Hi!
My name is Ashley Downing; I am 20 years old and just finished my sophomore
year at Clemson University in South Carolina - Go Tigers! I am majoring in
Marketing and working on a minor in French... so this Spanish thing should be
interesting and definitely entertaining. I love the south, sweet tea, and being
outside.  I have the best family
anyone could ask for and at the end of the day there is nothing more important
than our family and the love we have for each other.  I have been raised in a Christian home and my parents have
been an amazing example of love, compassion, loyalty and integrity.  I have one older brother who is my
rock. He is smart and funny, and always puts others first. He is much more
logical than I am and so many times he has helped me see things and understand
them in a different way. Some other things I love are reading, writing, and I
will admit that I have a weakness for shoes. I love to cook/bake - anything. My
favorite is Cheesecake and I could live off of pasta (at school I do, because
it's cheap).  I love music, and
although I cannot hold a tune, it doesn't stop me from singing in the car!  Saturday's in Death Valley are the most
amazing and exhilarating few hours you will ever spend. I love the beach, the
mountains, and definitely the lake. I want to live in New York City one day,
but I know I'll come back home. I never really played team sports growing up;
however, I took ballet and figure skated for about 8 years, and I love to watch
sports. I am always up for random things and 2 am Waffle House trips. And... I am
a HUGE cat person. I will probably have separation anxiety this summer! 

My
relationship with Christ hasn't always been easy.  In March of 2005 my Dad passed away. It turned my whole
world inside out and I didn't know how to handle it. For a while, I ignored the
pain.  I didn't grieve and I
covered my hurt with anger. I was very angry with God for a couple of years. I
couldn't understand how a loving and all -powerful God could let the best man I
have ever known die. I felt I wasn't done with him yet, that I still needed him
here with me.  Without question, I
was a daddy's girl. He enjoyed nothing more than to see me and my mom and
brother smile. Even though I only had 15 years with my father, I truly think
that I have more memories, experiences, and life lessons than many people get
in a lifetime. He continues to be a part of me and the lessons he instilled in
me will continue to influence me for the rest of my life.  I will always carry him with me and I
know he is watching over me. It wasn't until my senior year of high school that
I really began to deal with my hurt. My best friend, Derek, was killed on a
motorcycle by a car that wasn't paying attention. Derek was the friend that was
there for me right after my father passed.  So when he died, I went into a hole. I grieved for my Dad and
for Derek.  I wasn't sure if I was
going to come out of it. But then I realized that God placed so many other
people in my life that cared for me, loved me, and were there to wrap their arms
around me. No matter how bad it was, they were always there and they were not
going to give up on me. Christ will never leave nor forsake me. He will carry
me when I can no longer walk. All He wanted was for me to put my whole heart,
faith, and trust in Him.  There are
still days when I want to hold the cards, where I want to be in total control.  But every time I trip, His hand is
there to catch me, as if to say... "See, why didn't you trust me?"  So I hope this trip will continue to
teach me how to trust in Him and be a true Christ follower.

I
am so excited for this summer in Nicaragua. This will be my first real big
mission trip, without my church, without being able to drive there, and longer
than two weeks! I know that God has amazing things planned for all of us and I
cannot wait to see how He works in us and through us. And I'm excited to make
memories with all of you and share our amazing God with the people of
Nicaragua.  See y'all soon!