It’s been a while

I’m not dead, though I guess it’s been an entire semester since I’ve posted. School’s mostly just kept me too busy, and nothing really big has happened.

Hmm…something new…oh, yeah. Everybody’s Graduating! So..that’s not fun. *sigh* but life must go on.

Been looking at Christian colleges. I’d like to major in Church Ministry or something like. Currently looking at Boyce in Kentucky, which is also where Harmony’s going. Sounds promising.

In the mean time, I’m looking forward to an amazing summer ahead.

There’s not really much else to say. Surprising; you’d think that after a semester, I’d have at least a rant or something.  Oh well. Just so you know I’m still here.

I’ll write something with a tad more substance when school lets out.

~Sarah

Wicked

Hey all,

So, last night, Mom and I went and saw Wicked (the Musical).  It was sooo good.  The music is some of the best I’ve heard in a really long time.  If you ever get the chance to see it, I would highly recommend it.  I was tempted to try my hand at making a Wicked theme for the blog, but I don’t know how (although with Aaron home I guess I could ask)

Yes, Aaron’s home….for a week and a half until he starts work.  Brent’ll be home this weekend sometime.  I have finished all my classes except history (which will go on, and on, and on….you get the idea).  I will take a picture sometime soon, however, by now most of the color in my hair has washed out.  Anyway, I’d better go.

Love ya!

Ashley

Off I Go….

Off I go to get my wisdom teeth out. Pray for me! I’m really not looking forward to it, but I figure I can get this over with, and then I don’t ever have to think about it again.   Oh, and I left this Beauuuuuutiful picture (above) just for you guys, ’cause I wanted to upload something, but I didn’t have a Sam/Jack wallpaper.

Anywho, bye!!

~Ashley

Like the New Look?

So, since no one has posted or commented lately, I decided the blog needed a new look. Actually, I just randomly decided I wanted to change it. Moving on, love it? Hate it?

I had a while between classes, so I decided I might as well tell you what all I’ve been up to. I’ve been super busy! I have babysitting for church Monday night, piano lessons Tuesday night, church Wednesday night, voice Thursday night, and this week I have praise band practice Friday night. Oh, plus I have school. I don’t really have piles of homework, it just takes a while for me to do it.

I took Amanda to see Michael Bublé last weekend. He has such a great voice, however, he used quite a bit of language when he wasn’t singing.  So, I’ll just block out that portion of the show and concentrate on the singing.

So, yesterday was Stargate: Ark of Truth release day, and as I told Amanda Friday night, no, I’m not obsessed, I just visited Target twice in the last eighteen hours. OK, so maybe I’m slightly obsessed, but that’s nothing new.  Continuum (the next direct-to-DVD Stargate movie) will be coming out the end of July.

Over spring break, I’ll be coloring my hair!!  I’m going darker, like more brown and red, and less blonde.  Mom is starting to freak out…but she trusts Julie (our hairstylist), at least with my hair.

Anyway, I’d better go.  TTYL!!

~Ashley

I got a French teacher!!! And stuff

So, yeah, as the title says, I GOT A FRENCH TEACHER!!! Her name is Kylie, and she’s majoring in French Lit. She’s going to get me ready for the France trip this summer. She is really nice, and sweet, and Mom and I are trying to figure out which of the boys to set her up with.

Life has been really hectic lately, with getting ready for NATS, school, church, and family. This next month I’m going to have something every week night, plus stuff during the day. Really, it’s kind of ridiculous, because I feel like time is going so slowly, but when I think about it, it’s actually going really quickly. Anyway, I had better go. TTYL!

~Ashley

pics

hey, in case you want to see some pictures, click here. Then go to Honduras Team 1.

Reporting live from Columbia

okay…so I’m about a week late in my update. What can I say? We’ve been really busy getting back into the swing of things.

Honduras: Every ounce of it was amazing. God’s hand was in this from the start. Josh asked me to share on Sunday, and here’s a rough draft. I think it sums things up pretty well:

Through this trip, I came to realize my small perspective, and the immeasurable power of the big God we serve. God began working even before the trip began. Out of His provision, the funds came in, and everything lined up for us to go. But as the time for us to leave came closer, I started feeling afraid. I felt like I had nothing to offer, like I couldn’t relate to these people, like I would just mess things up and get in every one’s way. I was trusting in a small god, my own competence, which really isn’t anything worth trusting in. But during our first brigade, God used me to preach the gospel to children, and to play with and love on children. Two little girls in particular touched my heart. At one point during the day, I found myself jobless, and, feeling useless and in the way, I sat down to wait for someone to tell me what to do. These two little girls came up behind me and threw their arms around me. Heidi translated their childish, Spanish babbling for me. They wanted to play with me. So by gesturing and their leading, we played musical chairs, duck-duck-goose, and “bolo,” which in Spanish means “swing me around like a helicopter”. I was able to give those girls something more valuable than clean hair and a neat bracelet- that is Christ’s love, not because of anything I could offer, but because of Christ’s love in me.

The next day was Tuesday, and I was going to be in adult evangelism that morning. Even after God had demonstrated His power again and again, I was still so afraid. But the night before, I had read in Isaiah 55, “Surely you will summon nations you know not, and nations that do not know you will hasten to you, because of the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has endowed you with splendor.” “so is my word that goes out from my mouth:It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” For me, that meant God’s word and purpose are more powerful than any way Sarah Bottorff can screw things up. Tuesday morning I met my translator and we prayed, and within two minutes the first man sat down. I remember his name was Marco. When I asked him if he thought he would go to heaven when he died, he said “No. I know I need Jesus Christ to get to heaven. Please show me how to receive him.” And so we did! I met seven people that morning. Four came to Christ for the first time, and two recommitted their lives to Christ!

The rest of the week was much like Monday and Tuesday, in that God constantly demonstrated His power amid my weakness. My little “Columbia Missourian” perspective is so limited! I had always known of the body of Christ, which extends national boundaries, but when I finally experienced believers of different languages praising the same God together, it changed me. I had always known poverty existed, but when I entered a family’s home to pour for them a concrete floor, and when I saw their incredible gratitude for something we all take for granted, my love for those people increased. I had memorized 2 Corinthians 4:7 long ago: “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” But I had never before experienced it. God used me and the people of this church to change lives, when we had absolutely nothing to offer.

So if any of you are considering going on this trip next year, I really encourage you to seriously pray about it. It’s an invaluable experience, and God will teach you things you never thought possible.

I think that’s enough for now. I’ll post more later. I do want to thank all of you for your prayers. Sometime February I want all of us to get together. Until then, God bless.

~Sarah

We’re go’n world wide

Well, so long, folks! I’ll be taking off here in half an hour or so. We leave St. Louis at three, it’s about an hour and a half flight to Houston, then another three hour flight to Teguceagulpa. (i know that’s spelled wrong- give me a break, I only learned to pronounce it on Tuesday.), Honduras. Totally new, totally exciting.

Praise God for the miracles He has worked to put this trip together! All the planning and preparations would have been futile without His providential hand. I’m so excited to witness and report back the miracles He will work in Honduras.

Thank you all for your prayers. I’ll be thinking of each one of you this week.

Much love,

~Sarah

 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” Romans 10:14-15

Happy New Year!!!

OK, so it’s New Years Eve, but still…Happy New Year, Everyone! I pray that everyone has a wonderful and blessed 2008!!!

~Ashley

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Now playing: Hoobastank – The Reason
via FoxyTunes

Surely God is with us.

This post is long over due.

So. Here we are. Finally. School is out, snow is covering the ground, and we can rest. Christmas Eve is tomorrow, signifying the anniversary of our ultimate rest- the most wonderful message, the truth that there is nothing we can do to bring ourselves to God, but God himself has reached out to be with us. It is a message that, every time I think about it, I am simply over come with praise, for my God who is so great. And now I’ve come to possibly the greatest opportunity that could ever be presented: In less than thirteen days I’m going to spread this message with people who might never have heard it before. Let me share something I wrote in my journal a few days ago about the trip:

Honduras is drawing nearer, and I am humbled at the miraculous way that everything, including my heart, is pulling together and preparing to go. A shock of fear and doubt ran through me last week. How can I, a very white, very English-speaking, inexperienced young Missouri gal make any sort of difference is these people’s lives? but as the meeting progressed, the first slide answered all my hesitation: Matthew 28:19-20 says “Therefore go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Surely he is with us. Why did Jesus add that last sentence, I wonder? It means ‘of course.’ ‘without a doubt.’ ‘Common knowledge.’ I’ve always wondered why that was truly necessary, until now. Now that I’m beginning to understand a shadow of what his disciples were feeling. I believe he knew the same doubt in his disciples’ hearts that now quivers in my own. But it’s an inconsequential thing. “Don’t worry, Sarah. Go! Surely I am with you” And so I wait expectantly.

That was a couple weeks ago. And though I’m reassured now, I still doubt “What can I do?” Answer: nothing. But we have to be willing to go, because that’s what he calls us to do. I am encouraged by the theme for Core Group Camp last November. Impact. That’s always been my greatest joy, and weakness, to impact people. And that’s what God is calling me to do two weeks from now. Why should I worry about the impact I’ll have? If God calls, surely his purpose will be fulfilled. As surely as he is with me. Emanuel

God is doing things in my life. In obvious ways and subtle, quiet ways, I’m frightened and elated at the changes he is bringing. Ric and Lori are leaving, for one. God’s going to do something amazing, exceedingly imeasureably more than all we could ask of hope for, I’m sure. The thought of them leaving only brings me to wonder who else He will take away, and where he will take me. I don’t know, but I am anxious to find out.

In the mean time, though, I am emensely thankful that I actually have the time to reflect, to relax, and prepare myself for what’s ahead. Indeed, this is the season to rest.

and I plan to do just that and nothing else this week