Meet my team: Shalom Bayit!

The Lord has been stirring a mighty hunger in each member of my squad. These young adults are on FIRE for Jesus! As I mentioned in my last two blogs, I want to introduce you to some of my crew for this next year so todays introductions will reveal…

Madelynn, Emily, Rachel, Dezarae, and Libby…. MY TEAM!! Shalom Bayit! Yep, that’s right.. together the six of us entered the culture of San Antonio Aguas Calientes, Guatemala! SO EXCITED for all God is doing and will continue to do here! It’s already been challenging, but fruitful.

So first and foremost, allow me to introduce you to the youngest member on our squad, a super loving, humble hearted, and determined gal, our Team Leader, Madelynn Goodmanson!! Y’ALL. This girl has a huge servants heart. Example: I was super sick during training camp and stayed back when my team went to town.. Madelynn brought me back some meds and took initiative to walk all the way downhill to the dining deck to get me a plate for dinner, and then all the way back uphill with my plate (and EmergenC) to bring it to me at my tent! This seriously was a humbling moment for myself, to allow someone to serve me. She has been a blessing to me in countless ways. Thank you, Jesus, for Madelynn!!

Next up, I will introduce my tender hearted, caring, and intentional friend, also our Logistics Coordinator, Emily Pope!! This girl seriously has the most gentle spirit, she radiates so much peace but there’s also a bold lion roaring inside of her! She will be planning out all the logistics (traveling, food, lodging, hosts, etc.) for our team! She also has a faithful servants heart. The night before traveling to Guatemala I was so weak from being so sick that Emily took initiative to wash and break down my tent, and pack up my bag for me (and it was hard to pack haha). She goes above and beyond. Thank you, Jesus, for Emily!!

Alrighty, here’s another one. Let me introduce you to someone who is creative, wise, gracious, and also the Treasurer of my team… Rachel Brenner!! She will be taking care of all things money for my team. Writing receipts, pulling out funds for groceries, transportation, lodging, and ministry. She has a very precise and time consuming job that is extremely valuable for us. Her her work goes unnoticed and we wouldn’t function as well without her. Thank you, Jesus, for Rachel!!

Up next, someone who is strongly empathetic, always asks how she can support you, is filled with wise discernment, and has a heart to listen and a voice that speaks gently but confidently… Dezarae!! Dez is a prayer warrior on our team with a passion to evangelize and gift to use her testimony for Gods glory. I won’t forget the sincerity of this girl. She exceeds expectations. Here’s a small example: she went out of her way during one of my sick days to find me something to eat when I wasn’t able to tolerate what was served. It was so intentional and compassionate. Thank you, Jesus, for Dezarae!

Last but not least, let me introduce you to someone who is quiet but mighty. This girl is seriously so funny, you will never have a dull moment with her in the room. Her smile is so contagious, she radiates light. She has good taste in Jesus jams, is welcoming to talk to, and is filled with so much life. Here’s to the one who captures all the sweet, humorous, and embarrassing moments… Libby Eddy! Libby has a gift of exhortation, whether she knows it or not, she has encouraged me in many ways already! Thank you, Jesus, for Libby!

I know a lot of those examples were pointing back to me being sick but the Lord truly taught me so much during those 10 days of feeling far from myself. It was such a physical and intentional reminder that my team will and is fighting for me. From the beginning of this journey that was a fear I really had. I doubted that the community here could be as good as my community was back home. I was scared that these people wouldn’t love me or believe in me the way my church family does. But those 10 days showed me so much evidence otherwise. Seeing so many of the people on my squad be so intentional gave me such a beautiful picture of the heart and hands of Jesus. Whatever the heart of Jesus felt, His hands touched. Those 10 days I felt so vulnerable and weak. I don’t really like to cry in front of others, but I couldn’t hold back tears even if I tried. I had to sit in the middle of my weakness and cry out to Jesus to be my strength. I had to allow myself to be broken to find healing, to find freedom.

My prayer is that as the next year goes by I would learn to rely on God 100% in all things. That I would so clearly hear His whisper, that I would rely on His strength in all my weakness and above my own strength. That my team would grow in upmost unity to serve each other and the Kingdom of God at our fullest potential. So here we go… my team, Shalom Bayit, will be continuing this journey in Guatemala together as a home of peace!

Peace out,

Ash🫶🏻