December 03, 2012
To Lana, With Love
The most beautiful funeral that I have ever attended so full of hope, love, and peace. Lana as always wanted even this moment to be about you and wanted to share God's love with you, thank you Elder family for sharing these precious moments with the world. I would encourage you to take some time and watch this video. Love you Lana, thank you.
November 26, 2012
Celebrating My Golden Birthday....
On Saturday, near the end of my birthday celebration with some friends, my friend Han and I went out for coffee and as we were talking and just laughing about the days events and where life has taken us I started to thank God. I started thanking Him for my wonderful friends and family, and for allowing me to live this amazingly unique life. Basically, I was thanking Him for creating me. It always amazes me to look back and to see what God has done and to see Him in everything. The last 25 years of life have sure been great! I am so eagerly looking forward to the future and to see what He has planned ahead. The following day I celebrated with some some great friends at lunch and then with some family at dinner. It was wonderful to be surrounded by the people that I love and respect.
It sure has been a while since I last wrote and a lot has been taking place, but overall all is well. God has been blessing my time at home and He has been reaffirming that this is where I am suppose to be for now. The sense of peace that I had and still have in being here is incredible. Right when I first came home, I started the debriefing process and adjustment back into American culture and into living at home. This was and has been an interesting time, but God has continued to teach me new things. I have heard it said that, "learning is a never ending process," well whoever said that couldn't be more right! I am constantly learning new things about almost everything it feels like. This definitely keeps things interesting and keeps me thinking.
Since I have been back in Illinois, I have been working in order to continue paying off my student loans and becoming a debt-free missionary. This is something that I have prayed about and thought about for a long time and God just continues to place it on my heart that paying off my loans must be done before I head out to serve long-term in cross-cultural ministry in Latin America. I have been working as a substitute teacher, babysitting, and doing a variety of other jobs to achieve this goal. God has been so good to me in this rough economy and He continues to bless me with job opportunities and last month I was even able to get a car that was affordable and reliable and that would not increase my debt. That was just an amazing surprise and answer to prayer. Having a car has allowed me to travel for work and bless others in different ways.
I won't go on and continue to write, because this post could get really long if I tried to catch you up on everything that has happened these past few months. Although, I am currently working on a Christmas newsletter that will be going out soon highlighting some events from this past year and how God has been working in my life so I hope to have that out sometime within the next couple weeks. If you would like to receive my newsletter, please let me know by e-mailing me at cd_0687@yahoo.com
Thank you all for reading! I hope you had a great Thanksgiving!
P.S. I updated the "About Me" page and "Pray" page if you want to check those out and see how you can be praying for me and my family, thanks.
It sure has been a while since I last wrote and a lot has been taking place, but overall all is well. God has been blessing my time at home and He has been reaffirming that this is where I am suppose to be for now. The sense of peace that I had and still have in being here is incredible. Right when I first came home, I started the debriefing process and adjustment back into American culture and into living at home. This was and has been an interesting time, but God has continued to teach me new things. I have heard it said that, "learning is a never ending process," well whoever said that couldn't be more right! I am constantly learning new things about almost everything it feels like. This definitely keeps things interesting and keeps me thinking.
Since I have been back in Illinois, I have been working in order to continue paying off my student loans and becoming a debt-free missionary. This is something that I have prayed about and thought about for a long time and God just continues to place it on my heart that paying off my loans must be done before I head out to serve long-term in cross-cultural ministry in Latin America. I have been working as a substitute teacher, babysitting, and doing a variety of other jobs to achieve this goal. God has been so good to me in this rough economy and He continues to bless me with job opportunities and last month I was even able to get a car that was affordable and reliable and that would not increase my debt. That was just an amazing surprise and answer to prayer. Having a car has allowed me to travel for work and bless others in different ways.
I won't go on and continue to write, because this post could get really long if I tried to catch you up on everything that has happened these past few months. Although, I am currently working on a Christmas newsletter that will be going out soon highlighting some events from this past year and how God has been working in my life so I hope to have that out sometime within the next couple weeks. If you would like to receive my newsletter, please let me know by e-mailing me at cd_0687@yahoo.com
Thank you all for reading! I hope you had a great Thanksgiving!
P.S. I updated the "About Me" page and "Pray" page if you want to check those out and see how you can be praying for me and my family, thanks.
May 16, 2012
Coming "Home"
This week I have been enjoying some quality time with one of my best friends, miss Emily Gillis (who is currently at a meeting.). I have loved spending time with her and seeing what her new daily routine is like since she started her new job at a children's home. I love seeing people living and working in area that they are passionate about and that is exactly where Emily is. I love it. It is joy to be apart of her life and seeing how God is working in and through her life, what a privilege! Thanks Em, love you.
It has been a little over two weeks since I have come "home". I put the word home in quotations because although this is technically my home, it no longer seems like it. There are three questions that I have been asked over and over again since my arrival back in the States. One is, "So what do you plan on doing next?". The other is, "So how long do you plan on staying here," and the first question that almost everyone asks, "How does it feel to be home"? In the beginning, I kind of shrugged my shoulders at this question or I said the generic, "good," until someone would ask, "really" and I would respond, "not really, it is still bittersweet". Now after a couple weeks, I can honestly say that it really does feel good to be back in the States and be surrounded by familiar places and faces. It has taken me a while to adjust but slowly, but surely I am starting to feel more comfortable. I have felt extremely content and at peace since my arrival, but I am still processing through all of the culture changes and I am still trying to figure out my weekly routine or how I feel about not having one at all.
On the other hand, "my" plans for the future are wide open, as I have said before we will see where God leads me. This is hard for some people to grasp, but I am content with waiting on the Lord and moving forward as He opens the doors and reveals my next steps. We will see what happens after the summer. For the summer, I am volunteering as a youth sponsor at my church and helping out in other areas as needed. I have loved observing the new changes in the church and seeing all of the growth that has and continues to take place. I am so excited to be able to support my church in any way I can. Central Church of Christ has been such a blessing to me and it feels great to be back for however long the Lord allows. I do still plan on looking for a job after the summer is over in order to begin paying off my student loans, but as for now I am also using this time during the summer to pray about what to do next and where to go long-term. You can join me in prayer on on those things (for guidance and direction). The Lord knows my heart is open and willing, but for now I am prayerfully and patiently waiting and serving where I am at.
It has been a little over two weeks since I have come "home". I put the word home in quotations because although this is technically my home, it no longer seems like it. There are three questions that I have been asked over and over again since my arrival back in the States. One is, "So what do you plan on doing next?". The other is, "So how long do you plan on staying here," and the first question that almost everyone asks, "How does it feel to be home"? In the beginning, I kind of shrugged my shoulders at this question or I said the generic, "good," until someone would ask, "really" and I would respond, "not really, it is still bittersweet". Now after a couple weeks, I can honestly say that it really does feel good to be back in the States and be surrounded by familiar places and faces. It has taken me a while to adjust but slowly, but surely I am starting to feel more comfortable. I have felt extremely content and at peace since my arrival, but I am still processing through all of the culture changes and I am still trying to figure out my weekly routine or how I feel about not having one at all.
On the other hand, "my" plans for the future are wide open, as I have said before we will see where God leads me. This is hard for some people to grasp, but I am content with waiting on the Lord and moving forward as He opens the doors and reveals my next steps. We will see what happens after the summer. For the summer, I am volunteering as a youth sponsor at my church and helping out in other areas as needed. I have loved observing the new changes in the church and seeing all of the growth that has and continues to take place. I am so excited to be able to support my church in any way I can. Central Church of Christ has been such a blessing to me and it feels great to be back for however long the Lord allows. I do still plan on looking for a job after the summer is over in order to begin paying off my student loans, but as for now I am also using this time during the summer to pray about what to do next and where to go long-term. You can join me in prayer on on those things (for guidance and direction). The Lord knows my heart is open and willing, but for now I am prayerfully and patiently waiting and serving where I am at.
April 25, 2012
Final post from Costa Rica
Ever since Sunday, I have been listening to an instrumental version of the song, "You Raise Me Up". My friend posted this mp3 with his weekly sermon that he sends out and I have been listening to this 4 and a half minute piece over and over again. I love it and I love listening to the piano.
As I prepared to write this blog I went back and reread the lyrics to the song. The chorus goes...
You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders
You raise me up...to be more that I can be
How appropriate are those words for me and for my time here in Costa Rica. God has raised me up and it is only by His power and grace that I am becoming more and more of the woman He created me to be. Little by little I am starting to see more of that woman in me, that is not to say she wasn't there before but God is constantly molding me into His image. For I was made in His image.
When coming to Costa Rica I had two request: one to learn Spanish in order to serve, minister, and build relationships with Spanish speaking people and two to be trained and prepared for ministry work that is ahead. To me those seemed like simple requests (ha!) but I had no idea what I was asking for. God has given me so much more than what I could have ever have asked for or imagined.
Even now as God continues to lead me to what lies ahead He continues to meet my spoken and unspoken requests and needs. Gotta love His confirmation and gentle guiding hands. I feel like a child that keeps getting nudged out the door by their parent, and I feel that door getting closer and closer. What is on the other side I don't know, but I know that my heavenly Father knows.
Being in Costa Rica has been both a blessing and a privilege. Leaving here is bittersweet. In requesting to learn Spanish in order to serve, minister, and build relationships with Spanish speaking people I had no idea how strong some of those relationships would be or how precious they would be to me. Saying goodbye is never easy. (Thank God for the Internet.) Beyond this request God has also given me some wonderful friendships with some of the missionaries at the language school.
Preparing and training for ministry work has been both amazing and difficult. It has been amazingly difficult! :) in all seriousness, it has been harder than I thought, but it has also been more rewarding and incredible than I could have ever have imagined. Preparing and training for ministry has required everything I have, because God knew that there were some things that I needed to learn and there were some things that needed to be planted firmly in my heart. I am confident that the Lord has been preparing me for what lies ahead.
Even here God led me to work with a children's ministry called Valle del Sol and I have loved seeing God work in that ministry and use the people there to reach out into the surrounding community. I have learned so much from the people, families, and children there. I deeply cherish my memories of them and of the ministry and work that is taking place there.
Unexplainable joy and peace is what fills my heart as God continues to push me out the door and into the unknown. I am so thankful to be in the hands of my all knowing and all powerful Father. I am so thankful to know that I am doing what He wants me to do. For a time that was to be in Costa Rica but now that is to go back to the States. For how long I don't know exactly, a year to two years is what I think, but God knows for sure. When He says, "go" I will go and when He says, "stay" I will stay. For my hope and trust is in Him.
As I prepared to write this blog I went back and reread the lyrics to the song. The chorus goes...
You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders
You raise me up...to be more that I can be
How appropriate are those words for me and for my time here in Costa Rica. God has raised me up and it is only by His power and grace that I am becoming more and more of the woman He created me to be. Little by little I am starting to see more of that woman in me, that is not to say she wasn't there before but God is constantly molding me into His image. For I was made in His image.
When coming to Costa Rica I had two request: one to learn Spanish in order to serve, minister, and build relationships with Spanish speaking people and two to be trained and prepared for ministry work that is ahead. To me those seemed like simple requests (ha!) but I had no idea what I was asking for. God has given me so much more than what I could have ever have asked for or imagined.
Even now as God continues to lead me to what lies ahead He continues to meet my spoken and unspoken requests and needs. Gotta love His confirmation and gentle guiding hands. I feel like a child that keeps getting nudged out the door by their parent, and I feel that door getting closer and closer. What is on the other side I don't know, but I know that my heavenly Father knows.
Being in Costa Rica has been both a blessing and a privilege. Leaving here is bittersweet. In requesting to learn Spanish in order to serve, minister, and build relationships with Spanish speaking people I had no idea how strong some of those relationships would be or how precious they would be to me. Saying goodbye is never easy. (Thank God for the Internet.) Beyond this request God has also given me some wonderful friendships with some of the missionaries at the language school.
Preparing and training for ministry work has been both amazing and difficult. It has been amazingly difficult! :) in all seriousness, it has been harder than I thought, but it has also been more rewarding and incredible than I could have ever have imagined. Preparing and training for ministry has required everything I have, because God knew that there were some things that I needed to learn and there were some things that needed to be planted firmly in my heart. I am confident that the Lord has been preparing me for what lies ahead.
Even here God led me to work with a children's ministry called Valle del Sol and I have loved seeing God work in that ministry and use the people there to reach out into the surrounding community. I have learned so much from the people, families, and children there. I deeply cherish my memories of them and of the ministry and work that is taking place there.
Unexplainable joy and peace is what fills my heart as God continues to push me out the door and into the unknown. I am so thankful to be in the hands of my all knowing and all powerful Father. I am so thankful to know that I am doing what He wants me to do. For a time that was to be in Costa Rica but now that is to go back to the States. For how long I don't know exactly, a year to two years is what I think, but God knows for sure. When He says, "go" I will go and when He says, "stay" I will stay. For my hope and trust is in Him.
March 20, 2012
What words can express?
I have been preparing myself for this moment. For the moment when I have to say goodbye to the people and places I love. Well folks, that time is coming and it is coming fast and I still don't feel prepared to say goodbye. Little things throughout the past couple of weeks have been starting to make me cry because I realize that my time here is limited and my departure date is closing in.
I knew that when I arrived here I wouldn't be staying forever because my schooling only last a year but I can tell you that I never planned on losing my heart here or giving it away. I never planned on God transforming my heart and my mind, but all of this has taken place.
Somewhere between going to school, practicing Spanish, doing homework, going to church, making new friends, building relationships, learning about the culture, having coffee dates, working with children in ministry, studying the Bible, and walking until my legs felt like they were going to fall off...I have lost my heart. Pieces of my heart will forever be with the children in Valle del Sol, pieces of my heart will forever be at ILE and with the teachers I love, pieces of my heart will forever be on the beach where I spent time talking with God and the ones I love, pieces of my heart will forever be spread out across the world with my dear friends as they too continue to go where God is leading them, and pieces of my heart will forever be in the white two story house near Parque del Bosque with the Rojas Family.
I am not ready to write a reflection of what all of these people and places mean to me and how very grateful I am for being here because honestly it is just too hard to do right now and I am not even sure where to begin. I have started this blog about 3 times and each time I am at a lost for words. I never feel like anything I can say or do will express to all of you what my time here has meant to me. So please hear me when I say....
"God is good. He has made my time here more than I could have ever have asked for and He has blessed me far beyond what I deserve. He has and continues to break my heart for those who are in Latin America and He makes my heart long to serve Him and share His amazing story of love and grace with others. It has been an incredible privilege to live, minister, and study in Costa Rica. God has done amazing works not only in my life but also in the lives of others.
Thank you all for supporting me, loving me, and encouraging me. No words or actions can expression how truly grateful I am. Thank you for coming along side me in this journey and thank you for doing life together with me. I am deeply sadden to be leaving Costa Rica, but I am also extremely hopeful to see what plans God has next. For those of you in Costa Rica, I will miss you very very much and for those of you in the states, I will see you soon. God bless."
With love,
Chelsea
I knew that when I arrived here I wouldn't be staying forever because my schooling only last a year but I can tell you that I never planned on losing my heart here or giving it away. I never planned on God transforming my heart and my mind, but all of this has taken place.
Somewhere between going to school, practicing Spanish, doing homework, going to church, making new friends, building relationships, learning about the culture, having coffee dates, working with children in ministry, studying the Bible, and walking until my legs felt like they were going to fall off...I have lost my heart. Pieces of my heart will forever be with the children in Valle del Sol, pieces of my heart will forever be at ILE and with the teachers I love, pieces of my heart will forever be on the beach where I spent time talking with God and the ones I love, pieces of my heart will forever be spread out across the world with my dear friends as they too continue to go where God is leading them, and pieces of my heart will forever be in the white two story house near Parque del Bosque with the Rojas Family.
I am not ready to write a reflection of what all of these people and places mean to me and how very grateful I am for being here because honestly it is just too hard to do right now and I am not even sure where to begin. I have started this blog about 3 times and each time I am at a lost for words. I never feel like anything I can say or do will express to all of you what my time here has meant to me. So please hear me when I say....
"God is good. He has made my time here more than I could have ever have asked for and He has blessed me far beyond what I deserve. He has and continues to break my heart for those who are in Latin America and He makes my heart long to serve Him and share His amazing story of love and grace with others. It has been an incredible privilege to live, minister, and study in Costa Rica. God has done amazing works not only in my life but also in the lives of others.
Thank you all for supporting me, loving me, and encouraging me. No words or actions can expression how truly grateful I am. Thank you for coming along side me in this journey and thank you for doing life together with me. I am deeply sadden to be leaving Costa Rica, but I am also extremely hopeful to see what plans God has next. For those of you in Costa Rica, I will miss you very very much and for those of you in the states, I will see you soon. God bless."
With love,
Chelsea
March 12, 2012
Weekend Retreat
This past weekend (thanks to my mother) I was able to go on a retreat
to the beach. On Saturday, I headed off to Playa Jaco for one night .
This retreat came at the perfect time and was a much needed break. I
needed a weekend alone with just me and my God, and even after my
retreat I can still say that was exactly what I needed. Sometimes there
comes a time when you just need a break. Where the things in life start
hitting you all at once (school, relationships, family, etc.) and this
is where things can get complicated. You can make one decision to stay
and let the things around you get the best of you or you can choose to
try and combat the things around you on your own. However both of those
options don´t sound very pleasant to me and they both can be very
emotionally, spiritually, and physically draining, so there is yet
another option you can choose to give everything over to the Lord and
trust in Him. This is the option I choose.
I am a work in progress and as the things in life start hitting up against me like the waves in the ocean, I am continually looking to the Creator and clinging to His Word. For I know that no temptation has seized me except what is common to man. As I sat on the beach reading and praying, God continued to open my eyes to the ways of my heart and He continued to show me His divine sovereignty in my life. Oh how wide and deep is His is love for us, it is deeper than deepest sea and wider than the widest ocean. God is faithful. What seemed to be a bad week when given the right perspective was actually a blessed week with a blessed ending, while on this weekend retreat God was able to change my perspective and open my eyes to some of the things that often go unseen in the daily routine of life. God continues to amaze me and the more I learn about Him and the more I seek Him, the more my heart is content and at rest in Him. God is so good.
______________________________________________________________
It is hard to believe that there are only 7 weeks left of language school. This trimester has and continues to fly by! On April 27th, I will be on a flight back home, this just seems so crazy! With this in mind, I do need to make one of my prayer requests known, so far for this trimester I have paid 1/3 of my tuition ($500) and 3/4 of my rent for my time here ( $1,125). I am still in need of $1,425 to finish paying off my ILE tuition and my rent for April. If you would like to help answer my prayer and give financially please click the PayPal Donate link on the left hand side of this page or mail a check, made out to Chelsea Davis, to the following address:
Chelsea Davis
1309 South Park St.
Streator, IL 61364
Last but certainly not least thank you all for your continued prayers and support! You have all been such an encouragement to me, thank you for not only your partnership but also for your friendship and love.
I am a work in progress and as the things in life start hitting up against me like the waves in the ocean, I am continually looking to the Creator and clinging to His Word. For I know that no temptation has seized me except what is common to man. As I sat on the beach reading and praying, God continued to open my eyes to the ways of my heart and He continued to show me His divine sovereignty in my life. Oh how wide and deep is His is love for us, it is deeper than deepest sea and wider than the widest ocean. God is faithful. What seemed to be a bad week when given the right perspective was actually a blessed week with a blessed ending, while on this weekend retreat God was able to change my perspective and open my eyes to some of the things that often go unseen in the daily routine of life. God continues to amaze me and the more I learn about Him and the more I seek Him, the more my heart is content and at rest in Him. God is so good.
______________________________________________________________
It is hard to believe that there are only 7 weeks left of language school. This trimester has and continues to fly by! On April 27th, I will be on a flight back home, this just seems so crazy! With this in mind, I do need to make one of my prayer requests known, so far for this trimester I have paid 1/3 of my tuition ($500) and 3/4 of my rent for my time here ( $1,125). I am still in need of $1,425 to finish paying off my ILE tuition and my rent for April. If you would like to help answer my prayer and give financially please click the PayPal Donate link on the left hand side of this page or mail a check, made out to Chelsea Davis, to the following address:
Chelsea Davis
1309 South Park St.
Streator, IL 61364
Last but certainly not least thank you all for your continued prayers and support! You have all been such an encouragement to me, thank you for not only your partnership but also for your friendship and love.
February 22, 2012
Just a glimpse...
Proverbs 30:7-9
“Two things I ask of you, LORD;
do not refuse me before I die:
Keep falsehood and lies far from me;
give me neither poverty nor riches,
but give me only my daily bread.
Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you
and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’
Or I may become poor and steal,
and so dishonor the name of my God.
do not refuse me before I die:
Keep falsehood and lies far from me;
give me neither poverty nor riches,
but give me only my daily bread.
Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you
and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’
Or I may become poor and steal,
and so dishonor the name of my God.
I also wanted to let you all know that school has been going well. Grammar is getting tough, but each day I am understanding a bit more. We have learned a new rule of subjuntive and now are beginning to practice it, so with more practice I am sure I will understand it (beyond just following the sentence structure).
Ministry with the kids has also been going great! This tri-mester, we have 5 new volunteers (Jennifer, Lisamarie, Mark, Sydney, and Kayla). Thank the Lord! Also, Steve, the director, returned back from the States back in January and brought with him some new lesson books and coloring books for the kids. They have loved the new books! We have also been blessed to have a few new little faces this tri-mester. God is good! Saturday is still my favorite day of the week.
Thanks for reading, I hope you all have a blessed week.
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