Well, I currently find myself in a dorm room in Nyack, Ny. It's been a while since I posted anything. Why, might you ask, am I posting somethings now? Great question.
I am currently planning on heading back to Swaziland over the summer for about one to two months. The time I'm there depends on a couple of things. A fellow teammate, Tessa, is going as well plus her roommate. God has put Swaziland on Tessa's heart with a little bit of a longer term in mind. She is going for a couple of weeks to kind of scope out what things are going to look like. I am going to support her but also return to the places I worked at before. God has put a couple things on my heart, the biggest one being the love of Jesus. To be honest I don't have this amazingly mapped out plan and details. I know I want to go back to my school and see what a Bible study type thing might look like and then spend days at SACRO, the center for underprivilged kids. Beyond that I am resting in His peace and have a feeling that He has something over there that I'm not expecting, who knows. Who needs plans when we have prayer anyways? (So easy to say, catchy too, but really really really hard to walk in)
But I am not going with AIM, so instead of blogs, I'll be sending e-mail updates to everyone. I am really in need of a prayer backing. Not that anyone is ever not in need of a prayer backing, but I'm asking for your knees.
Please pray for safety, that God will give all of us guidance, that He will send someone to come the time Tessa isn't there and that He will move in mighty might ways in Swaziland.
Please pray for the people, pray for a cure to AIDS, pray for homes for orphans, pray for food for the people, pray that God's love trancends all the confusion around religion and faith. Pray that the Love of Jesus reigns.
Please send me your e-mail and I'll put you on the update list. My financial goal for this trip is $2000, if you feel called to help with that, I would love that. Send me an e-mail and I can send you the address, because I'm not going with AIM, it's different.
Really though, I need your knees. Send me an e-mail so I can keep you updated
Peru? It was awesome. We lived in a town called Musho, but our minsitry was in Tumpa. These people are hungry! I literally had one person ask for us to share the gospel then another man yelled out of his house for us to come and teach him how to pray. I mean really? That's totally a God thing. The man that asked us to teach him how to pray was Alfredo. The next day we visited him again and he and his son came to know the Lord!
There was also a lady named Hacoba (sp?) Her hands and feet shook and we think she might have had Parkinsons. Anyway, we sat with her for hours, praying over her body and just showing her the love of Jesus. She didn't speak Spanish, she spoke Quechewa, the local langauge, so our verbal communication was limited. But God is bigger than words. :)
As a team we did countless dramas, a VBS and many services with the local church. For me building relationships with the team and the pastor's family was the highlight. Being able to watch the students grow and watch God move in mighty ways through them was a blessing. God taught me so much about His Spirit and stepping into Him to reach the students.
Some of the funny, or not so funny highlights were eating guinea pig, cow intestine and more food than several thanksgivings combined. We lived at the base of Huscaran, the tallest mountain in Peru and second tallest in the Andes mountains. It was beautiful!! I'll try and get some pictures up.
Thank you all for your continued support! I can't tell you how much I appreciate your prayers!
What is up next: I'm going to Metro State College for a semester, then the plan is to go to Nyack college in New York in January. Nyack is a Christian school that has an awesome emphasis on missions. I can't wait! I'm planning on majoring in Secondary Education and English and add in International Studies somewhere.
For now I'm living at home and on the job hunt. If you know of any job or ministry opportunities, let me know!!!
What God has been showing me:
It's so easy to dive in when I'm on a trip and in community. But bringing that home is a new challenge. He's given me a heart for the people in Denver and shown me my mission field on campus. He's asked me the question "How radical are you willing to be?" So I've given Him months and my plans, but what about the little things. What about the movies I watch or how I spend my time. These little changes are the hardest. He's asking me to look at my life and revamp it so that everything glorifies His kingdom. How do I treat my family, am I loving them, encouraging them and serving them the same way I served my teams? God's asking for more. He's asking me to walk down the narrower path. To keep my eyes fervently on the kingdom and His will. Worries about jobs, school and ministry too often consume my brain, but He has never failed. He has already provided opportuinities and doors are opening. He is faithful. I have no reason to not trust Him and every reason in the world to completely surrender it all to Him. He is God and He is beautiful!
"Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God." Psalm 20:7
I'm the land of humidity, funny accents and more green than I've seen in a while. Training camp is in Gainesville, GA and I have spent the past two days with some amazing people and co-leaders. The students come in tomorrow. God is definitely at work and I can't wait for the students to come and join in. These past days we've been doing a lot of logisitics learning about how to manage a budget and what to do if you're student gets eaten by a wild animal. Well, the second one is a little exaggerated and we're not really learning or worried about that.
I have learned a little bit more about Musho though. We'll be living at about 10,000 feet in the mountains. My Denver heritage will hopefully help with that. Pray against alititude sickness and dehydration please! But yes, we will be working with Pastor Pedro, living in a church and loving on the people. Specifics... don't quite know that yet. But check the other blog (link in the blog below) and find out about what's happening.
I'm so excited for the students to come and to get into Peru and eat guinea pigs! Thank you again for all of support and I'll blog again when I can.
It's Friday, I leave for Georgia to meet up with my Peru team on Monday. Have I packed or even pulled out my suitcase? Have I done the necessary laundry? Does God ever let go? The answer to all of those questions is NO!!!!
I am getting more and more pumped about the trip to Peru. God ordained a conversation with a friend and being able to speak truth into her life made me psyched to see God in the lives of of team members. We will be in Musho, Peru serving with Pastor Pedro (Peter). I know that God is going to do amazing things and I can't wait.
But, I have a huge favor to ask of you-Partnership.
Please pray for this trip! Please go before the cross and fight on behalf of my team. Pray for the leadership team- Jason Beard, Teresa White and I. Pray that we will be Spirit led and dependant. That God will form us together in close community and that we can support each other.
Pray for unity on the team. Pray that as a body we come together and search out God's vision for Musho.
Pray for our mouths. Not only against gossip and dissension, but that God will use us to speak truth into each other's lives, the lives of the people and that our mouths most of all bring glory to His name.
Pray for protection against the enemies' attacks. God has work for us to do and satan will try to stop us. Please pray against him!
Prayer is strong, mighty and the best weapon we have. Please join with me in ministry and community. Thank You!
Here is a list of all students, please be in prayer for them that God moves in and through them:
Sarah Potter
Sarah Hargan
Molly Mueth
Chanelle McWilliams
Allison Peal
Meghan Smith
Liana Whipple
Kyle Hinn
Barton Girdwood
BreAnne Allen
Adrian Barrera
This past month at home as been a blessing, a challenge and definitely a growth experience. God is crazy with how much He can do in a month. He's teaching what it means to daily walk. I feel like my semester in South Africa I was leaping. In Swaziland God said constant, daily walks. He's teaching me to live in the Spirit moment by moment, day by day. It's different here. I have to stay focused and really fight for time alone and intimacy with Him. We live in a really busy world, quiet doesn't come easy. But when I do fight, God shows up and He moves. It also amazes me how He chooses to use us even when we're not always looking for ministry. He's so great and beautiful, I can't get enough!
Thank you for being part of my community and going to the cross and fighting on my and my team's behalf. Having a prayer covering and ministry patnership from all of you is a blessing. If there's anyway I can be praying for you- holler! I won't have a lot of internet access in Peru but we will post updates (the link is on the bottom). Thanks again!
Blog link for Peru- if I can update this one, I will, but no promises:
That's where I'm at! I'm sorry I haven't blogged in a while. After Swaziland I spent a few days in France and got home on the 21st. My head is still spinning between jet lag, seeing everyone and having so many more clothes to choose from. Seriously, I walked into my closet and it was like I had been shopping without spending any money- brilliant! So, home. Being home is such a blessing but is hard at the same time. Ya, there's the usual culture shock, the "we spend so much and they have nothing." That's definitely happening. There's the rushed feeling from leaving a culture that doesn't know the concept of time and coming into one that abuses it. There's missing my team and the people I grew to love in Swaziland. All that is present, but don't get me wrong seeing my family and friends is awesome. But God being God, He's challenging me.
In Swaziland I learned all these beautiful things about the life we are called to and now Gow is asking, "are you going to live them out?" It's so easy to switch back into a mindset of immediate anger and judgement that I used to live in. A mindset that tells me to hold grudges against people that have "wronged" me or be petty and whiney (sp?) about situations that don't please me. He taught me so much about grace and love and now it's time for me to step into it and love people. There have been several situations in the past days where I wanted to judge or be angry and just unhappy. Then the Lord shoves in my face, "Whose attitude are you called to? Who do you want to reflect?" A life of love and devotion to Him was not a 9 month program. Loving little Swazi kids that don't have any food and are so adorable is easy. You just pick them up and they look at you and you melt. It's a different story here, when people tick me off, how do I respond? The Lord is taking me on a new journey of love and grace. And I mean really, compared to the mercy and grace God has given me, why am I even writing about this?
God's also showing me new things about the Body of Christ. He's really been speaking to me about the whole one body, one Spirit, one faith thing in Ephesians 4. One body. He never said one body per country. The church in Swaziland is the same as the church in America. We are called to live as one body of Christ. There is no "American church." One faith, one body, one church. I really don't have much expect that everyday it blows me away that God is the same and in control everywhere. Being in Swaziland I got to see more of the body and I can't wait to see another part of the body in Peru.
God is great, He's challenging me saying that He's not done stretching me. Praise the Lord! Thank you all again, I'm going to post some more pictures very soon. As for the continuation of this blog, it's continuing. I leave for the Peru trip on June 20th. There is a team blog for that trip, I believe for everyone and as soon as I have that link it will be up here.
I want to thank all of you for partnering with me in this. Along with the theme of a body, thank you for living in it and living in the community where called to. I can not express my appreciation in an adequately. I have been so encouraged by you. Thank you! Oh and I would love to see you while I'm home!
I don't know, calling Swaziland Paradise might be a little bit of a stretch.
What to say? This past week has been one of the most eventful ones in the past 9 months. I can't believe that my FYM trip is winding down and I'll be home in a matter of weeks. But the Lord has given me a peace that this is only the beginning. Looking back at how He's wrecked my life and changed my plans makes my brain hurt.
Change of plans: I am no longer going to the Philippines. I still am going to be a servant leader, but instead of the Philippines, I'll be in the highlands of Peru. I'll be with a group of 15-18 year olds with two other leaders. That's about all I know about it at the current moment. I'm really excited to go to Peru, I know it's going to be a blast.
Youth Retreat: From April 25th to April 28th, JB, Michael and I spent the weekend on a youth retreat. It was a blast! It was weird being a leader on a retreat and planning everything and making sure things were lined up. It was also a little weird being on a Swazi retreat, things run a little differently. Everything was on African time which basically means nothing ever happened on time. In my American mindset the first day brought a little stress, but that soon wore off when I saw that only the white people thought anything was wrong with not being on schedule.I was also the only girl leader and it was such a blessing to get to build and deepen relationships with the girls.
Goodbyes: Goodbyes are sad, they just are. I've already said goodbye to my school, but on Friday I said goodbye to the drop in center I've been at. Michelle has been working there the whole time and I've been going with her whenever I can. The kids there are so precious. I've decided to sponsor two of the girls, Tandeka and Thabsile. They are 8 and9 and have never been to school. Their dad is in a hospital in Manzini with AIDS, they haven't seen him in years. They are staying with their Gogo. The Gogo makes the equivalent of 20 dollars a month, but around 11 of it goes to rent every month. These girls break my heart and it has been a blessing to be able to spend time with them this past week. I took them to buy shoes and socks. We also got some groceries and winter coats so they don't freeze. Here's a praise, between the team and finding people from home all the kids are sponsored for school next year. That's about 13 kids, maybe more, I'm not sure. But praise the LORD!!!!!!
Leaving: Friday we drive out of Swaziland. Argh. I'm going to miss this place. I step on American soil on May 22nd and am excited for that day, but until then, sadness. We said goodbye to our church this morning and it was such a blessing as they prayed over us and sent us out. After this I am headed home for my last Bible study. Thank you all for your support and partnering with me on this trip. God's been rocking my world and seeing His hand move has changed me. Thank you!
Chelsea Geyer
P.S. I'll post retreat pictures soon along with pictures of Thabsile and Tandeka.
Hello! I hope everything is well back in the States or wherever you find yourself. God is rocking Swaziland. This was my last week with my students. On the last day I went around to each class and talked to them about why I am in Swaziland and prayed over them. I told them that yes, I am here to teach, but mainly to show them about Jesus' love. The sweetest thing ever is that when I was talking, Mildred, the teacher I work with, came in and gave me a Swazi traditional cloth. All the students pitched in and they were really excited when I put it on and looked Swazi. It has the Swazi flag on it, I'll post pictures soon.
We also showed Chronicles of Narnia to the kids. Once to just the fourth graders then to anyone who wanted to see it. They crammed over a hundred kids into a classroom (the size of an American classroom, maybe a little smaller) I have pictures to post soon, but it was awesome. The bell rang so all the kids couldn't finish it, but a few came back. They understood a lot of it and understood the meaning. We talked about the film and did a gospel presentation at the end. It was really cool to see them understand the part when Azlan dies but then also to watch them jump when the wolves pop out.
I can't believe my time is so close to being done, we have 2 ½ weeks left in ministry, our last day is Monday the 5th. One of my teammates, Tessa, left this weekend and it kind of reminded me that at one point I am going home. I didn't think I would miss this place as much as I now realize I am now going to. Ya, it's pretty with the mountains, but it's the people. They are so open and warm. They welcome you and offer the best they have. The problems in Swaziland are deep. On the surface, it wouldn't seem that bad. Then you start to see glimpses of people's heart and realize that they need healing that only the Father can provide. My heart breaks for these people. Amongst all of the darkness though, I see one of the little kids that brings so much joy and I know that God has given these people a hope and future. They've been told that Swaziland won't exist by 2050 if the AIDS doesn't go down. But when has God ever acknowledged statistics? I know I've said this before. But God is reminding me again and again that He doesn't know the word hopeless.
Prayer Request: We are going on a youth retreat this week. From Friday to Monday, Michael, JB and I will be on Mikele's Mount with about 40 youth, Pastor Raymond and couple other volunteers. I'm so excited to spend this time with the kids and just watch them grow. Please pray that God will rock their world and speak to them.
As for me, my mind is full. Well, part of that is because I've been sick this past week and my nose has been stuffed up like crazy. The other part is God is just good. I'm sad this trip is coming to an end, but I know God has something for me in the Philippines and then later at home. I'm so excited for what He has, a little nervous, but excited. Also, today is Sunday, which means Bible Study is up soon and I love Bible Study because I see Jesus in the girls. Tamara, Zitsile, Luicia, Louisa, Cheila, and Bongiwe, they are some of the funniest girls and I feel so blessed to see God move in them. Please lift them up in your prayers!
Thank you all again! Praise the Lord for what He is doing, has done and will do!
P.S. We had a small house fire this week as a little bit of excitement. Imagine taking a nap and being woken to "There was a fire in the house we're all outside, come on." By the time I woke up the fire was out and after jumping out of bed almost having a heart attack, I realized it wasn't that bad. The house was smoky for a while and the room it was in was black, but it's all good now and no one was hurt (PTL!) I didn't wake up to the screaming or anything and there was no smoke alarm, here you are the smoke alarm. I love living in Africa!
One month left. Whoa. I remember freaking out when I had one month until the trip. Now I have one month until my flight out of Africa, less than a month in Swaziland- the freak out has started. School ends this week, but most of my students live close to me so I'll still see them. But still, I'm sad. Home is quickly approaching and with it a new rush of emotions. I miss home, I'm excited to see my family and friends, but I know that as soon as we say hello and get in the car at the airport every bone inside of me will want to be back here.
Other anxieties are coming up. What am I going to do after the Philippines? What about school, what should I major in, what classes? Am I ever going to come back? What about home, am I going to work, what ministry can I be involved in? My head is swirling. There are all these things I want to do. Praise the Lord though that I have a God that comes and calms me down.
School: Sorry this is so jumbled. School is over this week- sad. After this Carrie and I will be running a tutoring program for three weeks on Wednesdays and Thursdays and then the other days I'll split between a drop in center for needy kids and an orphanage. I'm going to miss my kids like crazy. We've been leading the choir lately and they are frustrating the snot out of me, but I still love them.
I'm sorry this blog is all over the place. There isn't a whole lot that's new. I feel like there should be, but there's not. Things really are going well. God is moving in the school and on the team and I love it. I love seeing Him in the eyes of the people. Prayer requests: For the students. That they'll know why I'm here and who sent me, that they'll forget me and see Jesus.
This is a story about one of my 15 year old 7th grade students. I gave them a mini writing contest to be sent to America and my high school newspaper. This is what Bonginkosi handed me:
HIV is a virus that causes AIDS. AIDS is a dangerous disease that can affect everyone. This disease is a fatal disease but can be controlled.
AIDS affects black people and white people. It affects poor or rich people, fat or thin people. It affects you whether you are a Christian, Swazi, Zulu, Xhosas, Hindus, Rastafarians, Muslim, Mozambican, Sothos or Tswana.
AIDS affects me as well my auntie, who was working in Matsapha Spinex Factory. She was a likeable woman and honest. She use to help poor children in the community by paying their school fees, buying food and clothes for them. Everyone in the community use to respect her.
She was the person who was looking after my grandfather and my grandmother the most. My father looked after my grandfather and grandmother but not as much as my auntie. My uncle did look after them but not all the time, like my auntie use to. She was the most important person to my grandparents.
She use to have more than one boyfriend and she did not use to use a condom when she was having sex with her boyfriends. On nights she use to leave home with her boyfriends to big hotels which are too expensive. On weekends she use to visit one of her boyfriends.
One day she became sick and just got sicker and sicker. She did not know what was making her to be sick. She visited the clinic many times but she became sicker and sicker. Than my grandparents sent her to a traditional doctor. He gave her some medicine and said she must find a boy who will cut her with a razor blade and put the medicine in her. They chose me as the boy. I did it but I did not like it. She became better for a week but then her sickness returned and I became sick as well. Her and I visited the health center for check- up. We found that we were both HIV positive. They counseled us and they gave us some tablets and I take them even today.
When I heard that I was positive, I was afraid. I was thinking that I was going to die, I cried and cried. But they told me that I would not die. After that my auntie became sick and got sicker again and she died. But me I am healthy and I am alive and life goes on.
So AIDS kills. It kills our parents, grandparents, aunties, uncles, sisters and brothers. But life still goes on.
*Bonginkosi - (Bong-ko-zee) The "in" is almost silent.
*Zulu, Xhosa(click-osa), Tswane (tis-wa-na), Sothos (Sue-toos)- different tribes in South Africa.
*Matsapha Spinex Factory- Matsapha (Mot-sa-pa) is a town and the Spinex Factory is where she worked.
*traditional doctor- also known as a sangoma. They tell people to cut themselves in order to pour the medicine into them.
*AIDS can only be prolonged, not controlled. They give out free ARVs, but their immune system failing is inevitable.
There's a picture of Bonginkosi in my picture files.
The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.
He is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
I call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies.
The cords of the grave [b] coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me.
In my distress I called to the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears.
The earth trembled and quaked, and the foundations of the mountains shook; they trembled because he was angry.
Smoke rose from his nostrils; consuming fire came from his mouth, burning coals blazed out of it.
He parted the heavens and came down; dark clouds were under his feet.
He mounted the cherubim and flew; he soared on the wings of the wind.
He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him— the dark rain clouds of the sky.
Out of the brightness of his presence clouds advanced, with hailstones and bolts of lightning.
The LORD thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded …
He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters.
17 He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me.
18 They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the LORD was my support.
19 He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me …
25 To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless,
26 to the pure you show yourself pure, but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd.
27 You save the humble but bring low those whose eyes are haughty.
28 You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.
29 With your help I can advance against a troop [d] ; with my God I can scale a wall.
30 As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.
31 For who is God besides the LORD ? And who is the Rock except our God?
32 It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.
33 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to stand on the heights.
34 He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
35 You give me your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me; you stoop down to make me great …
46 The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God my Savior!
47 He is the God who avenges me, who subdues nations under me,
48 who saves me from my enemies. You exalted me above my foes; from violent men you rescued me.
Therefore I will praise you among the nations, O LORD; I will sing praises to your name.
He gives his king great victories; he shows unfailing kindness to his anointed, to David and his descendants forever.''
God thunders from on high for us. He parts the heavens and lifts us out of all the muck of life and redeems us. This Psalm has been rocking my face off for a while, I just marvel at how the Lord hears, cares and thunders for His people. Lately, He's reminded me at how He does this for the Swazi children. He hears their cries and parts the heavens. He is their refuge; He hears their cries when no one else does. Amongst all of the darkness here, God shines a bright light and it's beautiful! I want to sit in that light! My God is great! He gives us the ability to scale walls, fight armies and do the unthinkable.Praise the Lord!
