YAY!

Ok, it's going to be a short post today (yes, breathe a sigh of relief everyone. Please do it.) but I just am so excited that I think I'm gonna bust! So you all can suffer for it. Haha!

We just got a TON of paperwork for PNG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YAY!!!!!!!!!!! *happy dance*

Most of you are probably like, "Huh? Paperwork is NOT exciting!"

But it IS exciting. It really is. Like really! It means we're finally going to get our visas and our work permits so we can live in PNG! Woohoo!!!

Ok, you can now return to the busy worlds that you live in. Thanks for suffering from my joyful insanity! :-)

Soon and Very Soon

I just realized yesterday that we have less than 3 weeks left before we leave for Oregon. I can hardly believe it. It seems like just yesterday that we were packing up in Missouri to head here.... that we were searching for a house.... that we were planning our wedding.... that we were getting married....

Time has flown so quickly, and we've loved every second of living here in Georgia for the past six months. 

It's a bit nerve-wracking thinking of moving to Oregon, but I know God has it all under control and it's going to be awesome there too!

It's also been so cool seeing how God is raising up a team of people who will send us to Papua New Guinea. I'd say it's been one of the most encouraging experiences in my life... just getting to connect with so many individuals who have a heart to follow hard after Christ. It's awesome, especially in this culture that is so quickly rushing in the opposite direction.

It'll be hard leaving Georgia so soon, but I'm also excited for the months we'll have in Oregon with Clint's family and friends.

To My (Clint's) Dad

Hi there,
If you're thinking this doesn't sound like Ashlyn, you're right! This is Clint! We have set up our blog so that I can also write on here. So if you notice a post every once in a while that doesn't sound like Ashlyn well it may be because it's me...or it may be because Ashlyn is writing when she is tired.

My Dad

I think it is appropriate that I write my first post about my dad. And since it's Father's Day tomorrow that works out fine. When I think of my dad I think of someone who can do anything and do it well. As a kid growing up, it seemed there was never anything dad did not understand or know how to do. As I look back now I am so thankful for a dad that could do so many things, and taught me how to do them as well. I know many of them will be a help on the mission field, most of which I learned at least in part from my dad. Running a chainsaw, general construction, plumbing, fixing mechanical problems, and farming just to name some. Dad also taught so many valuable lessons about work ethic, how if a job is worth doing it's worth doing well. Dad rarely took short cuts...unless he was driving!

Dad has also taught me through example so many life lessons, like forgiveness, honesty and patience. I know my dad wasn't perfect by a long shot...but I am so thankful that God gave me the dad He did, knowing that in Papua New Guinea I would need so many of the things I got from my dad.

So thanks dad...not for being a perfect dad...but for being my dad.
Happy Fathers Day!

I love you

Clint

PNG or Bust!

As each day passes, I think it's becoming more and more real that we will be moving overseas very soon. It's exciting, intimidating, and humbling all at the same time!

AND we just found out today that we are officially considered "Enroute" to Papua New Guinea! Woohoo! Lord willing, we'll be heading over there in just over 7 months! Can't wait!

Our Garden + 2 Months or so

I just realized that I'm long overdue for a post about our garden. A lot of people have been asking me about it lately, so I should probably post a few pictures.

It's been a lot of fun watching our garden grow over the past few months. It's definitely not as big as we would like it to be. The leaves on the surrounding trees are blocking a lot of sunlight. But I think we'll at least be able to get some green beans, carrots, radishes, peas, and turnips before we leave in July. Yum! :)

This garden makes me think a lot. It makes me think about how God created plants to need sunlight to flourish and grow. He didn't have to do that. But He did.

He does the same thing with us. He created us to need Him in order to flourish and grow. We desperately need Him. Just like plants, we will die if we don't have His light in our lives.

It's so amazing to me how even the littlest things in creation can be such powerful illustrations of God's truths. 

Mr. and Mrs. Keim

It's hard to believe the second 2014 Teele wedding is already over. Congratulations Autumn and Jesse! It was such a beautiful wedding, and we thoroughly enjoyed being there to celebrate it with you both! Autumn, you were so beautiful! Jesse, you weren't, but hey, that's ok, you weren't supposed to be. :-)

We love you guys and can't wait to have a lot more adventures with you in the future! Congratulations again!