 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
Since it is so difficult for me to get to the Internet I am having my parents send out these emails. They
are also reading me your emails. Thank you for all your prayers. For more up to date info please check
my blog @ http://ashleecladek.blogspot.com
************************************************************************
To get around here we climb into the back of a big truck. At breakfast we get one roll to eat. Sometimes it is older
so it is a bit hard. We get tea to drink with roll and sometimes with milk. The tea is made from the well water which is
salty so we have to boil it. For lunch we might have rice with fish which have heads and all. We might have an hard
boiled egg with potatoes and this green stuff that looks like Spinach. We eat everything with our hands. I don't use
silverware. After being sick I ate out twice because of being so weak. It seemed so strange.
The other day we went to the village and bought candy for the kids and some peanut butter for the breakfast rolls. It
will be nice to have something a little different.
I sleep under a mosquito net each night. As a little girl I thought it would be nice to have a canopy over my bed. I
find I don't really like it much, it gets in the way.
The mosquitoes don't seem to be too bad. It is not mosquito season here now. I have only been bitten a couple
times on my hands and feet.
Someone was saying it was 90 degrees the other day but it seemed cold to me. The climate is so different. When it
rains it pours. Everyone runs for shelter but we from the Northwest run into it and love it!
Everyday we are under a canopy roof for the school and church. It is filling up for church. Each day we go and love
on the people in the community and invite them to the church. They are coming.
One of the pastors needed a hair cut and I was able to buy him a haircut. It is so wonderful to bless these people
with just little things. It is so fun to watch the excitement of blessing them.
Life is difficult here. Some of the people who came for the school have left because of the difficulty. The bugs, the
dirt, lack of sanitation as we know it. It is a very difficult life. Not everyone is called to the third world countries. We
bless those who have come rather they stay or go for each have had their lives changed in a wonderful way through
Jesus Christ.
Here the cars have the right a way. I was walking down the street and one of the pastors grabbed me and placed
me between him and another pastor. He told me that if anyone got killed from the car it would be him and not me.
They are so protective of us. It is wonderful.
This next week some of us will go into one of the oldest villages in Pemba. A lady makes candy and sells it in Pemba.
We are going to go and help her make the candy. I also will be going to this other place to learn how to cook the
food they eat here. A couple of fun things God is blessing me with.
Please hold me in prayer. The next step. I really don't know how I will be able to go back to where I was before. It
was such a dead-end. I am really asking Father what He wants me to do. Heidi has been teaching us about the
cultural eyes of here. Of being a missionary. One thing she said was anyone who feels God is calling them to Iris to
let them know. I felt the Lord is asking me to do this. I gave them my name. I just know I am called to Africa. I am
asking Lord where. They are going to be setting up meetings to speak with us.
Today the church service was so powerful. So beautiful.
People think of Africa as having so many miracles. But you need to know there are many miracles that do not
happen. The life here is very hard. The people grab hold and do not stop praying until God answers.
Heidi has been saying that God is going to bring people who God is going give great favor that will be bringing huge
containers of food here. Containers of food, of vegetables and fruits that is so needed. She has seen it! We are
praying for the answer to come quickly.
I am trying to get as many pictures as possible to bring home but it is very difficult because of the peoples beliefs.
Thank you for your prayers,
Blessings and much love from Pemba,
Ashlee
*******************************************************************************************
are also reading me your emails. Thank you for all your prayers. For more up to date info please check
my blog @ http://ashleecladek.blogspot.com
************************************************************************
To get around here we climb into the back of a big truck. At breakfast we get one roll to eat. Sometimes it is older
so it is a bit hard. We get tea to drink with roll and sometimes with milk. The tea is made from the well water which is
salty so we have to boil it. For lunch we might have rice with fish which have heads and all. We might have an hard
boiled egg with potatoes and this green stuff that looks like Spinach. We eat everything with our hands. I don't use
silverware. After being sick I ate out twice because of being so weak. It seemed so strange.
The other day we went to the village and bought candy for the kids and some peanut butter for the breakfast rolls. It
will be nice to have something a little different.
I sleep under a mosquito net each night. As a little girl I thought it would be nice to have a canopy over my bed. I
find I don't really like it much, it gets in the way.
The mosquitoes don't seem to be too bad. It is not mosquito season here now. I have only been bitten a couple
times on my hands and feet.
Someone was saying it was 90 degrees the other day but it seemed cold to me. The climate is so different. When it
rains it pours. Everyone runs for shelter but we from the Northwest run into it and love it!
Everyday we are under a canopy roof for the school and church. It is filling up for church. Each day we go and love
on the people in the community and invite them to the church. They are coming.
One of the pastors needed a hair cut and I was able to buy him a haircut. It is so wonderful to bless these people
with just little things. It is so fun to watch the excitement of blessing them.
Life is difficult here. Some of the people who came for the school have left because of the difficulty. The bugs, the
dirt, lack of sanitation as we know it. It is a very difficult life. Not everyone is called to the third world countries. We
bless those who have come rather they stay or go for each have had their lives changed in a wonderful way through
Jesus Christ.
Here the cars have the right a way. I was walking down the street and one of the pastors grabbed me and placed
me between him and another pastor. He told me that if anyone got killed from the car it would be him and not me.
They are so protective of us. It is wonderful.
This next week some of us will go into one of the oldest villages in Pemba. A lady makes candy and sells it in Pemba.
We are going to go and help her make the candy. I also will be going to this other place to learn how to cook the
food they eat here. A couple of fun things God is blessing me with.
Please hold me in prayer. The next step. I really don't know how I will be able to go back to where I was before. It
was such a dead-end. I am really asking Father what He wants me to do. Heidi has been teaching us about the
cultural eyes of here. Of being a missionary. One thing she said was anyone who feels God is calling them to Iris to
let them know. I felt the Lord is asking me to do this. I gave them my name. I just know I am called to Africa. I am
asking Lord where. They are going to be setting up meetings to speak with us.
Today the church service was so powerful. So beautiful.
People think of Africa as having so many miracles. But you need to know there are many miracles that do not
happen. The life here is very hard. The people grab hold and do not stop praying until God answers.
Heidi has been saying that God is going to bring people who God is going give great favor that will be bringing huge
containers of food here. Containers of food, of vegetables and fruits that is so needed. She has seen it! We are
praying for the answer to come quickly.
I am trying to get as many pictures as possible to bring home but it is very difficult because of the peoples beliefs.
Thank you for your prayers,
Blessings and much love from Pemba,
Ashlee
*******************************************************************************************
From: Ashlee Fletcher <ashleecl@yahoo.com>
Subject: Hello from Ashlee
We went to a ladies house the other day so she could teach us about their cooking. She was dressed in her best
dress. We would consider it rags in America. Here it was the best. She had gone to the beach early in the morning
to get fresh fish instead of the market because in the market it lays in the open and is not very fresh. She wanted it
to be the best for us. It was so humbling. When the food was finished they stood back and had us eat first. The
people gathered around. The children were laughing and playing. It was so awesome.
The orphan children of the village are so thankful to be able to come into our church. When Heidi opens the gates
they run in and start dancing and worshiping. We have been warned they will steal our stuff if we don't watch.
The children, so many have no parents to cloth or feed them. Heidi has said they are going to start a school. It cost
money to go to school here. The cost is only something like $5.00 a year. A college is only $1000. a year yet the
people can't go because they have no money. Unemployment is 75%
The people say they love us being here because we love them.
Some of the villagers believe if they pray to the devil then the devil will leave them alone. We have found that this is
when we hear the drums. They will begin about 9 pm and continue through the night until about 3 am. We can feel
the warfare so strongly. Last night we started shouting Jesus! The enemy is defeated! Now we know what we are
up against so we are going to go back into the village and take back the kingdom for God and not allow the enemy
to prevail. Please hold us in prayer as we go. This is real warfare!
I really just want to see Jesus come. A man in the village talks about seeing a massive huge Angel walking through
the village about 15 years ago. He didn't know what it was. He was only about 15 years old at the time.
Things are not always wonderful as it may seem. The children come from the streets and hard areas. As a result I
have seen much violence between them at times. One of the guys from the school was walking back from the village
by himself and was jumped and robbed of his backpack. We do not go anyplace alone. We must always be in a
group. There is always a sense of needing to watch our backs but yet it is so cool seeing everything happening.
To be a part of seeing the people hear about Jesus the first time. The excitement in their faces. It is so precious to
be a part of.
Right now as I am talking with my parents and my mom is typing this message to you I am in line to get my tea and
Oh I am getting milk in my tea today. My roll for this morning. Oh, this tea is so good with the milk.
Blessings to all of you,
Ashlee
*******************************************************************************************
From: Ashlee Fletcher <ashleecl@yahoo.com>
Subject: Need Prayer - Prisons, Hospital, Food - Mozambique style
Please hold us in a special prayer. (This will be 10 a.m. their time and 1 a.m. Sunday night for us) Tomorrow we
are going back to a prison we visited last week where a guy has been put there because a lady paid the police
and told them he stole a cell phone. The prisoners have to paid to even get a drink of water or anything to eat. It
is really really bad. They sleep on the dirty floor and have to pay to have a mat to sleep on. We were able to talk
with him in the prison. I had brought the Portuguese bible I had brought with me to Africa and was able to give it to
him with some bread we brought with us.
We asked the guards of the prison if we could come back and bring a guitar with us the next time. They were
hesitant but when we told them we were from "Iris" they were very open. We are going to bring back some more
food for the prisoners and a mat for the one guy we had visited to sleep on.
The guards ask us to bring bibles for them also and they would bring all the prisoners out to listen to us.
Approximately 200 people are in the prison. The Lord has opened the door for us to bring bread and preach the
word. It is not known what will happen but God has opened the way I am really excited. This is an area that "Iris"
has not been able to get into.
It seems crazy to having this going through my mind but I really want to go into one of the prisons. To see how
they must live and feel what they must be feeling. The place smelled really bad. As the only white girl among the
group visiting there they watch me closely but I feel God's wonderful peace. The guards searched the guys but
not the girls.
We will be visiting the hospital tomorrow. Please keep us in prayer. We were able to go there the other day.
There is nothing there. It is such a poor nation. Mothers sitting holding their sick little children in their laps. IVs
hanging off of poles next to them. No medicines as we know it.
Some of the children here have scabies so on Monday we went searching through the village to find medicine.
The hospital has nothing. It took us all day but we were able to find some of the medicine needed.
It has been incredible awesome! The people come and sit around on the sidewalks outside. They kept asking
why all these white people are here. Now we are telling them. This school has been able to be a part of the first in
many things. We were the first to bring in the people from the village. Many are beggers. They beg for money
and for food. They have been coming! Heidi has been opening the gates and the people come and we just love
on them. We are going to start feeding them during the lunch on Sundays. Before we didn't have enough food
but now we have. Today we started to feed them after church. There were hundreds of kids! All lined us to eat
beans and rice. So many. It was so precious to be able to feed them for both physically and spiritually.
To go to school the family has to pay but most are too poor here. Some will be in their twenties and only be in the
second year of school because they can't afford to pay. They work and save a little money and go as they are
able. Heidi is going to start a school for the children and not charge for it. I told the lady and her family that we
went to see on Friday. Their eyes were wide and they were amazed! This will mean so much to the people.
Malaria is like the common cold here except you can die from it. One of the pastors here has it. We were able to
pray with him. He was very weak.
Friday night I went back to this ladies house. She made a cake! It was amazing! I don't know how she made it.
We were so blown away! The way they have to cook it is amazing but yet she made us a cake!
If anyone wants to seed into what is going on here it would be so wonderful. It is really here. It is not just
preaching to them but loving them. Filling their hungry bellies, putting roofs over their heads and now being able
to educate them. Real life things.
I have been asked about the living conditions a little more in regards to our water. The conditions here makes it
so all have to pump water. I have been able to take one shower since being here. The water just is not here. If it
just happens to be running then you get a shower, but usually it is only a trickle. Usually we take bucket baths.
Since we are so close to the Indian Ocean the water from the well is salty so we are able to buy bottled water. The
school has been able to bring in a tank of water for our use also.
I have been asked if you can mail things here. Yes, but it is very expensive and it takes a long time and there is
no guarantee we will get it. The best way to donate is to bring it if you are coming or given in money through Iris'
website.
Blessings to all of you,
Ashlee
******************************************************************************************
From: Ashlee Fletcher <ashleecl@yahoo.com>
Subject: Time is getting short
The last time I email all of you through my mom we had visited a jail. A man who is a cousin of one of the people
here had been put in jail because a woman told the police he had stolen a cell phone. This week we went back
to the jail and brought more bread. The guards had told us before we could come and bring our music and even
talk with the prisoners. However this time they told us we had to have a letter to bring bread. We thought that
would be easy but it hasn't been. We do want to go back but we have to get the letters.
Our trip to the jail was not in vain though. We did get to see our friend
again and minister to the guards a bit more. We sat with our friend and
began to read to him from the Bible the various places where Jesus had
set people free from jail. We prayed with him and left. On Tuesday the
judge let him off! On Sunday he came to the church. He was glowing.
He had not accepted Jesus as his savior before but this time he came
to church and received Jesus and was baptized after the service. He
also joined with us as we went to the hospital and prayed for the people
with us. It is so exciting to see ones come to Jesus. Their joy and
excitement as they realize how much He truly loves them.
Upon arriving at the hospital we again were stopped and told we must
have a document in order to see the people. As the man started to
say we had to have a document he stopped and then told us - just go.
God had given us favor! We were able to pray for some of the people.
Since we were a larger group of about eleven people we split into two groups. It was good. Jesus was so there.
His Presence is so Precious. As soon as we prayed for one another would ask if we would pray for them.
Ministering to the one - one by one.
Next we went to where the babies were. The rooms are bare cement rooms with openings covered with screens
and bars so people will not break in. Metal framed cots lined up along the walls with frail people laying under a
thin blanket. No medicines no nothing. In another room lay the little children. The Lord brought my attention to
one little child wrapped up in a cloth. The child seemed to be only a round little body. Such compassion came
over me. I knew it was the compassion of Jesus for this little one. With the love of Jesus I sat there and sang and
prayed over her as she laid looking around. Such compassion, such compassion of Jesus for this little child.
Later a lady came in who I found out was the grandmother. We found out the dad was not around and she lived
with her grandma. When they pulled her blanket off of her she was just bones.
So many little children - so sick. No care, no medicine, just laying there. I really want to go back but my time here
is getting so short.
We have had a lot of thief here lately. When walking between the school and the orphanage the students are
getting held up at knife point. We have been warned there is a band that is planning to come and take all our
things; but we are trusting in God. He is our protector. One day this last week I hear a whistle and then one of
the people yelled a word which meant "thief". Many ran so fast after him. It was crazy, crazy! He had
pic-pocketed one of the people. All I could see were men running after the thief across a big field and then arms
and legs flying as they caught him.
Continue to keep us in prayer. We still have not heard what the effects are going to be about the vitamins that
were sent here. It is still in the newspaper accusing us of drug dealings. The people here look upon us with great
favor because they see what we are doing but this is still serious. Please keep praying for us.
School is finished on the 14th. We were told we can go on a five day trip into the bush and to put our name on
the list if we were interested. They will leave on the 14th and be out until the 19th and doing many things and
going very deep into the bush. Only 40 will be able to go. I am so excited because I was able to get into one of
the last two places let.
The need is so great here that it could crush you. Outside of the campus the people are constantly stopping you
asking and begging. So many children on the streets. So much struggling.
When we first arrived we found one boy how would run up to people and hit and poke the people with sticks. He
was like a wild animal. We kept loving on him and now he is changing and doing much better. He lives with his
mom. His dad is dead. When one of the ministers went to see the family they hadn't eaten in three days. They
only had one set of clothing which was what they wore. So poor.
It is so amazing here. You can always feel the burden of people. They are saying, "help me, I am hungry, do you
have food, do you have water?" So much going on.
God is providing! We again were able to feed the people this Sunday after church. So many, so many.
Tomorrow I will be meeting with them for the purpose of those wishing to work in Africa.
Blessings to all of you who are praying for me. I can really feel those prayers. Please do not let up. The warfare
is increasing. The threat of the thieves is increasing. But our God is able to carry us through!
Thank you for your faithfulness.
I will be home on the 23rd. My heart is in Africa. Please hold me in prayer as I must make a decision.
In Christ,
Ashlee
*****************************************************************************************
Sat, 6 Aug 2005 21:29:51 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Ashlee Fletcher" <ashleecl@yahoo.com>
Subject: ARE YOU CALLED?
It has been so beautiful being here and seeing so many things that those in the West never see.
It is wide open here for those who wish to work in the mission field. The need for help with anything is here.
What is your passion? Of the missionaries that go out from here to the other areas of Africa some are totally
supported financially and some they give part of the support. If you have a heart to pioneer a mission here in
Africa as Iris Ministries has with finding your own support there is a great work here. What is your passion?
What is your desire? Go forth! The need for help is so great. The work here is growing faster then what can
be kept up with.
Iris has asked if any of us are interested in working with them further to submit our name and email address with
a short vision of what we are being called to. If anyone in the future is interested in joining with Iris they are
requiring all to go through their mission school. The next session will be next year.
The other day we were worshiping and I looked over and was blessed to see one of the little boys was holding
his arms up and worshiping. The children here are so deep into the Lord. The children are beginning to
preach. It is nothing shallow. It is very good! The children pray for the people ministering to them. When I was
so sick one of the little children came to me and prayed for me with such strength and compassion. They are so
precious - not shallow.
Iris is starting a school for the people in the village and those on the base. There is such a desperate need for
people to "mother and father" the children. Someone to help them to move into a successful adulthood walking
the destiny that God has for them. The hope is to have houses where those who are needed to move on can
move in with "parents" to mentor them.
Teachers! Teachers! Teachers! Those who will help teach in all areas - in agriculture, general studies,
construction, plumbing, electrical, medical - even just first aid, personal hygiene and so much more. For those
who will come they would give room and board but each would need support from where ever for their personal
extras. The door is open now for me to change my visa and stay longer or go on to Malawi and another place
until November. I do not hear God telling me to do that for now so I will be coming home.
Heidi's heart is to stay in Mozambique but she has been told by many and felt she is to listen and has to pick up
her cross and go into other places to speak at the conferences. She has so many calls but can only go to a few.
Her heart is if you want to speak before the people - go! She wants to stay here but knows God is telling her to
go. As a result she travels quite a bit.
Heidi and her family live very very simple lives here. As I look around I see great integrity in the finances that
come in here. There isn't any extravagant life style. All live in the same humble way.
This last week we didn't have any electricity for three days and the well went dry for a day. Today I was finally
able to take a bucket bath after a week. A bucket bath is with a bucket and a scoop. America waste so much
water. Water is so precious here.
Every time a pastor needs drinking water we have to have the government sign a paper so we can have a tank
full of clean drinking water. The water from the well is good for baths but it is salty. Sometime they have gone
without drinking water for two and three days which can be very difficult with the heat.
You really don't need much here. Life is so simple. Our light in the dorm has not been working so I am glad I did
bring a little lantern. It has helped. I brought a CD player with a Spanish CD. They love it because they can
understand it. It seems to be a most prized gift when I let one of them use it for a time. The batteries are
completely ran out when it is brought back.
Last Thursday we did a little medical clinic during lunch. Some of the wounds were so bad. I asked to be one of
the ones who cleaned up the wounds (me with the weak stomach). I wanted to learn so in the future when one
came I would know what to do.
We did a lot of bandaging of wounds. One little boy looked like the end of his toe was coming off. One boy had
a big bulge on the side of his leg. He said it wasn't painful but it was consuming his leg. One little three or four
year old girl had a chemical burn. She was so brave. Her mom and dad are dead and she lives with an aunt
with many children. Her shirt was just a rag so we were able to give her a new shirt along with the medical care
she so greatly needed.
The children are starving for affection. One of the workers here brought some pencils to hand out. She was
mobbed. This was such a treat to have a pencil.
I am looking so forward to seeing my family. The biggest price I would have to pay to come to Africa to stay
would be to have to leave my family. I am trusting my Jesus with my destiny. I do not miss America. My heart is
so much here.
It is so exhausting being here. But we pray and pray and gain strength. I have prayed for so many. The need is
so great so we continue. So many we pray for nothing happens then this last week a deaf woman was prayed
for and now she hears. It is stopping for the one.
Here we pray and pray a lot. The load is constant everywhere we walk, the poor, the beggars. The thieves are
there continually but no one has gotten hurt. The need can weigh so heavy if you do not trust Jesus.
Heidi was telling us of some people going out on the mission field here in Africa for 25 years and seeing nothing.
That is so amazing. She has great things to say about those who have gone before and are still there; but
here, we see so much. The people come so humble, simple, walking in love and faith. No programs or stuff.
Here the worship is very joyous and full of dance. It is so different from America. So free. In the States we have
a worship leader, here someone will start to lead a song or whatever and the others join in.
A vision that is so stirring in me would be to have a base to work at. Then to go into the bush where people are
and encourage them. To help them build a church building and homes for the people. To help them to become
established for two to three weeks or two to three months. Whatever it took then go back to the base for a while
then back out to another area. This has been so on my mind. It is something I will lay in God's hand.
They don't have hospital and jail ministry here. Our visits to the jail and hospital showed us it is so open and so
needed. There is no one here to fill the shoes. So much to be done and so few workers.
The question came up to Heidi if it was recommended if a single woman wanted to be a missionary. She said
yes but it was strongly advised that there should be two woman together.
It is the last week of the school. It seems so strange. The time here has been so wonderful.
Monday I will be going back to the lady who cooks for us. She is going to teach us how to make this coconut
things that look kinda like donuts. She takes the food and sells along the street.
One of the humorous things here is the people have learned we like peanuts. They have been making the
peanuts in all different kinds of ways so we will buy them. It has been working. One of the ways is sugar
peanuts. I am going to try to make some when I am back home again. They have tried to see what else we like
and are now selling all along the streets for us. I laugh because they have found us to be quite a market for
them.
I brought some powerbands with me. Those little bracelets with the beads telling the salvation story. The
pastors have been carrying them out into the village and the bush. The pastors here loved them. When I go
into the village I now see little children wearing the powerbands along with the children here at the base. It is so
great.
I will be going on outreach deep in the bush on the 15th until the 19th. Please hold us in prayer. We will travel
deep into the bush taking up to five and six hours to reach the people.
When I get back from the bush it will be time to being saying my goodbyes. My group will be leaving here on the
21st at 5 a.m. your time arriving back in Seattle on the 23rd. The airport here is a tiny place about the size of a
small living room. Big enough for a small conveyor belt and counter. It will be strange coming back into the
world that I use to know. I have told my family that I want to spend time with them for a few days before going
out. Please allow me that time when I come. I know it will be a difficult transition and ask your prayers.
You know, they have big bats here. Some of the people saw elephants on the last out reach.
Ashlee
****************************************************************************************
From: "Ashlee Fletcher" <ashleecl@yahoo.com>
Subject: ARE YOU CALLED?
It has been so beautiful being here and seeing so many things that those in the West never see.
It is wide open here for those who wish to work in the mission field. The need for help with anything is here.
What is your passion? Of the missionaries that go out from here to the other areas of Africa some are totally
supported financially and some they give part of the support. If you have a heart to pioneer a mission here in
Africa as Iris Ministries has with finding your own support there is a great work here. What is your passion?
What is your desire? Go forth! The need for help is so great. The work here is growing faster then what can
be kept up with.
Iris has asked if any of us are interested in working with them further to submit our name and email address with
a short vision of what we are being called to. If anyone in the future is interested in joining with Iris they are
requiring all to go through their mission school. The next session will be next year.
The other day we were worshiping and I looked over and was blessed to see one of the little boys was holding
his arms up and worshiping. The children here are so deep into the Lord. The children are beginning to
preach. It is nothing shallow. It is very good! The children pray for the people ministering to them. When I was
so sick one of the little children came to me and prayed for me with such strength and compassion. They are so
precious - not shallow.
Iris is starting a school for the people in the village and those on the base. There is such a desperate need for
people to "mother and father" the children. Someone to help them to move into a successful adulthood walking
the destiny that God has for them. The hope is to have houses where those who are needed to move on can
move in with "parents" to mentor them.
Teachers! Teachers! Teachers! Those who will help teach in all areas - in agriculture, general studies,
construction, plumbing, electrical, medical - even just first aid, personal hygiene and so much more. For those
who will come they would give room and board but each would need support from where ever for their personal
extras. The door is open now for me to change my visa and stay longer or go on to Malawi and another place
until November. I do not hear God telling me to do that for now so I will be coming home.
Heidi's heart is to stay in Mozambique but she has been told by many and felt she is to listen and has to pick up
her cross and go into other places to speak at the conferences. She has so many calls but can only go to a few.
Her heart is if you want to speak before the people - go! She wants to stay here but knows God is telling her to
go. As a result she travels quite a bit.
Heidi and her family live very very simple lives here. As I look around I see great integrity in the finances that
come in here. There isn't any extravagant life style. All live in the same humble way.
This last week we didn't have any electricity for three days and the well went dry for a day. Today I was finally
able to take a bucket bath after a week. A bucket bath is with a bucket and a scoop. America waste so much
water. Water is so precious here.
Every time a pastor needs drinking water we have to have the government sign a paper so we can have a tank
full of clean drinking water. The water from the well is good for baths but it is salty. Sometime they have gone
without drinking water for two and three days which can be very difficult with the heat.
You really don't need much here. Life is so simple. Our light in the dorm has not been working so I am glad I did
bring a little lantern. It has helped. I brought a CD player with a Spanish CD. They love it because they can
understand it. It seems to be a most prized gift when I let one of them use it for a time. The batteries are
completely ran out when it is brought back.
Last Thursday we did a little medical clinic during lunch. Some of the wounds were so bad. I asked to be one of
the ones who cleaned up the wounds (me with the weak stomach). I wanted to learn so in the future when one
came I would know what to do.
We did a lot of bandaging of wounds. One little boy looked like the end of his toe was coming off. One boy had
a big bulge on the side of his leg. He said it wasn't painful but it was consuming his leg. One little three or four
year old girl had a chemical burn. She was so brave. Her mom and dad are dead and she lives with an aunt
with many children. Her shirt was just a rag so we were able to give her a new shirt along with the medical care
she so greatly needed.
The children are starving for affection. One of the workers here brought some pencils to hand out. She was
mobbed. This was such a treat to have a pencil.
I am looking so forward to seeing my family. The biggest price I would have to pay to come to Africa to stay
would be to have to leave my family. I am trusting my Jesus with my destiny. I do not miss America. My heart is
so much here.
It is so exhausting being here. But we pray and pray and gain strength. I have prayed for so many. The need is
so great so we continue. So many we pray for nothing happens then this last week a deaf woman was prayed
for and now she hears. It is stopping for the one.
Here we pray and pray a lot. The load is constant everywhere we walk, the poor, the beggars. The thieves are
there continually but no one has gotten hurt. The need can weigh so heavy if you do not trust Jesus.
Heidi was telling us of some people going out on the mission field here in Africa for 25 years and seeing nothing.
That is so amazing. She has great things to say about those who have gone before and are still there; but
here, we see so much. The people come so humble, simple, walking in love and faith. No programs or stuff.
Here the worship is very joyous and full of dance. It is so different from America. So free. In the States we have
a worship leader, here someone will start to lead a song or whatever and the others join in.
A vision that is so stirring in me would be to have a base to work at. Then to go into the bush where people are
and encourage them. To help them build a church building and homes for the people. To help them to become
established for two to three weeks or two to three months. Whatever it took then go back to the base for a while
then back out to another area. This has been so on my mind. It is something I will lay in God's hand.
They don't have hospital and jail ministry here. Our visits to the jail and hospital showed us it is so open and so
needed. There is no one here to fill the shoes. So much to be done and so few workers.
The question came up to Heidi if it was recommended if a single woman wanted to be a missionary. She said
yes but it was strongly advised that there should be two woman together.
It is the last week of the school. It seems so strange. The time here has been so wonderful.
Monday I will be going back to the lady who cooks for us. She is going to teach us how to make this coconut
things that look kinda like donuts. She takes the food and sells along the street.
One of the humorous things here is the people have learned we like peanuts. They have been making the
peanuts in all different kinds of ways so we will buy them. It has been working. One of the ways is sugar
peanuts. I am going to try to make some when I am back home again. They have tried to see what else we like
and are now selling all along the streets for us. I laugh because they have found us to be quite a market for
them.
I brought some powerbands with me. Those little bracelets with the beads telling the salvation story. The
pastors have been carrying them out into the village and the bush. The pastors here loved them. When I go
into the village I now see little children wearing the powerbands along with the children here at the base. It is so
great.
I will be going on outreach deep in the bush on the 15th until the 19th. Please hold us in prayer. We will travel
deep into the bush taking up to five and six hours to reach the people.
When I get back from the bush it will be time to being saying my goodbyes. My group will be leaving here on the
21st at 5 a.m. your time arriving back in Seattle on the 23rd. The airport here is a tiny place about the size of a
small living room. Big enough for a small conveyor belt and counter. It will be strange coming back into the
world that I use to know. I have told my family that I want to spend time with them for a few days before going
out. Please allow me that time when I come. I know it will be a difficult transition and ask your prayers.
You know, they have big bats here. Some of the people saw elephants on the last out reach.
Ashlee
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From: "Ashlee Fletcher" <ashleecl@yahoo.com>
Subject: Graduation and the bush - please pray
It is a really difficult time today. Along with the students from the mission school there have been many little
pastors from various villages also going through Bible school and are now preparing to go back to their homes
to pastor churches there. Since Saturday was graduation day they are now leaving. We have become very
close with these sweet little pastors. They have paid a great cost to come. Many do not know how their families
are and will have contact with them for the first time in the three months.
Some of the children realize we are leaving. One little girl comes and sits in my lap with tears in her eyes. She
has become very close to me. She is only about ten years old. Tears are constantly flowing everyday these
last few days. Such an immense love for these people. I could never have believed there could be such love.
They are beautiful. To think I may never see them again.
We were able to buy sandals for the pastors before they leave. It was so fun sitting in the middle of a store
sorting 210 pairs of sandals and buying them. The store keeper was excited about the sell and it was such a
surprise to the pastors. Because someone blessed two of the students with some extra money we were able to
bless the pastors. In passing out the shoes we discovered we had 240 pairs for the 240 pastors in need. God
had made the difference.
Upon graduation each pastor is given a Bible, a t-shirt and some money before they leave. (We can hear their
excitement as Ashlee is speaking) Some will leave in the middle of the night, some throughout the day. Each
time a car shows up there are tears.
Tomorrow I will leave for the bush. When I come back they will be gone.
We had graduation with a major feast with chicken. It was wonderful. Today the Mission School students were
commissioned.
Something have been taking place this last week since the meeting with Heidi. I can't explain it. Heidi asked in
one of the classes for those who had written a note about further ministry with Iris to come to see her. I hadn't
written a note but held back because I wanted to ask her a question. I wanted to asked her what it would take to
come for a long term. As I was waiting the student in front of me asked the same question. Heidi looked up at
me and asked me, "what about you?" She told me I could come to Pemba and stay right there at that base until
I found out what God wanted me to do. She wants two to three girls to stay in one house to work with the
children. There were three of us standing there asking the same question and having the same heart. I have
an open door to come back. I am praying God's will be done.
I love it here. It is totally real. For now it is time for me to return home and finish my school. I am praying about
coming back in January when school is complete. It is interesting some of the others are feeling the same about
January.
Since being here I have had this acute sinus infection. It is finally getting better. I have been sick three or four
times. It has not been fun.
This next year Iris' plans are to have houses for the children. They are praying for God to send them house
parents to embrace the children and raise them up. I was talking with one about my parents. He was saying
they must come, they must come.
There has been many interruptions in preparing to leave for the bush. The graduation, the excitement of the
pastors receiving their small packages, the cars coming and taking them home to their villages, the emotions of
some of the students going back to their homes around the world. The knowledge that when we return many will
be gone and I will be leaving the next day.
Forty of us are going in three trucks deep into the bush. We will split off into two groups and go into different
villages and various places. We don't really know what to expect. I ask for your prayers.
Ashlee
****************************************************************************************
From: "Ashlee Fletcher" <ashleecl@yahoo.com>
Subject: Final word from Mozambique
Just got back from five days in the bush. The out reach went so well. We rode in big flatbed trucks bumping up
and down so strongly that our body would get slammed against the truck.
The views were beautiful! Our first place was where missionaries were building a place as a chicken farm and
had horses that ran free all over their land. They will bring the people in and teach them how to raise chickens
as a living. While we were there I was able to see one of the little Pastors I had met when first arriving in
Pemba. How wonderful to see him!
As we traveled we came to another place where I gave one of the men's wife a powerband, the little band with
the salvation message in colored beads. The husband ran into the house and brought out two chairs for us to
sit on and peanuts for us to eat. We sat and peeled the peanuts with him and his wife just loving and laughing
with them. When it was time to leave he ran over and knocked down papayas from a tree and put it into a bag
with the peanuts. This is the only food for his family. His clothes were as rags that we would throw away yet he
gave to us. They are so giving. I am overwhelmed by their giving.
The next day we drove deeper into the bush arriving at a little village. I hadn't thought of bringing any money.
There was a little shop there. One of the village people asked me if I was going to buy something. I told him I
didn't have any money. He sent one of the boys to buy me something. He came back with a cookie. They are
so giving. They can be hungry yet they will still give you part of what they have.
During the meetings we play the Jesus Film for the people. I was so tired from the travel. During the film I fell
asleep sitting on the ground with my head in my lap. When I woke up the film was most of the way through. The
people come from all over to watch the film. At first there were only 20 people then the crowd grew and grew to
about 200 people. After the film was completed I was able to pray for many people. Many accepted Jesus.
During the drive to our next place some of us girls needed to go to the bathroom. In Mozambique the bathroom
is the bushes to the side of the road. So we had stopped by the side of the road and walked into the bush.
When we came back our legs were burning so bad! We didn't know what we had gotten into! We saw some
water and tried washing our legs to stop the burning. It was terrible! Some of the guys went to go into the
bushes for the same reason and one of the pastors stopped them saying don't go into the bushes. He bent
over and showed us these little plants that were like peapods and said they would burn you - One of those
learning experiences.
The next day we drove and drove again getting to our place late at night. The people at this place were deep
into poverty. They live off the land surviving from whatever they could gleam.
When we were ministering to the people everyone accepted Jesus! I watch the planting of a church. It was so
exciting! After the people accepted Jesus they asked if someone would want to lead the people. A man raised
his hand. Then they asked if someone would be the secretary. Another said yes. They asked the people if
they would accept these two and the people clapped and yelled yes. It was so awesome, so beautiful. A church
was started. These two will now come to Pemba to school for three months and be taught the word of God.
They will then return to this place and lead the people.
We prayed for a child who was unable to speak. He began to speak saying, Jesus, Mama. Jesus is so
wonderful to answer our prayers. The people are changed.
Again back on the road. As we travel we sing and sing and pray. This time it was a bit different. One of the
pastors began weeping and weeping and praising God. The Presence was flooding the truck! So so so
powerful. The person next to me was taken in vision to the door of heaven and shown them many things.
Among the things they were shown the Lord told them He was so delighted we had come. Jesus was laughing
with joy. The vision was very powerful and life changing for this person.
It is so simple! So simple! So simple! We in America make it so difficult! It is so simple!
We went to many villages and many places just loving on people. People were running up to us with bananas,
chickens, and other fruits. One guy had a bird on his finger and wanted money so he would let it go.
When we ask a person if they would like us to pray for them the people usually say, I am well. (Just like they do
at home.) We still are able to pray for them. They now say walking with Jesus is good!
I have such an intense love for these people. They are so beautiful so beautiful. At one point I couldn't take
much more and crumpled in tears knowing I was leaving so soon. I love these people so much. It is so beautiful
so beautiful.
On the travel I was with mostly Western people this time. These were the students who had stayed at the
college site. There were eleven of us that stayed with the main base living with the pastors and children. It
seemed strange to be with so many Westerns after being with the people. It was really strange to see the
difference of how we have come to be. Our experience has been very different then theirs. They still had much
of the Western mind on some things and we that had stayed at the base with the children found we had
changed in much of our thinking.
It has been such an adventure, a wonderful adventure.
The pastors who had been here with us during this time all left on Sunday night. On the trip we were able to
see one of them. It was really cool to see where he lived. To see his village and meet his family. To see him in
his environment.
When we arrived back in Pemba it was so quiet. 25 new children had come in this week. Many of the students
had left and all the pastors had left going back to their homes to continue the church that had been started.
Today I am packing and organizing and getting last tidbits together. It is so hard to leave but I know I will be
back.
Oh! We went to an authentic Mozambique restaurant. One of the guys had contacted the restaurant before
hand and asked if they made certain different foods. When we got there we thought we would order a simple
meal. To our surprise when we got there the owner had fixed everything the guy had asked about! It was a
feast! Wow!
Went to the airport to check on our tickets. The airport people were there but they had decided not to work that
day. This is the usual in Pemba. They can be there but decide they are not working so you can't get any
information. They don't work on Sunday. Some of the students have had problems with luggage when they left.
Please hold us in prayer as we leave. Our group of five will fly out of Pemba at noon our time on Sunday, this is
2 AM Saturday night your time. We will be home Tuesday afternoon.
Blessings - Mozambique style.
See you soon,
Ashlee
| Man set free from prison |