Should I show them my scars? Cherry red, Bleeding Burn

hey y'all,


So I'm sure each of you are wondering about my well-being, which is understandable.. So, shall we start from the beginning?





The voyage:


So, I traveled in my little wagon down to good ol' hottttt Tejas. While I was sauntering down the interstate, I was listening to the soft, ambient noise of my favorite bands as well as the (oh so imperative) talk radio, NPR. As I drove, sweat seeped through my body; this became the unavoidable and a familiar smell by the end of the trip :) I stopped in Atlanta for the night and then landed in my ol' stopping grounds of Orange, TX.


On my way through Louisiana, I smelled the familiar odor of sulfur (rotted eggs) which seemed to be dancing through my sinuses. I passed over the infamous Breaux bridge and the water was meeting the bridge just as a meniscus would attract to a beaker.


Devastation was only an arms length away yet I was only looking at the beast through a cage....I realize that I seem only to stare in amazement at such tragedy rather than putting my fingers through the cage and softly touching the beast.


I arrived in Orange, TX and headed to my permeable residence in Austin. I opened the apartment door and a sweet man named Cheng greeted me with the biggest smile. He asked me if I needed help and then instantly laughed at my lack of belongings (I knew we would be friends quickly). We chatted and I ate Chinese food and watched Kung Fu Panda with him. I spruced up the place and mounted my insect collection on the dinning room table. The next day Cheng claimed that "I wasn't the typical American" due to my cleanliness, geek tendency's and my early bedtime:) I'm slowly learning to use chopsticks; there is only chopsticks in the house...The other 2 other roommates are from China as well. I went to a church Sunday and met a girl Abigale from Singapore. We quickly became friends and I plan taking swing dancing soon. So that's the logistics (the epidermis) now for the meat (dermis).





The Reality:


Well, I failed my test but so did half of the Science Teaching Fellows in my cohort. I'm faced with the slap of failure and trying to work past it. I've come this far and I seem to be more determined than before. I have the opportunity to impact children lives through my struggles and determination by the grace of God. I ask each of you to say a prayer for me as I will for you.


For the first time, I'm seeing myself being challenged physically, socially, emotionally, and intellectually. My comfort zone is being reconstructed which is causing change. I hope each of you step out of the perfectly constructed box and experience a since of uncomfort that creates a stronger sting and craving for God.



Until next time,


Ashley-Jayne Carlisle





Gratitude changes the pangs of memory into a tranquil joy~ Bonhoeffer