"He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty."
Psalm 91:1
Cottage Peace
The vision of a safe house for girls rescued from sex slavery has become a reality! Streetlight officially opened it's first cottage, Cottage Peace, on April 4th. I am serving as a full-time caregiver for the overnight shift, 10pm-6am. I have been adjusting well to the switch from days to nights.
The Lord has given me a heart for prayer and I feel that He's called me to this shift for that reason. I have seen the fruit of loved ones' prayers in my own life and I feel called to pray for these girls during the night. The Lord has delivered me from a life of fear and given me a peace which surpasses understanding. I want to be a vessel of His peace and comfort during these night hours, which may at times be plagued with fear, nightmares, and loneliness for the girls.
One Dress, 30 Days
During the month of April I participated in the One Dress, 30 Days Campaign for Streetlight. I wore the same black dress for 30 days to raise awareness for child sex slavery and support for the Streetlight safe house. Over $21,000 was raised for the Streetlight safe house!
My mom and me at the One Dress, 30 Days
Participant Dinner
Prayer Requests
Wisdom and discernment for the caregivers.
Unity among the caregivers.
That the love of Christ overflows from the caregivers and His healing power touches the lives of the girls.
That the girls would feel safe and protected at Streetlight.
Financial support- I am a missionary and my position is funded by the giving of others.
My health- For total healing. I have had trouble with my breathing since returning from the World Race.
Thank you for all of the prayers, love, and support!
I am participating in a campaign to benefit StreetlightPhx, an organization that represents a cause very important to me! Every year more than 100,000 children are used as sex slaves in the United States.
Streetlight's mission is to eradicate child sex slavery through a 3-tier strategy of awareness, prevention, and care to child survivors.
For the month of April I will be wearing the same dress to raise awareness and funding for this cause. I am asking my friend's and family to consider supporting me for a $1 a day...$30 will assist in the long-term healing for our children as they begin their journey.
Please visit my personal page to hear more about what I am doing and support this horrific local injustice! Click HERE
"...He will rescue them. He will redeem them from oppression and violence, for their lives are precious to him." Psalm 72:12-14
It has now been five months since I returned to Arizona from my 11 month mission trip with the World Race. As so many of you know, the World Race was a life changing experience for me. In learning to depend on Him in all things, He brought me to deeper levels of freedom. Over the past year I was privileged to care for orphans, to feed the hungry, and to pray for the sick. I was given the opportunity to be used as a vessel to shower His love on others who have never seen His marvelous light. Through this journey, not only did I come to know that my identity is in Christ, but He also awakened my heart to a deeper calling that He has on my life: to minister to girls that are victims of child sex slavery.
My eyes were first opened to sex slavery and human trafficking when I attended a feature length documentary on sex slavery called "Branded", before going on the World Race. This documentary explores the dehumanizing realities of prostitution and the devastating effects it is having on the lives, neighborhoods, and communities in Phoenix, AZ. I had attended this screening to gain insight into the work that I would be doing with the World Race in Thailand. However, God began to gently stir my heart that evening into what would soon fan itself into a flame in my own heart.
I was shocked to discover that sex trafficking is not just something that happens overseas, in places like Thailand, Cambodia, and Eastern Europe. It's happening in my home town, in my backyard. In 2009 it was estimated that there were more than 300 prostitutes in Phoenix younger than 18. These young children are lied to, lured away, taken, exploited and forced into sex slavery. When these victims are picked up by the police, they are returned to unhealthy home environments, put in foster care or, as a last resort, put in juvenile detention to protect them from their pimps.
While I had originally embarked into missions believing that God was calling me to missions oversees, it became increasingly clearer that He was calling me back to Phoenix. Particularly to work with girls rescued from sex trafficking at a ministry called Streetlight.
Streetlight is a non-profit organization that provides a safe house for girls caught in this vicious cycle. This will double the number of beds in the United States specifically dedicated to child prostitutes. A safe house is a place where rescued victims of child sex slavery can live for an extended period of time and will receive specialized faith-based mentoring, professional healthcare, food, clothing, educational and career bases counseling, and the healing they need to rebuild their future.
Since returning home I've been participating in the Streetlight monthly prayer meetings and have completed the "Mending the Soul" 12 week small group. I recently accepted a full time house mom position at Streetlight. I am so humbled and honored that the Lord has called me to be used as a vessel of His love and grace to the girls that will be calling Streetlight their home.
I would be honored if you would consider partnering with me both financially and prayerfully in this ministry. Prayer support is very important. "...The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective" (James 5:16). Additionally, as this position is funded by the support of others, I am once again placed in a position to trust in our Heavenly Father to provide the necessary support to cover my cost of living. I have seen how the Lord so generously provided for my mission trip through many of you and it brings encouragement to know that He truly is my Provider. Gifts may be given as monthly pledges or as one time donations. Would you consider investing in His Kingdom and bringing freedom to the lives of girls here in Phoenix?
Please click HERE to make a tax deductible donation online. Select Support a Staff Member and scroll to Chelsea Wonders.
I am very excited to be a part of a ministry that is bringing Light to the darkness, Hope to the hopeless, and Redemption to the broken. I thank you in advance and hope that you will prayerfully consider being a part of this ministry!
When people ask me what my favorite country was on the World Race I always reply, "Thailand!" In a way, it's a little surprising because I was in the depths of a personal spiritual battle that month. The lies of the enemy had been exposed just weeks before arriving in Thailand. God shed His light on the lies that I had believed about my identity and at the time I didn't know that He had also given me the weapons (His Truth) to overcome and to walk in victory.
In the depths of my brokenness He taught me that I am still a vessel of His love. I am the temple of His Spirit despite my feelings. His light dispels darkness. In a country where you can feel the weight of the darkness He had called me to SHINE.
It was in Chiang Mai, Thailand where we made some very special friends. These girls and women were working as prostitutes. The Lord had led us to this particular bar where we built relationships with them through the card game Uno. The next few nights they were calling out our names with huge smiles as we approached the bar.
Aor, Nang, and I
We then began paying the bar owner (a mere $8 U.S. dollars/girl) to release the girls from the bar for the evening. We would take them out to coffee or McDonald's to spend time with them away from the bar atmosphere. It was during this time that we were able to talk to them and just have fun!
I remember one night at McDonald's when one of the girls, Na, started asking me, "Why are you girls always so happy and smiling? We've never met people like you girls before. Why do you want to be with us?" This opened the door to share the True source of our love and joy. God had given me His love and compassion for these girls. I saw them as beautiful, precious, and valuable. They are His daughters and He is longing for them to be set free. I long for them to know that they have a purpose and a future; that they too can be a new creation.
Na and I
My friends in Thailand are on my heart a lot and I am especially missing them today. I pray that the Lord will continue bringing messengers of His Light to them and that they would receive His salvation. I look forward to the day when I see Him face-to-face and we are all reunited again.
This blog is long overdue...but better late than never right? J I've been home in Scottsdale, Arizona for almost 2 months. That first night sleeping in my own bed was even more enjoyable than I could have imagined. I've gotten to spend time with family and friends, eat bowls of cereal with cold milk, drive my car, and have even paid over $4 for a "coffee drink".
One thing that has surprised me about being back in the U.S. is how quickly I've gotten used to all of these comforts once again. I remember thinking many times over the last year how I will never take my hot shower, with water pressure, for granted ever again.
I did have a moment of culture shock last week as I was walking in Old Town Scottsdale with a friend. There were two beautifully dressed women playing stringed instruments on the boutique store lined sidewalk. They weren't asking for tips. They were simply playing beautiful music for potential customers outside the stores. It hit me rather unexpectedly! I suddenly had images of all the people that I had seen over the last year on the streets around the world. However, all of the people that I saw had dirty clothes, many had missing limbs, and were begging for food or money. They had hopelessness and sadness in their eyes. I didn't feel at home when I saw these classy ladies playing beautiful music. "Where am I?", I thought.
The Lord has definitely changed me over the course of this past year. He has broken my heart in a deeper way and given me more of His compassion. I no longer want to live a nice, little life serving myself. I want to be used by Him to further His Kingdom. He has given me more freedom. Freedom from chains of addiction, freedom from fear, freedom from generational sin, freedom to worship Him in new ways, and freedom to know who I am in Christ and to live in that identity.
Since being home I have the desire to share this freedom with girls and women in the Phoenix area. I feel that the Lord has called me to live in Arizona for this next season. I am filled with so much hope and joy because I know that God does not just give us freedom to keep for ourselves, but that He will use it to bring freedom in the lives of others. I am praying for those girls that He is going to put in my path. Girls who are in bondage, broken, hopeless, and hurting. Girls who need a love encounter with Jesus Christ. There are many opportunities here in the Phoenix area to get involved to fight injustice and to bring freedom. I am taking steps of faith right now and trusting that the Lord is guiding my steps and leading me to the right ministry with this vision.
Updates to follow...
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6
My amazing squad mate and brother Mike Sanders is so close to being fully funded and needs your help! Below is his blog. Please prayerfully consider supporting him!
'everyday, its'a getting closer,
going faster than a roller coaster...'
oh... it's here. the end of the race.
I am in Los Angeles. Because my parents live here now. Yes, my parents moved while I was on the race. They currently reside in the heart of LA, a few blocks from the famous "HOLLYWOOD" sign. They find it funny that I don't want to go out and explore. I'm satisfied with just enjoying rest. air conditioning. cold drinks. hot showers. and most of all, the US Open! Go Rafa! What could LA possibly have to offer me that's greater than.... say, cookie dough?
The race ended in Dublin, Ireland. Yes, it was amazing. We were blessed beyond belief! After final debrief, we got to attend the Awakening, a four day worship conference that rocked me! The speakers were brilliant, and the worship was, well, I don't want to try and find words that describe the experience, because they will come up short. Jonathan and Melissa Helser, and the band, are flippin' awesome! ( <-- Check em out! )
I still have about $1000 to raise in support, and not much time to do it. Would you please take a moment right now and lift this up in prayer? If God leads, click here to donate!
The October '09 World Race has come to an end, but this is in no way an end to a lifestyle. A Kingdom lifestyle. A lifestyle that makes 'everyday' an important day, a day of influence. Everyday is an opportunity to lay it all down again, and follow Jesus. Everyday a chance to experience true joy, and true peace. Everyday, a chance to lead others to more freedom. Everyday, a chance to bring heaven down to earth. Everyday, an adventure.
Last night we met together as a Squad here in Chisinau, Moldova for a time of worship. Two of the teams were in Berlin, Germany for a couple weeks of ministry last month and God rocked them with some amazing worship. God gave new songs, dances, poetry, and art. He really ignited a powerful flame in them that they brought to our time of worship last night.
At first, I had a hard time participating in worship. I was full of excuses...I'm tired, I don't have anything to contribute, I'm not getting anything out of this. I wanted to leave, but something inside me drew me in. I just couldn't leave.
Then, Alana played a song that she wrote while in Berlin. It was absolutely beautiful. It was as if the Lord was singing this song over me. She played it again and then explained more about where the song came from and something inside of me broke. I began to cry. Jordan S. and a few others came over and started praying over me. I wept and it was as if Christ was doing surgery on my soul. Pulling out the deep pain and sadness that I didn't even know was there. The deep feelings of abandonment were being released.
God is so GOOD! After that was released He poured His joy and love into those new spaces. I don't want to go around any longer with my fingers in my ears when He tells me He LOVES me. He loves ME. He ministered to me in such a powerful and healing way last night.
I love this squad and the community that we have. I love how God uses our experiences and pain for good. He pursues us and knows what's best for us. He is a good Daddy!
Our team is heading out to Ukraine tonight for our last month of ministry on the World Race. I am filled with so much joy right now and I just want it to overflow to the people we serve this last month. We won't know the details of our ministry until we get there...but it's going to be good! Thank you for all of your support and prayers J
Last month our team served at Abiye Orphanage in Nigeria. We lived on the second floor of the orphanage and drew water from the well for our bucket showers and to flush the toilet. There were about 20 children at the orphanage ranging in age from 8 months to 9 years old.
Me, April, Josh, and Caiti will all of the kids at Abiye Orphanage
This past month the Lord really showed me that He's given me a "Mother's heart". In the past I would have told you that I loved kids, but that was because I thought that was the mold I was supposed to fit. However, I really did fall in love with these children at the orphanage. I found so much joy in holding and loving the babies. It didn't matter how many times I got peed on (leaky cloth diapers) or spit up on...or worse. I felt so privileged to be Christ's tangible arms last month. I wanted the best for these precious children.
It was also a difficult time for me. Before the Race I was working as a nutritionist for the WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) program. I learned a lot about infant and child nutrition. I counseled mothers who had children who were underweight. However, it was usually because the child was drinking too much juice throughout the day and didn't want to eat at mealtimes, not because there wasn't enough food to eat. I was challenged this month to do what I could do and leave the results up to God. I gave a mini-nutrition class to the staff and taught them how to properly prepare a bottle of infant formula. I talked about the importance of feeding the little ones every 2-3 hours because their stomachs are much smaller than ours and fill up and empty faster.
I did my best to pass along the information that I have learned and the Lord showed me how to trust Him in a new way. These are His children. They were His children before we got there and they are still His children after we have gone. He allowed our team to spend a month with these amazing kids to hold them, hug and kiss them, play with them, love them, and to be a light and a joy. He showed me that while I may not see the harvest, I can plant seeds. I can pray for and speak life over these children. He showed me that when I felt inadequate, when I didn't have all of the answers, when I couldn't meet all of the needs, He can. He is in control. He has a purpose. He has a plan. Those truths gave me so much peace and comfort. It's truly amazing that the God of the universe invites us to be a part of His work. He uses us!
These 11 month old twins stole my heart! Oh how I love these boys!
Our month in Nigeria started out a little bumpy, literally. The director of the orphanage, Kenny, picked our team up in Lagos, Nigeria in the orphanage's van. This was probably the most "legit" vehicle any of us had ridden in on the World Race so far. It even had air conditioning! About an hour or so into our "3 hour" van ride the back passenger side tire blew out on the highway. Luckily, Kenny had a spare tire and with the help of a friendly local, who had pulled over to help us, the spare was put on and we were back on the road. Then about an hour later the air conditioning stopped working, which was not a problem for us because the majority of vehicles we've ridden in have been without A/C. However, Kenny wanted the best for us, so we stopped again to try and have the A/C fixed, but they didn't have the parts we needed.
At about hour 4 of our "3 hour" van ride, the spare tire popped. Kenny insisted that we were just outside of town so we drove on the popped spare tire at about 10mph for 20 minutes. During this time Amy and Katie started singing worship songs and we all joined in. I love the go-with-the-flow attitude we have all adopted. There is so much more joy and peace in trusting that God is in control and will provide. Then right there on the side of the road there was a pile of tires for sale! We were on our way again and made it safely to the orphanage...7 hours, not bad J
One Dress, 30 Days
