I am now in an intense training program entitled: SOFM- School of Frontier Missions. This school's focus is on preparing people for Fulltime mission work in the target country. We learn in-depth study of the Word, practical business sense and over a dozen other subjects that are especially prepared to help the next generation of mission workers entering the field for the first time. We also learn the language and study the land demographics. Weekly prayer times for people groups, the nation's culture and for the city we will be spending three months of outreach in have helped to increase our heart for this calling and also to better understand the people God loves so dearly.
All of us are involved in weekly ministries, such as community connections (which reaches out to the local Chinese in our village through practical help and also visitation with prayer and love. I continue in the Red Light District ministry, now twice a week, in two different locations. The relationships being built are wonderful, and they are starting to open up in a new way to us all. They look for us and notice when we are there, if we seem tired or anything going on. This last week, a popular location in the Red Light District for westerners to frequent, we had prayed that the men would begin to turn away from supporting the exploitation of the girls. When we went out on the street and handed out cookies and brownies to the girls, we watched in awe and gratefulness as man after man avoided being pulled into the bars, or would forcefully say no. Answered prayer!
SOFM spends two months of Hong Kong based lectures, then three months doing outreach in mainland, in one location. We take Chinese classes during both the lecture and outreach phase. Every week of lecture phase, we have a different teacher on a different topic. It is thought provoking and anointed teaching from seasoned missionaries who have served where we are going. They know the land, people and culture. Most importantly, they deeply are in touch with who God is and His heart for the nation, and how to best train and disciple us to go into this land.
Our small band of Christ followers pray for each other daily, and once a week, we all have worship together as a SOFM group. We sing a Chinese song and praise our Savior, much like we will for the three months we will be spending in our target location. It is an intimate time of worship, and powerful.
This is a program that leads into doing Fulltime work in the country of my heart. A next step towards what the Lord laid on my heart when I was fifteen years old and longing for a connection to the God who loves me and a way to share that with others. Though the journey has been long, often times rough, I feel as if God has had a divine plan through all of it, and has used it to make me stronger in Him, able to withstand the trials that are sure to come in the future.
Thank you all for your prayer and support as the Father has been leading me on this epic journey. I look forward to the coming years and how God will use us all in this glorious life or pursuing His heart.
I do have some prayer requests:
Health: most of us have been feeling a little under the weather, in one way or another. Please pray for a restrengthening against anything that might be trying to get us sick.
Finances: many of us still need finances for the school and others of my friends here who will be starting a program next month are also in need of funds.
Madarin Class: right now we are taking classes through Skype, but this is the rainy season in Hong Kong, so the Internet connection can be shaky- please pray that the connection remains stable and we are able to make the most of our language classes and our brains quickly pick up the language.
Thank you all again so much! My prayers are with you and I pray the God of peace and love would be with you every day as you seek His will in life for you!
Peace & Blessings
~Ashley
P.S.: Here are a few more outreach pics from the Discipleship Training School a friend sent me! Enjoy!
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