September 2006
PO Box 2561, Suwanee, GA 30024 Acct. #6137
404-358-6766
WOW! So much has happened this month! I'm now serving in Spring Chase an apartment community in Clarkston: the Muslim center of the whole Southeast! We've been given a beautiful room to hold the after school program! My partner Marc Laseter is starting English as a Second Language classes and an adult computer class. I absolutely love it at Spring Chase! The kids here are from different parts of Africa which is a switch from the Hispanics I used to work with at Oakbrook. But I love them! Even in these first two weeks I've already become so attached to the kids.
The very first day I arrived at Spring Chase Marc and I strolled around the community telling kids about the exciting new program. As we walked a voice called out to me saying, "HEY! You lookin' for some kids?" I turned surprised and replied, "Yes," and told her about the new activities. Then the young African-American woman said, " Yeah, I know what cha talking about. Ya not gonna get anybody though."
You can only imagine my confused face as I stood in front of her. She went on to explain to me that the Muslim mothers felt like their children were going to get tricked into becoming Christians and that none of them were allowed to come. Frustration flooded me. This was a brand new site for work and I had a powerful feeling that something great was going to happen. I wasn't going to let the devil's word stop my work now! Marc and I continued walking and found a nine year old boy named Elijah which means God is with you. Elijah became our guide through the complex showing us where ALL his friends lived!
The next day I showed up and the empty room was filled with children's questions. There were three girls Jocelyn, Emman and Shalom that I started to help. It was the most fun I've had teaching in apartments! I felt more creative and compelled to do a better job at this brand new complex! It must have shown too because it just happens that the mother who had started the rumors about the children being tricked came in and saw all the good work being done that she allowed her children to participate! What an answer to prayer!
I believe that this year will have a major impact on my life and the lives of these new children. This year I will be able to devote more of my time to creating new games and Bible lessons for the kids. This energy and commitment is what I hope to bring every day to my new kids at Spring Chase!
I'm passionate about this new ministry more than ever! Great things are going to happen, I'm positive of that! Please pray that this fragile work will soon be a sturdy model for others to follow.
I would also like to say, "Thank you so very much!" to the dedicated people who help support me and my ministry both here and at our mission at Oakbrook. We still continue to serve that community with Outreach Events!
With love,
Ashley