Ashley wants to make YOU part of what's happening in Atlanta!
Had a great time with the Forest Park team today. They were 50 strong and brought a BIG bus.
We went to the Farmer’s Market.
CD Tower.
The Chinese Pharmacy. Two of the group members found candy they had grown up with.
After quesadillas we went to do some mission work!
Love,
Ashley
Hello!
This morning I raced up the stairs loaded down with my bookbag and burst into class thinking I was late. I was greeted by strangers. I was definately 30 minutes EARLY for class. Opps.
It gave me time to complete a dictionary assignment due later this week.
We had a quiz in Human Comm. I made a 100!
Then I took the American Lit test. I feel VERY confident about that one.
Home to watch 30Rock and eat lunch. I love the show now. Hilarious!
Tutoring the kids was fun but we need more help!
The parking lot was empty until I yelled, “CANDY!” Then our car was swarmed.
Love,
Ashley
Hello!
What a great Saturday I had today. Foothills Community Church came out and grilled out at Azalea.
We had fun playing together…
….painting with face paint…
(We got a little out of control. But it was too fun to stop!)
…and making crafts.
Thank you to Foothills for coming out and serving at Azalea!
Click here to see ALL the photos.
Love,
Ashley
Nothing like a good block party to make for a great Saturday. The Atlanta Community Ministy came out to host three block parties in Roswell.
Shuggie came as the mission dog. She was pooped afterwards.
Lynsie and I had fun at Three Blind Mice. Watch our video.
Love,
Ash
I worked on labeling our gifts to the teams. Wish you were getting one? Send me a date your church can come do missions ashleycummins@gmail.com.
Worked with the boys today. ( I had to sneak and take this of Mikey, he’s always hiding.)
Each one came in right after each other with the same fourth grade math worksheet. I’m good at adding 10,870 + 8546 and drawing trapezoids.
Played Brain Quest with the girls.
Tonight I meet Lynsie at the dance studio or Pilates and Dance. Her Mom and Sister which was fun. I can really feel a difference in my flexibility and balance.
Love,
Ashley
Well, Dad did his last briefing for the summer with the Mobilizing Students team from Oklahoma.
They had a great time at the Farmer’s Market.
But the best part is always the Missions with the kids.
It’s funny because last week Lynsie invited me to a Pilates. I loved everything and could follow along until we did some dance moves. Then I was just flailing around the floor.
Dottie, the teacher laughed and said, “Just keep moving, Ashley.”
So this week when I got to the studio I laughed when Lynsie told me we were doing Modern Dance instead. Hah! A whole 2 hours of dancing. I had a lot of fun trying something new that I’d never done before in my life, and even picked up some of the routine.
Check out the trailer I made of our girls night in last week.
Also, I’m really diggin’ Anjulie right now…
Love,
Ashley
Samosas are a beautiful thing.
And even better with Chutney. The team ate it up! At least three members bought their own jars to take back home.
Madina, the North African market, is so cool. I’m constantly looking for new and interesting things.
After Madina, Dad and I took the team to Global Mall.Watch the video here.
Dad printed out a picture of one of the teams for the priest. He was SO happy he put it up in the front shrine area.
Dad taught me more about Electronic News Gathering (ENG) today and let me practice with the camera. I captured wideshots, up close subject shots and focused on letting my video tell the story.
After we got home we reviewed the tapes together and I learned more about filling the frame and how to better break the scene down into components.
Swam at the pool with Milo and then cooked burgers and burritos at his house.
Got my truck back. Rick, the mechanic, told us the radiator “blew up” and it will cost $950 to get the Expedition running again. Bad news. But Dad says not to worry but to trust in God to provide.
Love,
Ash
Quesadilla day! Dad and I took the team over to CD tower the equivalent of Walmart for all your idol needs.
Then on to see the Chinese Pharmacy. The team bought some Tiger Balm and some kind of ear wax removal thing.
Martin served up some delicious quesadillas today. His lean steak and goat cheese is so good. A lot of the older members on the team enjoyed the real Coke with white lightning sugar not fructose corn syrup.
They really enjoyed the goats milk lollipops.
The kids had a great time at the missions doing crafts, games, sports and a Bible story. Even the Bengali mothers were listening on the sidelines.
This kid’s friend was speaking in Bengali and he turned and said, “Speak English…we’re finally in America.”
Dad picked me up and we visited the other locations. Today he taught me how to shoot news style video of the teams in action.
Later, the kids helped us label the newsletters.
Doughnuts are the best parts. It’s always funny when Dad comes in with the doughnuts, opens the boxes and the kids swarm and yell and fight to get them. Then five seconds later it’s silent…just the sound of chewing can be heard.
Signed up for classes! I’m taking Communications, English Lit, Features Writing and Journalism. LOTS of writing.
I met Lynsie at the Dance Studio for Pilates. I had a lot of fun looking at her old pictures.
It was nice to meet Dottie the teacher. I’m looking forward to going back next week!
Hindu temple tomorrow. Start praying for the people we will meet.
Love,
Ashley
Today started out like all the other days. Briefing with the teams. This week they’re from Alabama, Florida and Tennessee. They look like a great bunch!
Off to the Farmer’s Market to pick out the weirdest stuff we could find. Ghost Chile Peppers. The hottest peppers in the world!
Or the Durian, also known as PooPoo fruit. The Durian Chewing gum was banned on Asian buses because it smelled so bad.
Miles met us at Picadilly with Dad’s video camera.
After lunch was the fun part…MISSIONS! Even though it rained super hard the kids still came out and played.
Jesse and the boys acting silly.
At Highland Gardens I got to pray with a Hindu woman. That’s what I wrote my newsletter about tonight. Send me an email to ashleycummins@gmail.com to get on the mailing list!
Miles and I built his mom a tall, white bookshelf from Ikea today before our swim. We did 20 laps together! It’s a weird feeling to be sweaty and hot in a cool pool.
My car overheated tonight on the way home. Please be praying for that all to work out.
Love,
Ash
Today I woke up earlier than Dad, which is very unusual. And I think it was because today’s SAMOSA DAY!! Oh hot, flaky, buttered pastry filled with spicy beef, you taste so good.
Especially with the chutney. Can’t forget that.
We stopped in a the Botonica first. It’s the best place to buy your Adam and Eve bubble bath.
Mo bought some love perfume.
Looks like it worked.
The teams next safari was to Global Mall and the Norht African store.
I think they learned a lot about Hindu culture visiting the temple.
The Indian food banquet hall below the temple really know how to cook chicken Masala.
Hung out with the teams. It’s the Orangeburgers last day. :(
Registered for classes. In August I’ll be taking Communications, Geology Lab, Math and Creative Writing. As a Junemore I’m finally getting into classes of my major.
Finished my Cocoa Beach with the Kendalls July 2011 documentary.
Wrote a letter to Heather.
Miles and I cooked some Carne Asada tacos! Click here to see the recipe.
Lynsie and Ashley came over. Ash brought her sweet pup, Rori.
Shuggie sure does know how to get comfortable.
Looking forward to taking the first ever group of gringos to Plaza Fiesta. They are going to eat it up! It’s like being transported to Mexico.
Love,
Ash
Monday. You know what that means? Briefing with the new teams in town.
And Buford Highway Farmer’s Market. Here are some of my favorites from today.
Chicken feet. Great back scratchers.
Green peas covered in Wasabi. They have a kiss of horseradish.
Fried Chicken drumstick flavored chips. You’d think they were made in America with a description like that, but they’re actually from Japan.
Had a wonderful time with the Family Baptist Church team from Orangeburg, SC. We went to Wynscape (where I bruised my knuckles knocking on so many doors)
And Huntington Terraces (where we had the guided tour with Mr. Bible). We played Tug of War. Mission kids versus Missionaries. One of the moms jumped up and started pulling right along with the kids. They won (with a crash)!
Bible story time at the Mission.
Niche ran up to me before the car was even in park. My favorite part of the day. (Besides eating El T with you and Mo, Dad.)
Ran 2 miles. My feet were painfully hot but I kept telling myself, “It’s surprisingly cool in the shade.”
Milo cooked cheesy rice and noodles for dinner, while I chopped Mexican mangos and Dragon Fruit.
Two of my top favorite beings on the planet.
I’m about to alter my Bengali dress for Wednesday at Global Mall.
Love,
Ashley
Lunch with the whole family at our regular Friday spot; Red Robin…YUM!
I can’t wait to be laying in the sun on the white sand on Cocoa Beach, Florida with the new books I picked up after.
Enjoyed sitting in the shade with Niche, Michelle and Briana. Niche sat in my lap as Michelle played with my hair. Her little fingers would sometimes go in my ears as she pulled back my hair.
What’s one of the easiest way to round up kids?
Snow cones!
Packed for the beach vacation with Milo’s mom and dad tomorrow morning.
Finished my Sibling Road Trip Documentary! Take a peek here….
Love,
Ash
BAM! When Dad and I walked in the Fiesta Mall it was like being straight back in Mexico. Everyone was hustling around shopping for Quince Anos dresses, tamales and prayer beads at the Botanica.
This is going to be a great new place to bring the teams.
Speaking of teams, today was the Florida teams last day. They seemed to have a GREAT time. Can’t wait until they get to come back.
Then for tea time with Dad at the Frosty Caboose.
My new favorite drink.
Love,
Ashley
I think it’s funny I categorize my days by the food we ate. But today was no exception. Samosa are triangular beef patties that taste amazing with mango chutney. Jesse got a traditional chewing stick to clean his teeth with afterward. 
Muslims believe that Jesus, or Isa, was one of the prophets but not the Son of God. 
After spicy triangular treats the team headed over to Global mall to experience the Hindu temple. 
The “Inspirer” served the idols an array of spices. 
Hindus believe that from age 0-25 you’re supposed to enjoy life, party and not really be interested in god. So when the young people from the teams come to the temple the Brahman says that they are “old souls” since they are interested in learning about spiritual things.
After visiting the temple we took the team to La Rumba, Mexican food buffet. Mucho grengos. 
Next Dad, Glenda and I went to take pictures of teams.
My new food fave….YOGORIAAAAAA. Yum! There I go about food again. 
Home again, home again.
Love, Ash
Today is one of my favorite days of the tours: Quesadilla day. After checking out the Buddhist shop…
….and the Chinese pharmacy…
…we all ate steak quesadillas dripping with goat cheese. YUM!
This store makes me feel like I’m back in Costa Rica.
Dad and I drove around taking pictures of the teams.
Stopped in at the White Windmill. Those Koreans know how to bake!
Before picking up Mo, Dad and I stopped in at an antique shop. I liked the flying horses.
Love,
Ash
Hello my friends!
What a great day we had with the teams.
The day started off with Dad giving the briefing. They loved it as always.
Then off to the Farmer’s Market…
Can you guess what this is?
It’s 
( Notice the tiny goat’s teeth.)
We enjoyed delicious lunch of red curry at Penang with Mr. Kenny.
I helped out at Highland Gardens, the apartments that are about to be torn down. As I rounded kids up, I would knock on doors only to hear the hollowness inside of an abandoned home.
I had fun getting to know Tihti, Anika and Merhin, three sixth graders from Bangladesh. They talked about moving to their new apartments, the Bangla music group that’s coming next month and their fears about entering middle school.
Next, we served at Azalea. I always love going there since I know all the kids. You can’t beat having a those sweethearts run up to you and give you a big hug around the waist.
We played Red Rover, jumped in potatoe sacks and listened to the Bible story. 
Happy Fourth of July!
Love,
Ashley
Yay! I’m healed and feeling like my ol’ tiger tank self again! Thank you for all your prayers, they really made a difference.
Nana, Katie and I took the teams over for a Global Mall tour. We spent a long time talking with the priests in the temple. Very interesting conversations. I think it’s always important to see the commonalities in the different religions.
We also went over to Halal Madina for some samosas. Those are triangular meat perfection.
Ate lunch with Babu and Jesse at Penang. Can’t beat that. Before heading over to take photos and videos of the teams.
Then Dad and I drove into downtown Atlanta to meet with Jon Stetson, a buddy of my Dad’s.
All in all a GREAT day! And I’m SO happy to be back in the saddle again.
Love,
Ash
Hello!
What a fun day with Dad and J. We started out giving a briefing to the VA Tech team at FBC Doraville. Then we headed over to the International Farmer’s Market.
They have some WEIRD things there…
… and yummy.
Then we ate the best steak quesadillas in town at Carnicaria Numero Uno.
Off to the service projects. At Azalea we organized the closets and prepared the mission for it’s paint job tomorrow.
Had fun with the kids.
Isn’t Pam’s bunny, Robby, cute? He looks a little scared, though.
This is how Brianna feels about getting out of school for the summer.
Love,
Ashley
Ashley Ann Kendall 