PNG Fact of the Day (1)

Since we aren't going in January to Papua New Guinea anymore, I thought I'd start a new kind of blog post where every so often, I post a fact about PNG or our future ministry there, just to keep the excitement up! :)

Soooo... the PNG fact for today is: it's PNG Independence Day! Well, actually, it was yesterday for them since it's already September 17 there. But anyways, September 16 is the day when PNG gained their independence from Australia back in 1975. And apparently, just like here in the States, Independence Day is a big deal over there. They celebrate with traditional dances, celebrations, and costumes. It's pretty cool!

Here's a photo of the festivities from a missionary friend of ours who is in PNG right now

I Believe in Miracles

Our society says you have to have hard facts and solid evidence to prove something to be true (but people also say "truth is relative"... not sure how those two go together???). It's definitely the case in a court of law. But when it comes to the existence of God, most people wouldn't say there is any solid evidence that He exists.

I disagree. There is. Most definitely, there is. One piece of evidence is called "miracles". 

In the past few years, I have seen miracles. Real miracles. When I was a kid, I used to think, "Oh yeah, miracles happened back in the Bible when Jesus was alive and could heal people and stuff." 

But He still does! Not always. Sometimes His plan is for someone to endure a terrible sickness, the loss of a loved one, or some other type of emotional pain. And there is a certain beauty about those who have endured such pain but have trusted God through it all. And yet God still does work miracles. 

One miracle that is precious and dear to my heart recently is the miraculous healing of my mom. (Sorry, Mom, I may be overstepping my bounds here, since I haven't seen you post anything about this...) :-). The doctors found a tumor... and they diagnosed the worst. 

I could hardly believe it. I still can't. My mom? My world tilted, spun, shook. And so did hers. And my whole family's. 

We prayed. So, so hard. Every day. Multiple times a day. And God worked a miracle.

After a few weeks of not knowing, the test results came back completely clear. The doctors were stunned. From their original diagnosis, things didn't look good at all. But the tumor was totally benign. 

Our God is a mighty, awesome God! He still does work miracles!!! And I'm so glad He did for my mom!

My Hunting Husband

I'm a temporary hunting widow this evening while my handsome hubby is hunting elk. Sooo... I thought I'd post since I haven't in a while.

We just got internet set up at our house, which is nice so we don't have to run to the library constantly or steal it at Mom and Dad Teele's place. :-)

I also have to brag on my husband a bit. We just got back on Thursday from a week long camping/hunting trip in eastern Oregon with a bunch of Clint's family. Super fun! Anyways, Clint hunted pretty hard while we were there... and when I mean hard, I mean HARD. Like LOTS of walking and hiking. It's pretty rugged out where we were. Like really rugged. Like there are canyons that are 2 miles across. Beautiful, but not very fun to track deer or elk.

But anyways, my hubby still managed to shoot a buck deer, and while it isn't very big, the fact that he got one and packed the whole thing out by himself (at least 70 lbs) is pretty incredible!

 

I'm crazy about that man! :-)

A Little One

After the looong week of waiting (ok, well it felt long), I can finally post about this!

We're going to have a baby!!!! I can hardly believe it, and writing it makes it seem even more strange. But it's true, and my stomach can already attest to it! :)

It was very unexpected, but so, so exciting. When I first found out, I could hardly contain my excitement. I wanted to tell the whole world! But being able to savor that moment with Clint was something so special and unique. I will never forget it!

I'm kind of worried now that everyone knows. Worried that I'll have a miscarriage or that something will go wrong with the pregnancy. I know so many women miscarry within the first trimester... and I'm only 1 month along. But I know that God knows best, and He will bring this baby to full term if it is supposed to happen.

Little One, I am so excited to meet you. So thrilled to get to be your momma, even if it is just for a few weeks or months inside of me. You are an incredible, beautiful blessing from God, and I can't wait to see how He knits you together. I love you already, Baby Teele!

Full

I know I haven't posted recently. I blame it on being busy. Moving in to our house... hanging out with family... camping with friends...enjoying the warmth and rugged beauty of the summer Oregon landscape.

The past few weeks have been full, but good. I think that's how I'd describe myself right now. Full. Filled to overflowing with the goodness of God. I don't understand the way He works. I'm not sure why He orders events like He does. But He is so, so good. So loving and gracious. I feel full of His love and goodness today.

He Has Done Great Things

God is able

He will never fail

He is almighty God

Greater than all we seek

Greater than all we ask

He has done great things

I absolutely love the lyrics to that song, "God is Able". If you haven't heard it, you should go listen to it. It's so rich. So powerful. God will NEVER fail! 

And He has done great things. Awesome things. Just in this last month. If I went back further than that, I could write volumes about the great things He has done in my life.

He has brought us 3,000 miles across the country in a little car that is still running.

He has provided us a place to live for the next 6 months. A place that is almost fully furnished with everything we could need.

He gave us the words to share during the week of Family Camp. When we didn't have strength or inspiration, He gave it.

He has continued to raise up a support team for us. We're at 32% of our recommended level.

He has completely healed my nephew, Jaeger. Such a beautiful baby!

He has provided for all of our daily needs.

He has done great, mighty, awesome things. What an incredible God we serve!

There are still things that He hasn't done. One of the biggest things on my heart right now... He hasn't yet healed a loved one who just discovered a possibly malignant tumor. But I have seen His goodness, and I know that He indeed is able. 

He has done great things. He will do great things. He always does. 

Places and People

Wow, what a week! It's been such a blessing to see so many friends and family during our drive out here.

During our trip we've...
...driven over 2,000 miles
...traveled through 5 different states (surprisingly, it's only been 5 so far!)
...seen 43 different state license plates (still hoping to find Alaska and Hawaii... who knows?)
...seen some incredible scenery and watched the landscape change
...reached 11,000 ft elevation while driving on the highway
...watched the show "Jonah" at Sight & Sound Theatres... definitely worth any trip to see!
...played Mario Kart 8 a few times (I think... Grant, correct me if I'm wrong ;) )
...gone swimming
...gone line dancing with friends
...helped pass out invitations for a neighborhood Bible study
...sheared some llamas (well, Clint did at least)
...visited the Colorado National Monument
...had an awesome time visiting friends and family!

It's been such a neat and encouraging time getting to hang out and fellowship. We're so grateful for the time we've had, and our trip isn't over yet! We're heading to Idaho tomorrow to see some more family, and then we're heading for Oregon on Thursday!

And... pictures!!!!

Driving in our very packed car

Enjoying time with cousins

Enjoying time with cousins

"Jonah" at Sight & Sound Theatres

Hanging out with friends from the Training Center in Missouri

Classmates from our Training Center days

Colorado National Monument

Independence Rock behind us!

Beautiful scenery!

Thanks so much for all your prayers and thoughts as we are traveling! Praise God, the car is holding up, and so are we! It's been a great trip so far!

Heaven Looks So Good

I can hardly believe it's our last day in Georgia. Tomorrow, we'll hop in our (very loaded) car and begin our trek to Oregon. It's exciting, but it's also sad. Really, really sad. I am starting to realize that I'm not going to see many of my friends for the next four years. It hit me last night that I'm leaving the first home I've ever lived in with my husband, saying good-byes to precious people, and I started crying my eyes out. It's hard. Really, really hard.

It makes Heaven look so good.

We packed up our car yesterday, trying to cram everything we need into our little Honda Accord. I felt kind of like the pioneers who were the first to head to Oregon hundreds of years ago. There's so little space for everything you want to take, things that feel precious and valuable. And there's so much that has to be left behind, given away, thrown out. It's hard. Really, really hard.

I had to wrestle with God today. "It's not fair that I can't take all this stuff! What about that pot, or that cozy blanket, or that picture that my little sister drew by hand for my birthday. I feel like I have to give up so much already. Do I really have to do this?"

And God asked me, "Are you willing to surrender to me, Ashlyn? Really? Am I worth it to you? This is just stuff. What you're going to do, where you're going to live... it's so much more worth it!"

And then it hit me... all this giving up... it's really gaining. What I lack here on earth in material things, God will provide. What I have to give up, it's really allowing me to be more free. To not be so tied down to this world. To experience God more fully.

Really, it makes Heaven look so good.

I am so excited for Heaven. I can't wait for the day when I don't have to say good-bye. When I can see the fruits of all the sacrifices I have had to made. When I can live forever with the One who loves me unconditionally. Who will never leave nor forsake me, no matter what comes my way.

It will be so worth it. So, so worth it.

Heaven looks SO good!

Thank you SO much for praying! Both Clint and baby Jaeger are doing fine, praise the Lord! Clint was able to get a root canal yesterday and, after 3 hours, the offending tooth was taken care of and he was feeling tons better (he was also smiling crooked because his mouth was numb... I wanted to take pics but I felt to sorry for him). :-) And baby Jaeger is far more stable now! He's still in the hospital, and we're still waiting to hear official news on how he's doing, but as far as I know now, he is doing much, much better! What a HUGE miracle from God!

Thank you so much to all of you who prayed!

I wanted to attach a few more pictures of the baby... I hope you don't mind, I just love baby pictures!

When You Don't Know What to Say

I don't know what to say. My heart hurts, a deep, searing pain for a little tiny person I've never even met. My new nephew, Jaeger, was born just 3 days ago on my birthday, so I already felt a special connection with him in my heart. I was so thrilled to have a nephew that shares my birthday! And now, this precious little boy is in the hospital with doctors fighting for his life. They don't know what's wrong, just that he's a very sick baby. Please pray. Please, please pray!

And then yesterday, my incredible husband who is always so strong and capable was laid almost flat on his back for most of the morning with stabbing pain in his mouth. Come to find out, he has an abscessed tooth, and has to have a root canal done, hopefully tomorrow. Please pray for him too!

I don't know what to say. I don't know how to comfort my sister-in-law and her husband who have already had so much loss in their lives with other children. I don't know how to comfort my husband who drifts in and out of throbbing pain in his head.

When I don't know what to say, God does. He says He's in control. He's all-powerful. He has a reason. He knows the pain I feel, that my sister-in-law feels, that my husband feels. He is there. He cares. He's my loving Daddy.

I'm so grateful for that, and I choose to trust Him, even though I have no words of my own.