summer were when my sister and her husband came to spend two weeks with our family. We had a blast (it wasn't long enough!). My best friend also got married! It was exciting to be part of the wedding celebration.


Then, I spent a week with a couple hundred middle school students at a church camp I grew up at called Camp Adventure (http://beacamper.com/). Aside from all that I filled up any free time I had with the lake, concerts, a few trips to Chicago, quality time with family and friends, and attending a lot of weddings.





As kids prepare to go back to school this fall, big news, I am too! I'm going to transition back to teaching. I had a great opportunity to take a 5th grade teaching position at Lafayette Meadows Elementary School (http://www.sacs.k12.in.us/se3bin/clientschool.cgi?schoolname=school151). It's been a difficult decision because I have enjoyed my time with the Youth For Christ ministry, but I'm excited to see what God has for store for me with the 5th graders at LME! During the time of transition at YFC, I'm going to continue to run the Campus Life ministry in the middle schools until they are able to find someone to fill my position. Please keep in your prayers that God will provide someone with a passion to build relationships and share Christ with the Summit and Woodside Middle School students.

As I reflect on my previous blogs and the past few years I'm amazed by the things God has done and how blessed I am. It's been a journey filled with joys and sorrow. Things have not always turned out the way I envisioned them, or the way I planned them to be. This verse speaks to me because I am reminded by it daily:
"In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps." - Proverbs 16:9



Several times I have tried to write my story and plan my own course. Then I get upset when things don't go according to my way. Gods word reminds me that the Lord will continue to lead me and guide me everyday of my life.

New Year, New Opportunities!

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It's March already, which means we survived the first few months of the new year!

I've had a great start to the year! I finished my 1st grade temporary teaching position on January 19th. Then, I celebrated by taking a trip to visit my sister in Colorado! We had a blast! In the short time I was out there we took a trip to the mountains to go skiing, we went hiking (the weather was incredible), went snowboarding (this has become my new favorite sport) and we took a day trip to visit the city of Boulder. IT was a week full of fun, laughing, and lots of activity! I loved spending time with my sister and brother-in-law. I wish they lived closer!



God continues to open doors for employment in the new year! Feb 1st I officially started my new position as the Youth For Christ (www.yfc.org) leader at Summit and Woodside Middle School! YFC is an organization that reaches young people everywhere, working together with the local church and other like-minded partners to raise up lifelong followers of Jesus who lead by their godliness in lifestyle, devotion to the Word of God and prayer, passion for sharing the love of Christ and commitment to social involvement. I'm excited to be a part of this ministry. Please pray for me as I start to build relationships and share Christ with the middle school students at Summit and Woodside! We had 150 students at our kick-off March 1st and have been strong with numbers since! Pray for the wonderful group of volunteers I have helping in this ministry as well. Currently this as a part time 15-20hr a week job until April 1st. Then, beginning April first I will be empoyed with YFC full time!


In addition to working with the YFC ministry, I am also teaching again! Busy, busy, busy! I had about 2 1/2 weeks off, then back for another temporary teaching position at the same school I was previously working at (Lafayette Meadows Elementary). This time instead of teaching 1st grade I am teaching 2nd grade! I'm enjoying being in the classroom and spending time with the 2nd graders. They always keep me on my toes!

While trying to balance these two positions, I somehow got talked into coaching the long distance track at Woodside Middle School! Due to my teaching contract, being an elementary school teacher, I can't make the practice times, so the other two coaches are filling in for me until I finish my teaching position in April.

I love the start of spring, the warm weather and time spent outside is much needed after being cooped up all winter! I can't to start making some trips up to the lake!

I've also been aggressively on the house hunt lately. I'd like to purchase something soon in order to take advantage of the wonderful tax credit that is being given away!! Please pray for me as I wrestle with this big decision and seek God's guidance with the direction and duration of my time at YFC, various opportunities to teach, and decisions on if I will establish myself here or relocate to a different city, state, or country!!

Still A Leapin...

Winter break is here! Next to having summers off it's the best thing about being a teacher! My first grade class has come a LONG way in the past 16 weeks. Our class has learned a lot, grown a lot, AND, most importantly laughed a lot (I sure hope their NWEA scores improve a lot too)! I've had quite the revolving door classrom this year. We have said goodbye to several of our classmates due to relocation, but, luckily we have welcomed some new friends too! As of Friday, we had 22 students in our class. Who knows what the new year will bring!

Since my current first grade teaching position is a semester long maternity leave, I only have two more weeks with this class once we return from break. WOW! It will be sad to leave the class and the children that have grown dear to me. The good news is I will not be going far!

Last week I accepted another temporary teaching position at the same school I am currently teaching at (Lafayette Meadows Elementary). I will be teaching second grade.

I will have about two weeks off between my transition in classes. I decided this would be a perfect time to make a trip to Colorado to visit my sister and brother-in-law. Last weekend I spent the weekend in Michigan with some friends doing a little skiing and learning how to snowboard in preparation for my trip to Colorado! I'm excited to hit the slopes in Colorado!

I've been blessed with these job opportunties! Please continue to pray for me as I make some decisions about what I plan to do in the year ahead once I complete my temporary teaching positions. God is constantly opening new doors and continually providing for me, but it requires a lot of waiting on the Lord. For those of you who know me well, I HATE WAITING! One of my good friends always tells me, "God is never late, he's always on time". As the bible says, "Strength will rise as we WAIT upon the Lord"!

Lord, please give me peace and patience as I wait upon you and your plan for the future.

An Update from America!

Wow, it's almost been a year since I have blogged. Whoops! From time to time people ask me where I am and what I am doing with my life. So here's a brief update from the last year.

I moved back to the states right before Christmas last year and I had a few days to enjoy Indiana with the family then I traveled to Florida for a few weeks of relaxing vacation. When I returned back to the cold Indiana winter I substitute taught in the Fort Wayne area for about a month, at which point I accepted an early retirement position in North Manchester (50 minute commute) as a 5th grade teacher. It was an exciting position, but I was not thrilled with the drive.


After the school year ended, I accepted a summer job as the Fort Wayne Country Club pool manager. This was the pool I worked at as a lifeguard in the summers through high school and college. I loved this job, it was great being able to mentor the high school students I hired as lifeguards and be with the little children all day. This summer I also had the opportunity to lead a group of middle school students for a week at church camp (Camp Adventure).
Near the end of the summer, my sister and her husband decided to relocate to Denver, Colorado. I was to join my family by helping them drive one of their cars out and do a little unpacking during my short trip.

Currently I am living in Fort Wayne, Indiana and teaching first grade at Lafayette Meadows Elementary (http://www.sacs.k12.in.us/se3bin/clientgenie.cgi) in Southwest Allen County School District. I love the school and the staff I work with. Teaching first grade has been quite an adjustment for me since most of my experience has been in the upper elementary and middle school grades. While it is challenging, I am learning to love the students and the joy that they bring to my life.


Please continue to pray for me as I seek God's guidance and direction. My current teaching position is a temporary position for the semester. I have been filling in for a maternity leave. My position will be done at the beginning of February when the other teacher returns. At that time I will be seeking the next Leap of Faith that God directs me in. Right now I have no idea where or what that will be. Pray that God will give me direction and a peace about where I am called to be!

Home Safe and Sound!

Despite the winter weather and ice storms I arrived home safely from the DR late on December 19th . The storms left many people in Fort Wayne powerless. Our house never lost power, but I would have been well prepared for it after expierencing this often in the DR (except for the cold!).

Since my arrival on the 19th I've been keeping busy and adjusting to life in the States. I had the opportunity to go to my friends baby shower, have dinner with all my college roomates, make Christmas treats with my sister, attend church at Sonrise, and spend Christmas with my family.

Our family decided to do something different this year for Christmas. After a long night of Christmas Eve services, we packed up our bags and Christmas morning we flew to Miami, Fl. We spent a few days in Miami and drove to the Florida Keys where we are staying for the week. It is BEAUTIFUL!

The adjustment to the states is different, but good. I've been blessed by my Aunt and Uncle who are letting me borrow their car until I find a car to purchase. It's nice to be able to drive again and in organized traffic conditions!

When I first arrived in the States it took a lot of thought for me not to automatically speak and respond to people in Spanish out of habit. I've also noticed our culture feels a bit cold to me . This is because in the DR everyone greets one another with a kiss. I have recieved many hugs though!

It's been great to be blessed by the luxaries of the States (even the cold weather) it also has been fun spending time with loved ones, but I do miss the people of the DR.

I've been in touch with many of my students and friends from the DR through e-mail.

My time living in the DR has been one of the best expierences of my life. I've learned a lot about myself, I've been challenged, I've grown in my relatioship with Christ, and I've developed lifelong relationships. I have truly learned to appreciate how blessed I am and I am thankful for the opportunity to minister to needy people in another country. The DR also was a great place to start my teaching career.

I will have unforgettable memories and life lessons that I will carry with me forever. I'm so thankful for this expierence and for everyone's support along the way.

I'm keeping the faith!

I'll Be Home for Christmas..AND the New Year Too

As I reflect on my last 5 months in the DR they have been incredible. I have loved this expierence and through it I have grown and learned a great deal. We all expierence different seasons of life and I have had a great season here. As some of you are already aware my season will be ending here when I leave this Friday, December 19th. Due to a variety of reasons, when I come back to the U.S. for Christmas I'm going to be staying.

It's a bittersweet thing, I'm excited to see everyone again and for the opportunites ahead, but it will be sad to leave the great people and places I've become aquainted with here. These will be unforgettable moments in my life and memories I will hold with me forever.

Transition is never easy, nor is change so please pray for me as I make another transition back to the U.S. pray for me as I say some difficult goodbyes in the next few days and am filled with the mixed emotions of excitement of returning and sorrows the of leaving.

I cannot wait to see my friends, family and many of you in the coming days! It's going to be shocking yet exciting to be back in a culture that was once so familiar. I'm excited to be able to speak English to everyone, to be clean, and have many of the luxaries I've learned to live without. I'm also nervous to have all of this again, nervous of what it will be like to have everything again when I have lived without it and survived just fine.

We are blessed in so many ways and as I sit here in a plastic chair with flies buzzing around me locked behind an iron gate door listening to dog fights and motorcyles buzz I am reminded of how blessed i am.

Can't wait to see you all! Thanks for all your support, love, and prayers in this "Leap of Faith" please keep them coming as I leap into a different direction.

Much Love,

Ashley

Christmas Program

This week was filled with lots of activity...but I survived!

Wednesday night I had to make dinner for all the Young Life leaders and staff. That's quite the job, especially when nothing turns out the way you anticipate here! Luckily my roommates helped me keep my sanity after a shattered dish in the oven, getting caught in a downpour walking home from the store, and my ride forgetting to come and get me.

Our Young Life club was a Christmas Party. We sang Christmas carols, played Christmas games, and had a White Elephant gift exchange. Can you believe they don’t sell wrapping paper on rolls here in the DR…crazy!

Thursday night was our Christmas Program at school. It was a packed night but the students did AWESOME!! I was so proud of the 6th grade students. They practiced hard for this performance and their hard work paid off. WE ROCKED THE SHOW!

Friday night my roommate and I took a night out on town to decompress from the busy week. We found a new restaurant called Kaffa and had a delicious dinner. After dinner we went back to our apartment and fell asleep.

Saturday my roommate and I ventured out to the market downtown to shop. It is pure chaos there, mass amounts of people and mass amount of things. We came away with a few items, but most of all a great experience.

I’ve become much more successful and confident in taking Taxi's around here and it has greatly improved my Spanish (especially when you get lost).

Saturday night we had our school staff Christmas party/dinner. Everyone dressed formally and we had a "nice" meal at a hotel nearby. Let’s just say I can't wait for a "nice" American meal!! It was great for fellowship.

After it was over I went over to one of my student’s houses because his parents were having a Christmas party. It was a blast. They rented strobe lights and a fog machine and we danced the night away (pretty sure dancing is against the rules!) I enjoyed hanging out with all the parents and seeing some of my students there. I got home a little after 1 in the morning and headed right for bed!

One more week of school left then “I’ll be Home for Christmas!”