I Love it When God's Like, "No worries, I got your back."

The past two weeks have been awesome visiting Dustin and also John Brown University. I was able to meet with their team leaders and also the girl who will be our next intern. It's funny how quickly time flies...I find it hard to believe that I was on a flight to New Orleans to be an intern 9 months ago. But enough about that! Let me tell you the latest story of how God's been working in my life.
Two blog posts ago, I mentioned that Jen and I will be able to stay in our house until March 15th. This is awesome and a huge answer to prayer. The problem was that we would be homeless after that until May 1st, when our summer home opens up.
Well, I found out that - through some connections at my church here in Covington - one very gracious woman has opened up her home to Jen and I for the month and half that we don't have a home. The house is in Mandeville, a block from the lake, and a reasonable distance from our office in Covington.
So once again, God's sovereign way of showing his power and love amazes me. While visiting Dustin, we were able to listen to a message by Louie Giglio where he goes through the Doxology in Romans 11:33-36. This passage came to mind again as I typed this blog:

"Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

'For who has known the mind of the Lord,

or who has been his counselor?'

'Or who has given a gift to him

that he might be repaid?'

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen."

AMEN!!

Love,

Chelsea

Mardi Gras

My favorite city in the world is so deeply rooted in history, something that I absolutely love about it.

One of the many traditions there is the Mardi Gras celebration. This is what today's blog is about. I'm on a mission to bring to light the redeeming qualities of Mardi Gras (which, by the way is in 4 days. Happy Mardi Gras!). I'll be honest, when reading about Mardi Gras I felt that this blog was a bit like a research paper, but don't be deceived! I promise it is interesting (and fairly short) :)

The celebration of Mardi Gras goes way back, originally being a pagan ritual that was incorporated into Christian Rome. It was sort of used as a last "hurrah" before the penitential season of Lent. Although its roots aren't solely French, Mardi Gras (French for "Fat Tuesday") was brought to the New Orleans area by French explorers. And no one does it like New Orleans now, that's for sure!

Mardi Gras didn't get it's bad reputation until the 19th century when masked paraders demonstrated violent behavior during the celebration. Because of this, the press demanded that Mardi Gras celebrations should be stopped. Fortunately, a group of men known as Comus made Mardi Gras a beautiful celebration, proving to the public that it could safe and enjoyable for all people. "Krewes", which are kind of like secret societies, were formed. These krewes get to plan their parades, choosing themes, costumes, floats, etc. 

In recent years, the general public knows Mardi Gras as an excuse to go to New Orleans and do inexcusable things. The media highlights this behavior making it seem like New Orleans is one big, dirty place during the Mardi Gras season. I want my readers to know that this is NOT the case. It happens, yes, in certain places in the French Quarter. I also want my readers to know that the people that are doing these things are out of town, foolish tourists. Northerners, mostly. NOT the people of New Orleans that I work with on a regular basis.

Every person from New Orleans that I've talked to has told me the same thing: Mardi Gras is a time of celebration. A holiday when the family can go outside, grill, pass football and share time with their neighbors. Especially after a thing like Hurricane Katrina, wouldn't you like to see your city dressed up and brought together? New Orleans natives rarely go to the few crazy parades. Most of the parades are kid and family friendly. Kids will sit on shoulders and reach up to floats as the people on them hand out beads and stuffed animals. I know! I've been to one :)

Me, Bethany and Jen at our first Mardi Gras parade!

Hopefully this post gave you a little more insight to the city I'm ministering to. It is a pretty awesome place :)

Thank you for your prayers and support as always and I hope your week is going well!

Love,

Chelsea

3 Things I'm Thankful For

Some of you who received my last newsletter know that the past month or so has been a little difficult for me. The theme of January, for me, was Romans 5:3 "We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance." It felt like I running into problem after problem, trial after trial. I walked into a different wall every time I turned around; it definitely started to hurt after a while.

But today I am praising God for 3 three things specifically:

1. Jen and I found out that the house we are living in won't sell until March 15th now. Which means another month we weren't expecting of living in a home!

2. I was approved to drive ministry vehicles even though I'm (slightly) under 21. So if I need a car or something to get me from Point A to Point B (or C or D or E. I'm always going somewhere!), I have that option. Thank you, Jesus!!

3. The grace God gives us in the moment that we need it. Whether it's myself needing grace or that I need to give grace to others, Christ always supplies that.

"Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." Hebrews 4:16

What an awesome promise! Thank you for your dedication in praying for me and supporting me. I'm praying that you will also approach the throne of grace with confidence!

Love,

Chelsea :)

A Family for Christ

During my second week back in New Orleans, Dustin's family came to serve with TouchGlobal.
I've really been blessed by the Moshers in the past. They've welcomed me into their home and made me feel like part of their family. The week they were here opened my eyes to see their hearts even more so.
What's awesome is how they came down as a family and were lights for Christ together. Dustin has been coming to New Orleans for 3 years now. They recognized his passion for the city and for TouchGlobal and decided they wanted to see what it was like for themselves. The way they worked together, at the same job site, prayed together, ate together, and even toured the city together, displayed Christ.
Along with the Mosher family, Trinity International (a university from Illinois) came to serve. I'm so thankful for the teams that keep coming down! Seeing the Moshers serve that week made me realize how involved I want my future family to be in missions.

The Moshers, Trinity International, and the interns

Today today I live for one thing


To give You praise


In everything I do


Yeah all the praise goes out to You 

-The Time Has Come, Hillsong United

Back in NOLA!

Merry belated Christmas!

First of all, let me just note that being home for Christmas was absolutely perfect. I loved seeing my family again and we had a blast!

Me and my sister-in-law, Jamie

God continues to amaze me with the blessings he lavishes on me, both with my family and friends! For example, Jen Jones and I drove 19 hours to New Orleans yesterday and we arrived safely at 10 pm last night. Also, today I was reunited with my fellow former intern Ronnie!! :)

Ronnie and I hugging in the street. Of course, we would!

Today, driving over the causeway and into the city just reminded me of how much I love New Orleans. To be honest, this weekend I was not feeling ready to return to Louisiana. But now that I'm here, I'm so excited to get back to working and blogging! :)  This week will be great as all the interns will have a little reunion. They will all be here by Sunday and we'll be working together all next week!

God is good and I pray that Christ's love is shining through you as you go throughout your day. What an amazing privilege it is to be called by a living God and serve Him! Thank you for your prayers and support.

Love, 

Chelsea :)

Jesus, Friend of Sinners

I'm at the point where I know airports like the back of my hand. Like, just now, I looked up from what I was reading and realized I was in an airport...again. Sometimes, that's a little discouraging. I'd really like to stay in one place for more than 2 weeks. But then again, I realize that a year ago I never would've imagined that I'd be working for a ministry like TouchGlobal. When I think of that, I thank Christ for putting this call on my heart.
Back to the airport! I'm on my way to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania again. I'm blessed to be able to spend Christmas with my family, and I am very excited!
I covet your prayers and am very grateful for them. One way you could pray for me is that I will be looking for opportunities to show Christ's love in Pennsylvania. That God will bring people into my life who I can invest in.
If you haven't listened to the song "Jesus, Friend of Sinners", by Casting Crowns, please do. The Youtube link is right here. Enjoy! Here are some lyrics to it:

Jesus, friend of sinners, we have strayed so far away
We cut down people in your name but the sword was never ours to swing
Jesus, friend of sinners, the truth's become so hard to see
The world is on their way to You but they're tripping over me
Always looking around but never looking up I'm so double minded
A plank eyed saint with dirty hands and a heart divided

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners
Open our eyes to the world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks yours

Keep these lyrics in mind as you encounter sinners like you and me throughout your day! I'm praying right now for the those of you reading this, that your lives will be living testimonies to the great work that Christ has done in you!
Love,
Chelsea :)

Recruiting, recruiting, recruiting

Hello everyone!

First of all, I am so thankful for the work of salvation that Christ did on the cross and the grace that we are able to receive because of it!
Second of all, I'm so grateful for the opportunity to recruit in Pennsylvania, Missouri and Arkansas. In Pennsylvania I visited Messiah College and Lancaster Bible College and I was able to spend some much-needed time with my family.

My brother, Ryan, and I

Now, I'm currently in Missouri staying at Southwest Baptist College. My fellow (and former) intern, Dustin has been driving me around to the different colleges I need to go to. Last Friday was spent at College of the Ozarks, yesterday was spent at John Brown University in Arkansas and tomorrow and Friday will be spent at Southwest Baptist.

Recruiting has gone well so far and has been an awesome experience! Thank you so much for your prayers and support.

 Pray for:
-My boss, Katie, and my friend, Alison, as they are working in Haiti this week
-My friend and coworker Ariealle, and her grandmother who is very sick and in the hospital right now
-That God will raise up a generation of young people who want to be involved with TouchGlobal

Praising God for:
-The blessing of family and having a place to go home to!
-Safe travels around the United States thus far :)
-Using me in a way that glorifies Him!

Love you all!
Chelsea :)
"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit."
2 Corinthians 3:17-18