My Heart is Joyful

My heart is happy to be in San Diego! There are so many things that cause me to say that, but I just know I’m here for a reason, and even when I don’t see that reason ever-so-clearly all the time I am 100% certain God is at work. It’s only been 7 days but it feels like much longer. (I mean that in a really good way.)

I get to live and spend time with the funniest people with the greatest hearts for the Lord. Seriously, I love that aspect of the trip that is a new thing for me within itself and it’s an incredible sense of community to experience. My heart is joyful. (Galatians 5:22)

So far in my handy dandy notebook I have recorded 10 spiritual conversations within the matter of 2 days of ministry on campus which I have personally been involved in. I think an important thing for me to note in this blog is what I’m doing out here as before this past week the purpose was not so specific...

Basically, our goal is to start a Destino movement on San Diego State University campus. Destino is a movement under Campus Crusade for Christ that focuses on the Latino population. This is completely new to the campus so we are the pioneers which is difficult, but so cool! By the end of the summer we hope to see 10-15 student leaders raised up to take control of running Destino. (We appreciate your prayers in this.) This is the result of a vision that happened a few years ago. It’s a privilege to be apart of the plan God has already laid out. Hearing stories about how everything was planned out for the trip and how this team got to the point of being here in San Diego shows completely that God is truly the center of this movement. It has nothing to do with us, but everything to do with Him.

What does our time look like on campus? Basically it involves stalking people and prowling on those who look like they could possibly be Latino. Haha. We start out the conversation by getting to know the person and then enter into a survey about culture and faith and if appropriate we may explore a small pamphlet called, “Knowing God Personally” (KGP) which is how we express the truths of the Gospel. The whole initiating conversations about faith was honestly a scary one for me. I think I’m most afraid of rejection, not knowing the answers, and an awkward situation. Having the Holy Spirit working within and through me is the only way that I have had the conversations that I’ve had. It’s all Him.

Through our few days of ministry on campus I feel like I’ve learned about a lot of different cultures. And also figuring out that I myself have a culture… wait, what?! Yeah, it may sound weird but I never really recognized that being American is a culture… but I have been learning it is. I just feel like being an American has such a diverse meaning with the many traditions since of course we are known as the “melting pot.” This is a new concept for me so I’m attempting to delve in that and learn what that really means. First and foremost, I'm learning what it looks like to define myself in Christ. It's easy to define myself based on the things I've accomplished, my major, my past situations, but above all else I am defined as the daughter of the King. This whole concept is a lot to take in, but it allows me to see myself in a different light.

You see I knew going on this trip would be faith-building but I didn’t really expect how much I’d be learning about myself in that process. Kind of crazy, I have learned these lies I have been convincing myself of for many years and it’s kind of been really overwhelming. An epiphany at it’s finest is the only way I can describe it. God’s plan for this trip is so beyond me that I’m going to quit trying to guess how He is going to work because I cannot fathom nor contain His plans.

This morning my "family group" went to College Avenue Baptist which was a change of pace from what I'm used to. But, I was surprised that I actually really enjoyed the service. The pastor today spoke of how we were made and saved to GLORIFY God. If you ever doubt God's love for you look no further than the cross. God sent his one and only Son to save us not for our own sake but for the purpose of glorifying Him. (Ephesians 1:12) I guess the most convicting thing about the message was what am I truly glorifying in my life? What do I spend most of my time, money, tears, and daydreaming focused on? 

God. Is. So. Good. 

We appreciate your prayers so much! If you want to know more details about any of the above or more please don't hesitate messaging me! 

Mucho amor,

Ashley