Help with my Adventures

Life has been an adventure for me as long as I can remember. I have been blessed to take part in so many opportunities over the years such as short term missions, summer camps, overseas internships, furthering my education, and my most recent blessing: h.e.a.r.t. Institute.

            In the fall of 2012 I spent a semester at h.e.a.r.t. missionary training institute in order to further my learning about overseas missions, working as a community, sustainable agriculture, animal husbandry, and much, much more. At the start of this year I was offered and accepted a staff position at h.e.a.r.t. as the food technologies manager. Through this position I have the opportunity to pour into students going through the same program I went through.

            Our fall semester is about to begin and we are excited for the new group of students we get to invest in. With this new beginning comes more learning, sharing, and adventure. One such adventure the students will take part in is an international field trip to Haiti for one week in October. The purpose is to learn about the local people, their needs as a whole, and how those committed to meeting the needs are currently doing so. During my semester as a student we traveled to Honduras for the same purpose and the experience was invaluable.

            Being a staff member I have the incredible opportunity to participate in this week of learning with the students if I am able to raise my own financial support to cover the expense. In order to do so I am participating in a Paddle of Champions canoe event on September 13-15. Myself along with my fellow staff member and more than 30 other people will be paddling giant canoes down the St. John’s River 23 miles over two days. This is a unique event in where I get to raise support for an organization called “Removing the Barriers Initiative” (who is dedicated to removing the barriers to great experiences for people with disabilities) while raising money for the international field trip plus support for h.e.a.r.t.

            In order to participate I must raise a minimum of $500, which goes towards the event cost and R.T.B.I.. Anything I raise above and beyond will go towards the field trip, future trips, and h.e.a.r.t. needs. My personal goal is to raise at least $1,500. Here is how you can help:

                        $1 per mile= $23                      $5 per mile= $115

                        $10 per mile=230                     $20 per mile= $460

                        $100 per mile= $2,300             or any amount desired

            Together my staff will man a 10-person canoe in hopes of raising $10,00 for our organization (h.e.a.r.t.) and $5,000 for R.T.B.I. The great thing is that there is no limit! You can give as little or as much as you would like. Your help is needed for R.T.B.I., h.e.a.r.t., and myself. The funds can be made out to h.e.a.r.t. Institute with Paddle Challenge on the memo and mailed to 13895 Highway 27 Lake Wales, FL 33859 or you can donate through PayPal at our website www.heartvillage.org. We will write one big check to R.T.B.I. for their part.

            I hope you’ll support myself and my staff in this adventure just as you’ve supported me throughout my life. I pray you feel how much I appreciate you. Please call me (405-406-4650) or email me (Ashley.carter@heartvillage.org) if you want to know more, catch up, or just chat! Thank you so much for everything! 

Not because, just

Because.

This word is often used to justify. Justify this because of that. Before we use 'because' we are, generally, asked 'why?' But to one thing I can answer without having to say because_____.

God is good.

Just that. God IS good.

He is not good because of what He has done.
He is not good because of what He does not do.
He is not good because He blesses.

There is no need to justify that God is good. How incredible is that? He is God and He is good. All the other things flow out of His goodness. His goodness is not determined or defined by things. The things are deemed good because they are from Him.

Just rest in that. Let your mind dwell on it. Our God is good. Without that... It wouldn't matter if He loved us, was on our side, or any other thing. If He was not good then what kind of love would it be that He poured out on us? If He was not good then what difference would it make if He was our advocate?

You see? It is not the things that make God good. He, by His very nature is good. Without Him we would not even have good in our vocabulary.

Now that you understand that take a moment to add on top of His goodness how He chooses to use it and lavish us with that which we have never or will ever deserve.

God is good.

Here's to new

As many of you know, this past fall season I went through a 15 week program at H.E.A.R.T. Institute in Florida. I lived in a community of cabins, shared kitchen, gardening together, attempting to raise animals, and all things community. Our focus was on training for a missional life geared towards developing countries.

I would try and tell you how incredible it all was, but it is so hard to describe an experience like such. I found myself saying over and over again that living in such close, intentional. Christ centered community is like constantly looking into an honest mirror. You learn about yourself in every possible way. What are your strengths along with what you stink at. What encouragement you have to offer along with the ugly you bring to the group with your attitude. How great it can be to live with the same group of people all the time along with the struggles of sharing your space and time with them. Pieces get put together and the puzzle starts to make a picture. Who am I, truly?

With all of this there is most definitely pain, tension, and hardship. And it makes you wonder if it is worth it. Of course it is. When I lived on my own and I split ways with all my close friends I wasn't challenged to be refined. I didn't have to change my attitude or my habits if I didn't want to. They didn't directly affect those around me in a consistent way. Yet, when the people you work with are the same people you share meals with, go to class with, hang out with, pray with, etc you and everything that comes with you affects them. So it is absolutely is worth it. The Lord gets to throw me in the fire and burn away all the ugly that doesn't glorify Him. It is a painfully beautiful process that brings about another piece of Heaven being displayed on earth.

I left H.E.A.R.T. in the middle of December to return to my home and family. Without any certainty of what my next step in life would be I settled into my sister's guesthouse and resumed my duties of being a sister, daughter, aunt, and friend. I ended up only being home for 3 weeks. In those three weeks I was able to see my nephew's birth and kiss his precious head, I shared many laughs with my nieces, enjoyed meals with friends, and got plenty of rest. Where did I go when I left?

Back to H.E.A.R.T.!!!

Currently I am a floating intern and I am bunking up in what we like to call the "Tin Can" with 3 other girls and waiting for another to arrive. The Lord has blessed me with the opportunity to return to a place where He started something huge in my life that involved alot of pain, tension, struggle, and plenty of emotions. I am excited for this season of life where I am certain that the Lord is going to challenge me in healthy ways, reveal to me what needs to be transformed by Him in my life, and be enriched by the community around me.