Ashley to AUSTRALIA!!

Friends!

Thank you so much for showing interest in my adventure! I have made an enormous decision to further my education and my work in ministry by attending Hillsong International Leadership College in Sydney, Australia! It's crazy and incredibly exciting all at once! This has been a thoroughly prayed, and thought over decision that I am now confident in pursuing. I know this is the next step for me to grow further, both in my personal walk with God and in ministry.  But unfortunately, sending in an application and buying a one-way ticket to Australia isn't all it's gonna take. HILC (Hillsong International Leadership College) does not offer any scholarships. It's completely up to the student to provide their own funding.
Thankfully, Australias student visa options include the ability to work while studying abroad! And my plan includes to do just that in order to save up and stay on for a second year.
But Ashley, why don't you just buy your ticket and start working once you get there?
Well, that's the thing. Due to Australian International regulations, I need to have sufficient funds beforehand in order to attend.
That money would show that I can afford:

A plane ticket there and back
One years tuition
Accomodation Fees
Utility and maitenance fees
Overseas Student Health Coverage - required
And other small expenses including, bus passes, a bed, food and necessities, etc,...

The approximate total cost comes out to around $10,000 for the year.
This is where you come in! I'm going to need as much help as possible in raising the provided funds in order to go.
The catch? I need to raise $10,000 by the end of next month. I know, I know... Ashley, you're nuts!! That's insane! But I have faith in what God has spoken and I believe in His provision. And this is about as literal as it can get in living by faith.

My plan is to attend this coming semester (February 2016), so I'm crossing my fingers and praying all the paperwork and visas to come in time! If, for whatever reason, the visa does not come through for this semester, I would attend in the second semester (July 2016). But I'm praying for February!

Attending HILC is something I've been praying over for a long time. I was able to speak with my father in February about my dreams of going, and he fully supported my decision. He agreed to help pay for my entire first two years of school! But after his passing in March, expenses arose and we quickly learned there was not enough money left to fulfill his and my wishes. And quite honestly, I stopped dreaming of going. It was always at the back of my mind, but it became something unattainable, something I didn't think I'd be able to do for a long time.
But this summer, God rekindled my hopes and began making a way. This past year I thought I've just been waiting on God to say "Go!" when in reality, He had just been waiting on me to say "Ok".

So, I'm ask you to help me in my dream -- my great adventure in stepping out in faith to see what's in store. I have no idea what it'll be, but that's the beauty in it!

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" Jeremiah 29:11

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this.
Love you all!
- Ashley