I'm Back!

Hi Everyone!

I have been crazy busy these past few weeks with a stateside tour, Graduation from Discipleship Training school, and a seminar and we have only been back in the states for a month! I can't believe it!

Over the next few weeks I plan on catching everyone up on what I have been doing these past few months as well as sharing about our time in Uganda. God has some major plans for me and has given me the opportunity to be part of an awesome team that will be bringing sustainable food sources to a very impoverished nation. I cannot be more excited about this opportunity.  This next week looks busy as well as a couple of us from the team will be doing some traveling to discuss our plans with some of the people who have invested in us during our school. 

A blog post is getting itself ready for tomorrow so just come on back!

Tonight I'm gonna keep it short and sweet and give you a couple of my fave photos from outreach to enjoy!

Love Y'all!

Chelsea Lou

Little boy who joined us for our
first week of Kids camp in Kampala.

Angela, the sweetest and craziest half mzungu
you'll ever meet! Miss this girl so much!
Notice the banana leaves she made into a wig? smart girl!

Two boys from Okoa Refuge, a children's
home just south of the Equator!

This is Robert.
Yes I fell in love with another one!
This one has a great story and I will share it later!

Travel in Uganda is always efficient...
Not the most safe but ALWAYS efficient!
(YWAM Nashville team joined us)

Group photo outside of Amecet,
a baby home who cares for children and babies
who are HIV Positive.

YWAM Details

So its been quite a crazy couple of weeks in my world!

but as I sit here waiting on my Bulldogs to play in the College World series I thought I'd take the chance to share with you guys what my plans are for this fall. (I'll sprinkle it with a few of my photos from trips I've taken in the past just for fun!)

Sweet Girl in Bangladesh

As many of you have heard (or read) I have been accepted into the Children At Risk DTS at YWAM Madison, Wisconsin. If you aren't familiar with YWAM... they love acronyms.. haha... I'll start backwards to give you a better idea of what it is. 

YWAM stands for Youth With A Mission. YWAM is a HUGE World Wide missions organization that specializes in training and preparing young people to spread the love of God through out the world. The answer to the question I get most often when sharing is "No, its not southern baptist." Its usually followed by a gasp and widening of the eyes but don't worry guys... I've done my homework. You can check out their statement of faith and more about who they are here.

House Visit in Bangladesh

Next is DTS... This stands for Discipleship Training School. This is their basic program where anyone wishing to be part of YWAM starts out. Its a 6 month program where we will spend around 3 months in classes learning more about ourselves, God and his heart for the nations as well as learning about the needs of our target people group and how to meet those needs. There is also a huge emphasis on intercession for the nations and we will be spending a lot of time in prayer. 

Then after the "Lecture Phase" we will have a short break for christmas then come back and prepare to go overseas to live out and practice all that we learned in the classroom.  For this DTS we will be deciding where we will be going after we arrive at lecture phase. The first week our options will be given to us and then after prayer and seeking God about it we will decide where we will be going in the "spring" (january&february) 

Infant in YWAM Orphanage Chittagong

And lastly, our emphasis for this school is Children at risk around the world. We "will focus on the needs of children around the world and the issues that put them at risk — sex trafficking, poverty, AIDS, abuse, child soldiers, and broken families. We will also focus on the heart of God who promises to be a “Father to the fatherless, who sets the lonely in families.” (Psalm 68:5,6)" - Direct from YWAM Madison Website << you can read more about this DTS there

So there you have it a little more detailed info on what I will be doing. I will be leaving in early september and the school lasts from Sept. 15-March 11. and I AM SOOO EXCITED!!! This is something I've been mulling over and praying about for YEARS and I'm so blessed to be given the opportunity at this point in my life. 

Bangladesh 2009

Now I've got to share my needs. As any good adventure it does cost money and I do have to raise it myself. I'm not worried one bit though. My God has always 

shown his perfect provision each time I've needed it! 

It will cost around $7,000 for the whole 6 months, plus travel expenses for getting there and back for the holidays. 

This $7000 includes school fees and room and board as well as all the travel costs for our outreach phase. I only have to have $3500 when we start in September and then the rest as we are preparing and buying tickets and things for our outreach. 

Local friends in Ghana

I've been saving for a trip like this and worked for a snowball business last summer to help start a savings account but I still have a ways to go. If you'd like more info on how you can help out feel free to email me at cburks420(at)gmail.com or you can visit my GoFundME page and donate there!

Also If you'd like to keep updated through a newsletter VIA email or SnailMail email me your address and I'll be happy to send you things you can be in prayer for as well as other ways you can help! 

Mabel, The most cheerful child I've ever met!

Whew.. that was a mouth full but I thought it was time to share it. Please be in prayer for me over the next few months as I am preparing for this adventure, one step at a time. (I've got to get a new passport next. the Hurricane last fall ate mine1)

Tootle Loo!
Chels

P.S. This has been such a stressful game! No time to look away from the TV to check my Grammar!!

HAIL STATE!!

This Girl Loves a Grand Gesture

Whether is a flash mob proposal or surprise party... I love it.. I love how it makes for a great story not only tomorrow but 30 years down the road. 

You may be asking... "Chels, why are you talking about grand gestures today? Do you have any news?" 

The answer is NO... I just love them, we got to witness a great TV proposal on Greys last night and that reminded me of a super sweet real life lip dub proposal on YouTube that was all the rage a couple of months ago. and of course I watched it (search "marry you proposal" to watch it yourself)... and cried... and then started praying to God that someone would love me like that to make such a grand gesture one day...

Then it hit me.

Someone does love me like that...

He loves me way more than that... He didn't just lay down his pride to dance around and get 60+ people to dance and sing with him... He laid down his life... and then defeated death... to give His bride an eternal life with Him.

Wow.. talk about a grand gesture... a wave of thankfulness just over came me... the prayer for my future husband turned into a long string of tearful thank yous... I was a mess all the way from the Hickory Grove Rd exit all the way to Columbus! I mean what more could I ask for than the love He showed all those years ago on the cross. 

And the thing is ... He didn't just do it for me... He did it for every person who has ever walked the earth. He loves each and every one of you enough to step down from His throne in HEAVEN to become a human and walk the earth and experience all of what it means to be human. He knew how his story would end. The pain he would endure. The Humiliation that would be thrown on Him and He still CHOSE to do it because he LOVES us. 

I mean WOW... I am still in awe of the revelation of that love again that came last night... I can't even pray for my husband today to come because this love is so much better than any earthly love ever could be. and I think my future husband will totally be ok with it.

I just couldn't sit on this revelation any longer and do nothing about it.. I had to share it with you. If you have more questions about this guy who loves you more than life feel free to email me or facebook me or just comment and I'll email you... 

Just don't miss out on this beautiful love He freely offers to anyone who will accept it.

-Chels

Remember when...

This is an interesting fact that only my close friends (until now when I am putting it on the internet) know about me.

I have a really fantastic memory.

Like I can tell most people i know what I was wearing and where I first met them (or even saw them). Its kind of a weird memory thing because I forget assignments and names like crazy but I never forget a face!

Well on Monday God revealed something to me. God gave me this memory exactly like it is for a reason. That reason is for the ministering he wants me to do to people. He revealed it in a very profound way and I want to share it with y'all.

This story starts on Sunday. I am up there singing in the choir loft. From our perch up there we get to see everyone, who is not there, who comes in late, and who is not sitting in their normal spot. Well, this Sunday a cute little couple came in late and I noticed them because she is 7 months pregnant. I didn't think much more about it after I thought to myself "Isn't she cute?!" and went on with the rest of my day. I didn't make it a priority to get back to talk to them because there was another couple that joined us in sunday school and I wanted to make sure they felt welcomed.

But you see God had it all worked out.....

Monday we didn't have school for the MLK holiday so I was running my errands around 11:30 instead of my 3:30 usual time and I got to the CVS parking lot and a young couple with their toddler caught my eye. It was this same couple. I went in, pick up my meds and headed back to my car praying the whole time, "What do I do God? I know I need to do something What do I need to say?" and I drove off to the gym (located about 50 feet from CVS but it was looking like bad weather). But I couldn't just leave them there.. They had a look of distress and I just had to go back.

I am so glad I did.

It turns out that they have run on some hard times. He's looking for work and she's looking for somewhere to bring their new one home that is not a hotel room. They've been working with the pastor at our church to get some help for the past few weeks and had been coming to services and I didn't even know. (I'm absent a lot) Anyways....I got to eat lunch with them and just got to share with them and become friends and just listen. We got to pray together. Then I had $5 bucks back at CVS so I bought the baby some cold medicine and gave them my number.

They came back to church tonight and its amazing how God has just provided for them over the past few days. A job, a friend to live with and a trailer that needs some work but its affordable. Also just their faces.. you can see the relief and joy of being provided for by the Creator of the Universe.

God is so good. He loves us so much!!

On my drive back home Monday it just hit me... "I've given you this gift of memory so that you can minister to people in need." I've been thanking him for this revelation ever since. And praising him for the blessings he has given this little family!

Until Next time!

Chels

I Miss Mondays

No, I've not gone crazy and i know that mondays are probably the most hated and dreaded days each week ...

But....

Not for me!

I've come to love mondays this past semester. They have actually become one of my favorite days for a couple of reasons... and I'm so sad that summer has come and stolen my routine!!

Reason 1 why I love Mondays this spring:

I held a girls bible study with some of the most amazing girls

that are part or have been a part of the ZTA sorority here on campus. I'm not part of ZETA but I LOVE THESE WOMEN!! We just have an hour and a half each week to share life and just pray and seek the word together. I miss them so much and that time with them is truly treasured by me.

Reason 2:

Supper Swap...

Some of you know what this is and some of you are about to be enlightened.

Supper Swap is an idea that my favorite neighbor and friend came up with where 4 or 5 households eat together each night of the week, each household buying groceries and cooking dinner one night a week. You can just pick up your food or are welcome to stay around and fellowship or watch WHEEL but nothing is required other than cook on your night. This was started to keep us all out of the drive thru as we are all trying to lose a few lbs. and has worked for the nights we are together.

Well.. Monday nights are my night but we have taken a break over the summer and are now just cooking only one night a month... Which is good and frees everyone up for traveling and doing family things later in the day since it doesn't get dark until 8:30 now... but its bad because I miss getting to cook a big meal. I love to cook ... LOVE IT... but i don't like to cook when i'm the only one eating because its really hard to just cook for one and i'll eat it all tonight if its in the fridge for tomorrow's lunch.. so I miss cooking for people and i miss having those people in my home.

So there it is.. I miss mondays.

love always,

Chels

PS.. if anyone wants someone to eat meals with during the week I'll be in starkville most of the summer! Just facebook me and i'll cook for you!!