Here is a recap of ministry activities from the summer. It's been a full season of ministry!
I've continued with bible study at the jail on Monday afternoons and Drug Court Tuesdays. The attendance at the Monday study has been great and we have had 5 women choose to begin a relationship with Jesus this summer. One of the women has taken on a leadership role inside the jail and has been leading bible studies and prayer circles during the week. It is amazing to see how radical the change in a person can be when they get filled with the holy spirit. A couple weeks ago the jail administrator called me into his office (I thought I was in trouble) because he wanted to check in on how things were going. When I brought up the change we've seen in this particular woman, he said the entire staff has noticed something has happened to her. This opened up an opportunity for me to tell him about the transforming power of Jesus.
We've also seen a number of women make the transition to Mitchellville prison to complete their sentences. I am currently in regular communication with 4, soon to be 5, women at the prison and have limited communication with a handful of additional ladies there who I met at county jail. I have video visit privileges with one of the women and get to do bible study over an app, which has been very fun. She is really strong in her faith and has been doing some amazing things to use her time well in prison. She actually got a 4.0 last semester in her college coursework!
Another one of the ladies was able to do the recertification classes for her CNA. She will take the CNA certification exam this fall. She also had a couple of surgeries this summer and has maintained her sobriety through some major challenges. I had the privilege of taking her to DesMoines for her pre op appointment and then down to Mercy Hospital Des Moines for her ankle surgery on August 13th. I am so thankful this role allows me to help her through her recovery as she has no supportive family except for her elderly grandmother who has limited mobility. Thankfully she only lives a few blocks from me so I've been able to go over and help with getting her meals ready and making sure she gets to the bathroom safely. I took her to the 1 week post op appointment yesterday and everything looked great (praise God!). She cannot bear weight for 8 weeks so will be off work another couple of months. We are trusting God for provision as He has faithfully provided for her every step of the way.
This summer I've also been able to connect multiple times with a woman named Sharla who I sponsored through drug court a couple years ago. She and I did resume and cover letter writing together and she was recently hired at an assisted living facility in Mason City! Very proud of her.
I've continued with bible study at the jail on Monday afternoons and Drug Court Tuesdays. The attendance at the Monday study has been great and we have had 5 women choose to begin a relationship with Jesus this summer. One of the women has taken on a leadership role inside the jail and has been leading bible studies and prayer circles during the week. It is amazing to see how radical the change in a person can be when they get filled with the holy spirit. A couple weeks ago the jail administrator called me into his office (I thought I was in trouble) because he wanted to check in on how things were going. When I brought up the change we've seen in this particular woman, he said the entire staff has noticed something has happened to her. This opened up an opportunity for me to tell him about the transforming power of Jesus.
We've also seen a number of women make the transition to Mitchellville prison to complete their sentences. I am currently in regular communication with 4, soon to be 5, women at the prison and have limited communication with a handful of additional ladies there who I met at county jail. I have video visit privileges with one of the women and get to do bible study over an app, which has been very fun. She is really strong in her faith and has been doing some amazing things to use her time well in prison. She actually got a 4.0 last semester in her college coursework!
Another one of the ladies was able to do the recertification classes for her CNA. She will take the CNA certification exam this fall. She also had a couple of surgeries this summer and has maintained her sobriety through some major challenges. I had the privilege of taking her to DesMoines for her pre op appointment and then down to Mercy Hospital Des Moines for her ankle surgery on August 13th. I am so thankful this role allows me to help her through her recovery as she has no supportive family except for her elderly grandmother who has limited mobility. Thankfully she only lives a few blocks from me so I've been able to go over and help with getting her meals ready and making sure she gets to the bathroom safely. I took her to the 1 week post op appointment yesterday and everything looked great (praise God!). She cannot bear weight for 8 weeks so will be off work another couple of months. We are trusting God for provision as He has faithfully provided for her every step of the way.
This summer I've also been able to connect multiple times with a woman named Sharla who I sponsored through drug court a couple years ago. She and I did resume and cover letter writing together and she was recently hired at an assisted living facility in Mason City! Very proud of her.
We got to celebrate 2 of the women get baptized this summer!
Another big part of summer was finishing my grad school coursework July 3, completing my practicum August 14th, and passing my CADC (certified alcohol and drug counselor) exam this past Saturday. I will begin my internship at Prairie Ridge on August 26th and plant be there around 20 hours per week. I'll finish up in May.
A couple of other updates--
The Lighthouse building, the one we will be able to use for a ministry resource center, has secured project funding to complete the renovation (praise God!). Sheetrock work is actually underway in the basement space area that we will be using for jail ministry. It won't be long now!
A local church recently reached out to partner in a ministry dream of mine to open a women's sober living home in Clear Lake. I should have some big announcements to share in the next month or so regarding sober living.
Some prayer requests:
Another big part of summer was finishing my grad school coursework July 3, completing my practicum August 14th, and passing my CADC (certified alcohol and drug counselor) exam this past Saturday. I will begin my internship at Prairie Ridge on August 26th and plant be there around 20 hours per week. I'll finish up in May.
A couple of other updates--
The Lighthouse building, the one we will be able to use for a ministry resource center, has secured project funding to complete the renovation (praise God!). Sheetrock work is actually underway in the basement space area that we will be using for jail ministry. It won't be long now!
A local church recently reached out to partner in a ministry dream of mine to open a women's sober living home in Clear Lake. I should have some big announcements to share in the next month or so regarding sober living.
Some prayer requests:
- Provision for B as she recovers from her ankle surgery and also for miraculous healing that results in her having full mobility and no pain.
- H is having a hysterectomy in September and will be off work for 6 weeks. Praying for continued sobriety through this unexpected health issue.
- K is up for parole at the prison, but has nowhere to parole to. Mason City sober living did not accept her application and Beje Clark is not an ideal option for her. She has no healthy family or friends she can parole to either. Praying for a clear path to whatever environment will best support her transition out prison.
- M has left a domestic violence relationship, is pregnant, and reached out to me to help get her into a trauma support group. Praying that she follows through and connects to the group.
- L just completed inpatient treatment. Please join me in praying for her as the first days out of treatment are very difficult.
- J has really been struggling with loneliness at prison as she has determined to live set apart there and not get sucked into the immoral activities that go on. She sent me a message this week that said she prays every day for more of the holy spirit and she feels like the spirit is with her with a hand on her shoulder throughout her day. Pray that this tangible feeling of God near continues. Also pray for her parole planning as she makes decisions about where she will go after being released.
- R just recently started a relationship with Jesus and saw God answer some really big prayers in the last week. She transitioned to Mitchellville Tuesday. Pray for her transition and that she can connect with likeminded women to continue growing in her faith.
Family Update:
Our family is getting ready to transition into back to school mode. Lauryn will be a junior, Mikha will be a freshman, and Gabby will be in 7th grade. We also added a kiddo for the school year. Zulal is a Turkish exchange student (a senior) who will be living with us for the school year and will attend Clear Lake High School. She is the 4th exchange student who has lived with us. Very excited to share the year with her.
I also just want to say thank you for your continued support with the mission. I look forward to sharing updates again soon. Your partnership is such a gift to me and my family.
Love in Christ,
Ashley
PS the ladder of faith picture is something one of the women at the jail made for me...it's what we had been studying at bible study
Our family is getting ready to transition into back to school mode. Lauryn will be a junior, Mikha will be a freshman, and Gabby will be in 7th grade. We also added a kiddo for the school year. Zulal is a Turkish exchange student (a senior) who will be living with us for the school year and will attend Clear Lake High School. She is the 4th exchange student who has lived with us. Very excited to share the year with her.
I also just want to say thank you for your continued support with the mission. I look forward to sharing updates again soon. Your partnership is such a gift to me and my family.
Love in Christ,
Ashley
PS the ladder of faith picture is something one of the women at the jail made for me...it's what we had been studying at bible study
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