A few weeks ago, the word redemption kept coming to my mind—how God is a redemptive God, how I am redeemed, and how He desires to bring even more redemption into my life. This season of the Race has been unlike anything I’ve experienced before. The Lord has been digging deeper into my heart, revealing things I didn’t even realize I needed to surrender. He’s shown me how past hurts have shaped my actions toward others, and He’s uncovered seemingly small things that have brought me incredible freedom.
This season has stretched me in ways I never imagined. But as I’ve been stretched, I’ve seen where there were holes that needed patching, areas that could be strengthened, and ways I can grow moving forward.
A Busy Week
This past week was unlike any other—we were SO busy! We did so many fun things and also had new opportunities in ministry.
Ministry
This week, the school here reopened after summer break, and some of us were able to help in the classrooms. Schools here are so different from those in the U.S.—they are incredibly formal. The students have strict uniforms and follow a lot of classroom rules. They can’t speak, stand, sit, or leave without permission. It’s wild to see, but it also reflects the deep value placed on respect and honor here. The kids have the biggest hearts, and they’re always quick to help and listen. Everything is “Yes, ma’am” or “Yes, sir.” Before you even ask, they’re already running to assist.
I think the school’s culture mirrors how children are raised in their homes—respect and honor are deeply ingrained values here.
For me, ministry looked a little different this week. I didn’t go to the school because I had a cough and didn’t want to disturb the quiet classrooms. Instead, I joined a group doing street evangelism. At first, the idea terrified me. In Guatemala, evangelism felt different because of the language barrier and the larger crowds. Conversations were more surface-level as we shared the gospel, prayed for people, and moved on.
Here, it’s completely different. Everyone speaks English, which allows for deeper, more relational interactions. Plus, the town is so small that everyone knows who we are—the American missionaries. Instead of going person to person, it’s more about being present, getting to know people, and weaving the Lord into everyday conversations. We’ve been buying groceries for people, talking with the lady at the coffee shop, hosting Bible studies in public, and inviting people to braais (barbecues). These moments plant seeds, and it’s been freeing to realize that it’s not our job to make them grow or see the fruit—we’re just called to plant.
This week, I’ve also noticed how much the Lord has broken the fear of man off me. I don’t worry about what people think anymore. My friends and I often say, “You’ll never be embarrassed after doing the World Race.” For example, we invited some gas station workers to our braai by performing a skit/dance. It was hilarious, and we were all laughing so hard. Life is sweeter when we drop the façade and remember we’re all God’s kids.
Testimonies!
One crazy story from evangelism this week was a dream I had. In the dream, we met a man on a small side road in town. This stood out because I rarely dream, let alone remember them. The next day, as we walked down that very road, I saw a man. I told my friend we should talk to him, and it turned out he was a deeply anointed man of God. He prophesied over each of us—there were four of us—and everything he said was spot on. We were left in awe and got to pray for him as well. It was such a God-ordained encounter that fired us up for the rest of the day.
Later, we met another man who seemed intimidating—he was snapping sticks on the side of the road, covered in tattoos, and appeared drunk. When we introduced ourselves, he shared that he couldn’t find work because of an accident that left him with brain damage. He also admitted he was angry at God, feeling like God owed him something. I gently told him that God doesn’t owe us anything, but He chose to die for us out of love. The conversation ended with us praying for him, and I could feel the Holy Spirit’s presence so strongly. This man, who had been so angry, started crying during the prayer. I’m praying the Lord continues to work in his heart.
We’ve also been helping at a soup kitchen in a government housing neighborhood. A woman 
named Susanna makes porridge for the kids there, and it’s so sweet to see. We’ve been able to support her, play with the kids, and help pass out food. The joy these kids have is contagious, and it makes me even more excited for our upcoming ministry in Eswatini.
Adventure Days
Our ministry hosts have been so generous, taking us on amazing adventures. We’ve visited beaches, the southernmost point of Africa, penguins, the world’s longest zipline, Cape Town, and even took a boat tour of Seal Island. Later today, we’re going to an ostrich farm—it’s been so fun!
Updates
We leave for Eswatini on Sunday! It’s expected to be a 30-40 hour travel day by bus, so please pray for us. I’m excited to reunite with my squad, start kids’ ministry, and dive into everything God has planned for this next season.
WiFi will be scarce, so this may be my last blog for a while. I’m looking forward to unplugging, getting to know people more deeply, spending more time in the Word, and prioritizing rest.
Thank you for reading this big update! I’m so thankful for all of you.
With love,
Ashlyn
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