três semana em Lisboa, Portugal

February 15th - February 20th

First off, I want to apologize in advance for the late post! Not having Wi-Fi at our apartment makes getting things done on the Internet more difficult. Also, sorry for the long post ahead. A lot has happened this week and I want to tell you all about it!

This week has definitely been a full one! From going to the campus at least once a day, a hospital visit, meetings with other missionaries serving here in Portugal, praying for you all back home regarding DNow, and hanging out with new friends it has been one busy week.

Monday: February 15, 2016

We started Monday the usual way, spending almost 3 hours in training and Bible study time with Bethany, Jonathan, Jacob and Cara (Jacob and Cara are a journeyman couple here). In training we began to learn how to use Soularium cards and Perspective cards to better reach the students on the campuses here in Lisbon. I began a new quiet time study, where you read 1 chapter in the Old Testament, 1 chapter in Psalms, 1 chapter in Proverbs, 1 chapter from one of the Gospels, and 1 chapter in the New Testament, that was introduced to me by Bethany and Jonathan and it has been extremely beneficial.

After training, we went out on the campuses of Lisbon University to prayer walk and begin going through Soularium with the students. I met a student, Gabriella, who was very interested in Soularium and talking about spiritual things. I was also able to go through half of Soularium with another student, Beatrice, and we made plans to get together again soon to finish. Pray that the meeting will happen!

Tuesday: February 16, 2016

On Tuesday we had a meeting with the Prewitt’s, another full time couple in Portugal. We met with Sarah to discuss big opportunities in March. We have a mission team coming from Ole Miss that will be here for a week helping us minister to the students on the campuses. Then following that week, we have basketball camp. The Prewitt’s have done basketball camp for almost 5 years now and it has been very successful in seeing students come to Christ and begin to become leaders within the church. Both of these weeks take a lot of planning and preparation, so we will be working hard through these next upcoming weeks to be ready for Ole Miss and basketball camp.

After our meeting, we went back out on the campus to share with the Soularium cards again. I was able to go through the full Soularium presentation and share the Gospel with a student I met, Beatrice (a different Beatrice than the one from before), and talk with her more about Jesus and who He is to me. The seed was planted, pray that God will water it and let it grow!

Wednesday: February 17, 2016

I know most of you have heard about this day, because of my dad. But here is a few things to clear up the details.

I had been experiencing tightness in my back muscles since we arrived in Portugal, mainly due to the amount of walking that we have been doing. The tightness

in my back was causing a severe pain underneath my ribs, in my stomach area. The pain had been coming and going for two weeks but nothing serious enough to do anything about it, until Wednesday. On Wednesday I woke up and went about my morning as normal, with the usual tightness and pain. But this time it did not go away and the pain in my stomach was so severe it was causing me to become nauseous and light headed. We went to the campus, like normal, but I wasn’t able to walk very far due to the pain it was causing. So, Bethany and Jonathan took me to the ER (which isn’t as scary as I thought it sounded, the ER is the only form of urgent care without scheduling an appointment available in Portugal). The doctors ran blood and urine tests, completed an xray, and it all came back clean. They concluded that I have tightness in my back due to the walking, standing, etc. that I am not used to and that I have an inflamed stomach caused by anxiety, gas and eating. All is well, I have medication and have been taking them accordingly. Don’t worry!

After hospital visit, I was able to get Starbucks and that made everything better. Oh and the Dove chocolate that mom and dad sent me for Valentine’s Day was nice!

Thursday: February 18, 2016

On Thursday, Bethany and I went out on the campus again to do Soularium with the students. We had a really good conversation with two girls, Ana and Susana, where I was actually able to share the Gospel with Susana in English and Bethany shared with Ana in Portuguese. It was a very encouraging time! Both girls want to hang out and talk more, I actually have plans to hang out with Susana this Wednesay- so, keep that time in your prayers!

We also had English group Thursday evening, where I connected with a student from Spain, Aurora, and we have plans to meet on Tuesday to practice her English.

Friday: February 19, 2016 (First night of DNOW)

Bethany and Jonathan took us to a little city outside of Portugal called Obidos. It’s a cute little city that is still surrounded by a wall. The view was amazing and they make their own

chocolate there, so we were able to try a few pieces. After we left, we got to visit a monastery where the “Romeo and Juliet” of Portugal are buried and taste test two award wining pastries in Portugal. It was a very good afternoon.

That evening we were able to have dinner with the Bustrum’s (another full time couple), the Sedate’s (a new full time couple, who arrived on Tuesday), and Jacob and Cara. It was a very nice time of fellowship and relaxation.

Saturday: February 20, 2016 (Second night of DNOW)

I was woken up by texts from students, Gavin and my parents about the excitement of students getting saved at DNow. One of the students was Peyton (Gavin’s girlfriend)! It is so awesome and so encouraging to see the students at home continue to grow closer in Christ! I am super sad that I could not attend but am ecstatic about what Christ is doing through the lives of the students in Gainesville and the big plans that he will have for mvmt this semester! 28 students accepted Christ as their Savoir and 16 got baptized this weekend at DNow!! I rejoice with everyone from so far away. It’s amazing to see God work at home and work in Portugal.

On Saturday, Callie and I were able to go out with a friend that we had met, Cristiane, the first time we were out doing Soularium at the university. We went to Sesimbra and visited the beach. It was beautiful! But the most beautiful part was at the end of the day, with no discussion of spiritual things throughout the afternoon, Cristiane asked if she could study the Bible with Callie and I because she has a lot of questions. PRAISE THE LORD for opening that door! Her fiancé, Joao, was not as open to studying the Bible and very firmly believes that there is no way of knowing absolute truth and if there is a god. But Cristiane is interested, so hopefully we will meet with her soon!

Like I said, last week was completely full of exciting adventures! Sorry for the long post, but I hope you got a lot out of it.

If those of you who read this, have joined the challenge of memorizing John 15 with me continue to work on your verses. Being honest, I haven’t memorized John 15:2 or John 15:3 yet, I need to get the ball rolling and start memorizing my verses!

I love and miss you all so much and hope that everything back in America is going great. I will see you all soon!

Also, if you’re interested… Send me pictures to help me expand and fill my heart full of love, joy, and happy times! (You can ask me or my mom for my address)

Love,

Ashton

Praises:

-Meeting with Cristiane and her being open to studying the Bible

-The 28 that were saved and 16 that were baptized because of DNow

Prayer Requests:

-Language barriers to continue 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

-For strong discipleship of the students at home that were saved and baptized at DNow

-Joao (Cristiane’s fiancé) to have a softened heart towards God and the Gospel

-My meeting with Aurora tomorrow (English study)

-My meeting with Susana on Wednesday that I am able to share boldly with her and create a new friend

-Our bible study with Cristiane, that we will be able to speak clearly and boldy

-Health issues to be resolved