One Last Post...

I can't believe how much I've been slacking on blogging since getting married. It's been a crazy summer with a lot of joy, a lot of adjustment and a lot of learning. On Monday, I start my senior year of college and that is also hard to believe. Life is really rushing by and it sometimes feels as though I'm on the sidelines just watching.

I know I never did an update about Staten Island. The trip there had it's ups and downs. First of all, seeing Jen and Ronnie and other staff members that week was just amazing. I miss my friends so much! It's been hard working and NOT living in an area where ReachGlobal Crisis Response is ministering. Being on Staten Island, working alongside these girls and getting to know a team was a great feeling. There are SO many exciting things going on there and if you aren't familiar with our work there you should check out our blog! I learned a lot about patience and finding my joy in CHRIST that week.

This is my last month with ReachGlobal Crisis Response. After 2 years and 3 months of being a part of that team, I don't think it's hit me yet. God has taught me so much about myself and ministry in the past couple years and so many things have happened because of being in ministry. I will never stop loving the city of New Orleans because of it. I will always look at my husband and thank my Savior for His divine plans for my life. I will always have a special place in my heart for Haiti. I will never forget the stories I've heard, both tragic and full of hope. And I can never thank YOU, reader, enough for supporting me, praying for me, asking about me, giving to me, and following this journey I've been on.

Someday, I may hear the call of God and return to this ministry. For now, I'm realizing that this door is closed for the time being. I have different responsibilities. I'm a wife, a student, a church member and first and foremost a Christ follower. 2 years ago, some  of those things never would have been exciting to me. But, now, I look at my responsibilities and understand the opportunities I have. I thank Jesus for the grace I'm given to be what he calls me to be. It's only by that grace that I am able.

I apologize for how scattered this post is, but, it really hard to get my thoughts together. I've not been looking forward to this, because it sounds like goodbye and I love blogging plus ministry! I just want to thank you again for all you've done. It's been an amazing experience and I am beyond blessed.

-Chelsea

What Would Jesus (Really) Do?

Dustin and I recently discussed what Jesus would look like if He were God in flesh today. I'm not talking physical appearance, I'm saying what would He be saying and doing and with whom would He be spending His precious time? We mentioned how Jesus' main crowd during His years of ministry consisted mostly of sinners.
Ok, we're all sinners. But think about the worst people you can imagine, the ones you don't want your kids to know about, the ones you avoid eye contact with when you pass them on the street. Those were the people that Jesus attracted. Not only did he attract them. He sought them out. Zacchaeus, for example, was called out of a tree by Jesus. He was a despicable human being among the Jews of the New Testament. He swindled them out of their money and deceived them. Jesus ministered to people possessed by demons, prostitutes, criminals. When I think about it, it blows my mind. If I'm supposed commanded to be like my Savior, why am I avoiding the people that need Him the most?

"And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, 'Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.'" - Mark 2:17

Tomorrow, I'm flying to Staten Island and staying there until Sunday. It will be an awesome week! We'll have around 80 volunteers and I won't just be doing communications stuff but also fun things like hosting and job site hopping! Pray for me and the other staff members this week, as we are a little short on helping hands but I firmly believe that God is going to strengthen us! Pictures and updates to come :)

Chelsea

Home Sweet Home

The title of this blog is me thinking positively! I can't say that Bolivar, Missouri feels like home yet, but I'm working towards it, and being with my husband is definitely helping :)

Dustin and I are back in Missouri for the foreseeable future and I'm so excited about the opportunities coming up! Before I start there, though, let me just share that our wedding was the most beautiful day of my life. I've never had so much fun, nor felt so blessed! The honeymoon was in Breckenridge, Colorado and it was almost just as beautiful as May 25th :)

Here we are horseback riding in the mountains!

The ReachGlobal Crisis Response chapter in my life is drawing to a close, at least for the time being, in August. I'm very excited though, to be making a trip to Staten Island the week of July 7th. I'll be seeing Ronnie and hopefully a couple more great friends! That week we'll have eighty volunteers in New York, repairing damaged homes from Sandy. I am so excited to be back on a construction site (ok, I probably won't stay there long...)! It will definitely be fun to see and hear about God's provision and the progress that is being done there. 

As always, thank you for your prayers and support!

Chelsea Mosher :)

She Wears White...

The past couple of weeks, I've constantly been reminded of the beauty of Christ and His relationship with His Bride, the Church. Whether it's in a sermon, a song or even a conversation with a friend, the subject keeps popping up.

Now here I am, the night before my wedding and I'm thinking about how wonderful it feels to be the bride. I have a faint idea of how it will feel on that great Wedding Day when the Bride finally is with Her Savoir.

I have an awful, filthy life to offer Dustin tomorrow. But he knows that, he accepts me, he forgets the wrongs I've committed, and loves me anyway. Because of that, I can wear white. Just like Christ, when Dustin looks at me, he sees someone pure and unblemished. That is an incredible feeling. I'm so overwhelmed right now by the love of my Savoir and the love of the man I'm marrying. I'm so blessed to see my future husband mirroring Christ.

Our greatest prayer tomorrow is that we glorify God. We want him to receive all the praise and all the honor. It's not about Dustin and I. It's about a Savoir who placed two sinners together and gave the grace to have the ability to bring him glory through a marriage. I want everyone to see that! Please pray that tomorrow will be all about Jesus, not about us! I will wear white because I am washed in the blood of Christ and I have no shame in Him. For that, I'm forever grateful.

It's Been a Long Time Coming...

It's been a long time! So much has happened in the past 3 weeks between going to New Orleans for our meetings, Dustin coming for a week, going to New Jersey to visit our Sandy staff and check out some job sites, bringing Ronnie home with me and enjoying my first bridal shower. I'm still catching up on life because unfortunately, two jobs, wedding planning and school do not stop when the rest of life goes crazy. It's a shocker, I know.
I feel as though everything that has happened should have it's own blog post. And maybe I will break it down a little bit in the coming weeks. So let me first start with TouchGlobal's February meetings in New Orleans. Again, I'm so so so thankful for the overwhelming amount of support I receive to do my job. And it is a wonderful job, indeed. I was able to see and fellowship with my TouchGlobal family and learn more about what is going on at our different sites, especially New Jersey where we stationed ourselves after Sandy.
One exciting turn of events that I'd like to announce is that we are changing our name from TouchGlobal to ReachGlobal Crisis Response. Nothing inside the ministry is changing, nor the things that we do. The name change is happening in order to bring better understanding to who our ministry is and what we do. It brings clarity to the fact that we are a part of the Evangelical Free Church of America. From a communications standpoint, re-branding is always a difficult endeavor, but I believe this is in the best interest of our ministry. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask!
Needless to say, though, being in New Orleans for 5 days was an absolute dream! I was able to attend church at Castle Rock in the city, meet some new friends there, hang out in the French Quarter, and spend time with the lovely people on staff during our 8.5 hour meetings :)

Yumm! Beignets with Ariealle and Jen Jones!

I was able to have lunch with these lovely ladies from Castle Rock, Ariealle and Intern-Katie!

I'm praising God for the ministry that HE led me to! It is HIM who is doing all of the great things through Crisis Response. What a mighty God we serve!

-Chelsea

Back in NOLA

As some of you might know, I'm in New Orleans writing this blog post! Just being here for the past 24 hours has reminded me how  much I absolutely love this city. I have missed driving around these crazy streets, eating amazing creole food and seeing God at work in people that I meet.

Yummm! Gumbo!

Just this morning, I went to church at Castle Rock Community in the city and it was so incredible worshiping with old friends and meeting new ones.

My new friend Raeion. We got to have lunch together!

The reason why I'm here in NOLA this week is because TouchGlobal is having their biannual meetings to go over new sites (like New Jersey) and strategic plans for the rest of the year.  Please pray for us this week as we meet,  pray and plan. Also pray for my safety as I fly back to Pennsylvania on Thursday morning. I am praising God for the ability to be a part of such a Christ-centered ministry! I also want to thank my supporters because you all made it possible to be here this week.  I'm looking forward to updating my blog and telling you how this week goes.  Thank you for your prayers!

Love,
Chelsea

Sex-trafficking in the Crescent City

If your family is anything like mine, you're probably grocery shopping tomorrow for the big Superbowl party this Sunday. Whether you are hosting or going, you are one of the thousands that will tune into the big game. You may not know that a lot more than football is happening on Superbowl weekend every year. While one team wins a championship, hundreds of lives are ruined by the hour.

Superbowl weekend is the biggest weekend in the world of sex-trafficking in the United States. When all of those fans arrive in the city of New Orleans this weekend, so will many people who are trapped in sin and looking to exploit girls and women in exchange for money.

Check out this article by Justin Holcomb from Mars Hill Church and join me this weekend in lifting the women and girls of New Orleans in prayer.

Pray:

• For protection of the girls and women whose lives are in danger this weekend
• For those who are using sexual exploitation for their own gain; pray for their souls and their salvation
• For the end of human trafficking. Our God is greater!

-Chelsea