dois semana em Lisboa, Portugal

February 7th - February 13th

This week has been a lot of fun, but also had a lot of moments of struggle.

Throughout the week Callie and I have completed a lot more sight seeing with Bethany and Jonathan. We got to visit Cascais (which is probably the most beautiful area I have seen in Portugal so far), brave the Boca de Inferno, lean over the edge at the most western point in continental Europe, explore the Palace de Pena, eat bacalhua (cod fish), and take a dive with the beautiful fish at the Oceanário de Lisboa. So, this week has been jam packed with amazing adventures and views.

However, I am beginning to struggle with my purpose here. We have been here two weeks and have only been sight seeing, which is mainly due to the students at the universities being on a break and not returning until February 15th. I know that God has me here for a purpose, I just need to be patient and for anyone who knows me well, patience is not something I have much of. Which leads me to my next point, a long-term mission is so much different from a short term, I am quickly coming to realize. Short-term mission trips consist of working extremely hard for a week and seeing many people come to know the Lord in the time you spent there; but, long-term missions are all about creating genuine relationships, spending time with people and patience…

This week Bethany led a devotion for us in Mark 4, the parable of the growing seed.

“He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps of gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soul produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”

Mark 4:26-29

The truth of this parable is well illustrated in the growth of the early church, “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.” (1 Corinthians 3:6)

What I am getting at is, I could spend the entire four months here and not see one person come to Christ, which causes me to be disappointed in myself. But let’s remember, it’s not about me. So, my motto while I am here is:

Be joyful in planting seeds.

I need to find joy in planting the seeds, while others may water and God lets it grow in the heart of those here in Portugal.

In training, they taught us a scale called the Engel’s Scale of Evangelism (pictured below). Which is basically a scale on where people are in their walk with Christ.

My purpose here is to bring everyone I meet further on their own Engle’s scale and further in their walk with Christ. Whether that is, they have never thought about there being a God to now pondering the topic of God or they know about God but they are not serving Him to begin serving Him in anyway that they can. To see movement forward in those I am invested in is my purpose here and I cannot wait to see what God has in store for these next few months.

If those of you who read this, have joined the challenge of memorizing John 15 with me within these next months this week is verse 2!

“I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.” –John 15:1-2

I hope you have that memorized and will begin working on verse 3 in this next week!

I love and miss you all so much and hope that everything back in America is going great. I will see you all soon! Oh, enjoy the pictures below and have a HAPPY VALENTINES DAY! <3

Love,

Ashton

Prayer Requests:

-Language barriers to be broken down

-That Callie and I become connected with students and make friends

-That we can successfully and quickly start a small group

-That many will come to know the Lord in our time here, many seeds will be planted

-The other 14 HandsOn students around Europe, that their ministry will flourish

-mvmtRising: DNow 2016 back at home, prepare the hearts of the students attending and allow the Holy Spirit to speak through Casey as he brings the Gospel to the students of mvmt (also, for Asa, Zack, Clint and James to not lose their minds in the week ahead- GOOD LUCK YOU GUYS)

Boca de Inferno

Me at the most western point of continental Europe.

Cascias

Palace de Pena