http://chelseageyer.myadventures.org Chelsea Geyer - First Year Missionary en-us Sat, 5 Jul 2008 14:33:48 GMT 30 http://chelseageyer.myadventures.org/?filename=training-camp http://chelseageyer.myadventures.org/?filename=training-camp 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 exa Wed, 25 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://chelseageyer.myadventures.org/?filename=and-im-off http://chelseageyer.myadventures.org/?filename=and-im-off 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 Fri, 20 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://chelseageyer.myadventures.org/?filename=home1 http://chelseageyer.myadventures.org/?filename=home1 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. Fri, 23 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://chelseageyer.myadventures.org/?filename=last-week-in-paradise http://chelseageyer.myadventures.org/?filename=last-week-in-paradise 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 l Sun, 4 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://chelseageyer.myadventures.org/?filename=fires-narnia-and-traditional-wear http://chelseageyer.myadventures.org/?filename=fires-narnia-and-traditional-wear 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 studen Sun, 20 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://chelseageyer.myadventures.org/?filename=blog http://chelseageyer.myadventures.org/?filename=blog That was a creative title- I know. 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 Mon, 14 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://chelseageyer.myadventures.org/?filename=bonginkosis-story1 http://chelseageyer.myadventures.org/?filename=bonginkosis-story1 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.             &n Thu, 3 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://chelseageyer.myadventures.org/?filename=update http://chelseageyer.myadventures.org/?filename=update  Hello again! Every time I sit down to blog I have the same debate about what to blog about and then something comes to mind. So here we go. Library/ school: The library is up and kicking, nothing new since my last blog. The kids are really becoming interested and can't believe that they can take home books for free. On Friday, Grade 6 invaded the library and I checked out over 20 books. Going 0-20 is really exciting. Alright so I have a massive and I mean massive praise. Last Wednesday a Mon, 31 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://chelseageyer.myadventures.org/?filename=future-plans http://chelseageyer.myadventures.org/?filename=future-plans So the plan for this summer is to be a leader on a trip to the Philippines. The Ambassador  Program is another ministry AIM offers, that sends out teams of 15-18 year olds all over the world. This upcoming summer two other leaders and I will be leading a team to the Philippines. I'll be in charge of the cooking and cleaning, and will also be ministering with the team, but my main role will be to support the students and pour into them so that they can pour into the people.  The plan is Mon, 31 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://chelseageyer.myadventures.org/?filename=ps-18 http://chelseageyer.myadventures.org/?filename=ps-18 Ps. 18 (well excerpts, it's a long one) "I love you, O Lord my strength. 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;     & Mon, 31 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://chelseageyer.myadventures.org/?filename=the-best-day-with-the-cutest-kids http://chelseageyer.myadventures.org/?filename=the-best-day-with-the-cutest-kids Our leader Cassie has been working in Swaziland for about 2 years now. She used to live in the rural area and while she was living there she met these six amazing kids. Donzela, Nonthandazo, Tulile, Bonginkosi, Bongile, and Mcebo. They are so precious! On Monday she brought all of them to our house, and then Melissa and I tagged along with all of them to Milwane. Milwane is a game reserve that mainly has deer creatures, warhogs, zebra and ostriches. There are also crocodiles and hippos, but thos Fri, 28 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://chelseageyer.myadventures.org/?filename=precious-children-in-a-world-that-doesnt-see-it http://chelseageyer.myadventures.org/?filename=precious-children-in-a-world-that-doesnt-see-it "Swaziland!" That's been my phrase this week. The library is going really well, we're finding books and I just feel blessed. God keeps on bringing up opportunities and connections that are completely random, but huge! For one, one of the families at my church sells children books and happens to have a bunch of used books they are selling for less. Also, Kate Howry, the leader for the other team, her Babe (Bah-bay) or Swazi dad works for Macmillan, a big publishing company and might be getting us Fri, 28 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://chelseageyer.myadventures.org/?filename=malibongwe http://chelseageyer.myadventures.org/?filename=malibongwe That's Praise the Lord in Siwati! Hello! Life in Swaziland is life in Swaziland as usual. It's getting colder, which means we've stopped sweating and might start wearing long pants! The team is good, life is good and Swaziland is just as beautiful as ever.  This past weekend we went into South Africa for a prayer retreat and just to be rejuvenated and refreshed. It was great, God showed up and it really helped us refocus and just reconnect. Plus!!!!! And this is a BIG plus, we were able Mon, 17 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://chelseageyer.myadventures.org/?filename=to-blog-or-not-to-blog http://chelseageyer.myadventures.org/?filename=to-blog-or-not-to-blog To blog or not to blog, that is not the question, what to blog is the question. This week has been fairly similar to the past ones. I taught at my school, although this week I've found non-beating way of discipline: pushups. Oh ya. I'm starting to feel like I'm getting to know the kids and connecting with them. I'm super excited about the library. The 6th graders and 7th graders are coming up asking for books to the point where I'm running out of books to pass out, which is a great problem. God Mon, 3 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://chelseageyer.myadventures.org/?filename=join-the-awakening-discipleship-missions http://chelseageyer.myadventures.org/?filename=join-the-awakening-discipleship-missions Awaken to the Adventure Disciples aren't born; they're made. It's a process that takes time, discipline, and God. In reality, it looks more like waking up than attending a class. As part of The Awakening, you can undergo a discipleship program like no other, experiencing four months of intense training in another country to prepare you for the ministry that awaits you for the rest of the year.Join The Awakening Your mornings will be spent in training and your afternoons Fri, 29 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://chelseageyer.myadventures.org/?filename=reading-rainbow-here-we-come http://chelseageyer.myadventures.org/?filename=reading-rainbow-here-we-come Hello Friends! This blog is for the week of Sun. Feb 17th to now. Let's see This week has been great. I was struggling for a little while with feeling like my heart is here, and this past week has truly confirmed that this is the place God has for me. Library/School: We're starting a library!!! (Hence the Reading Rainbow)  I've been trying to figure out how to help these kids in their writing and just expand their thinking. Their reading is limited to their workbooks that contain may Mon, 25 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://chelseageyer.myadventures.org/?filename=the-old-run-down-house http://chelseageyer.myadventures.org/?filename=the-old-run-down-house The boards are hanging off the wall, each by a single rusty nail, four-panel windows covered in grime and rust with plants growing through them and the doors swinging with the wind that blows through the cracks. This old house was once vibrant, filled with happy faces creating memories. Children probably ran through the halls. Maybe while their curls bounced through the corridor their mother stood in the kitchen baking a fresh apple pie. They might have been waiting for their father to come home Mon, 18 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://chelseageyer.myadventures.org/?filename=prime-ministers-weddings-and-the-middle-of-nowhere-yep-im-in-swaziland http://chelseageyer.myadventures.org/?filename=prime-ministers-weddings-and-the-middle-of-nowhere-yep-im-in-swaziland It's been a very "Oh ya, I'm in Africa" week. On Friday afternoon, Carrie and I were picking some stuff at a local grocery store and stopped in for some fried rice. Guess who had a hankering for Chinese food the same time we did? The Prime Minister of Swaziland! That's right, as I was biting into a ridiculously cheap spring roll, the P.M. came in. We talked, we took a picture, and we felt like massive tourists for about ten minutes. It was great. THEN we went to a half Swazi, half American wed Fri, 15 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://chelseageyer.myadventures.org/?filename=make-wakho http://chelseageyer.myadventures.org/?filename=make-wakho No that's not make wacko, it's "your mom" (mage waco) in siSwati haha. Another week has passed by. The weeks go by so quickly here. I write a blog and then it seems like the next day it's time for me to write another one. Ok this week has consisted of teaching 6th and 7th graders how to write a paragraph and an essay and trying to figure out to teach about writing, but speak God's truth into their life at the same time. My students are absolutely wonderful. I mean they have their moments and th Mon, 11 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://chelseageyer.myadventures.org/?filename=im-turning-into-my-mother http://chelseageyer.myadventures.org/?filename=im-turning-into-my-mother I'm turning into my mother. It's started. The process of me slowly becoming like my mother has begun. A lot of you probably know that my mother is a teacher. If you ever forget you will quickly be reminded when you open in conversation with her. If you don't hear a story or something about her school in the first ten or even five minutes of conversation with her, you're talking too much. My family has endured stories told multiple times about her school. Mom, I love you, don't think this is mea Sun, 3 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://chelseageyer.myadventures.org/?filename=becoming-a-child-without-the-diapers http://chelseageyer.myadventures.org/?filename=becoming-a-child-without-the-diapers I was people-watching in DIA before my flight left and a family walked out of the gate and the dad merely walked a couple feet in front of them and the little boy freaked, screaming for his dad. Then there was this little girl just wandering, looking at everything, pointing out interesting new things like "Baby!"  or "Plane!" While I was hoping that I wouldn't end up sitting next to these kids, they interested me. What if I were more like a kid? We use this phrase "child-like faith" al Sun, 27 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://chelseageyer.myadventures.org/?filename=safe-and-sound-in-swazi http://chelseageyer.myadventures.org/?filename=safe-and-sound-in-swazi I'm safe and sound in Swaziland! It's absolutely beautiful here. So I got into South Africa last Sat. There was some bad communication and a friend and I ended up being stuck at the airport, but we found a place to stay and got to Alabanza the next day. It was our mini adventure : ) I arrived in Swaziland last Tuesday and love it here. It was great to see my team and catch up with everyone. There are 14 of us living in a house in Ezulwini, which is kind of a suburb of Mbabane. We' Fri, 25 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://chelseageyer.myadventures.org/?filename=on-my-way http://chelseageyer.myadventures.org/?filename=on-my-way I am sitting in a motel in Seattle, WA awaiting my flight on Friday at noon to Johannesburg. This isn't any motel, oh no, this is a motel that has inspired many scary movies. Well, maybe not really, but I would bet money  that Alfred Hitchcock stayed here before making Psycho, ( I think there might be some left over chocolate syrup in the tub from the shower scene.) So it's not that bad (or is it?) but it's a little creepy. This is the first time I've been by myself in a while,&nb Fri, 18 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://chelseageyer.myadventures.org/?filename=life-with-god-is-so-much-cooler-than-a-magic-carpet-ride http://chelseageyer.myadventures.org/?filename=life-with-god-is-so-much-cooler-than-a-magic-carpet-ride Oh ya! You better start jumping because I have some amazing news. British Airways bumped up their date and i got a full refund on my ticket!!! Yes! Praise Him! God is good, I mean like really good, the word good doesn't cut it. He's great! ( now all we need is Tony the Tiger to jump up and say that). Now I have a flight to Johannesburg out on the 18th. But it was way cheaper to fly to Seattle and leave from there, so I'm leaving Denver on the 17th! Then I will fly to Swaziland! Airline Fri, 11 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://chelseageyer.myadventures.org/?filename=life-with-god-is-a-magic-carpet-ride-when-its-leaving-where-its-going-not-important http://chelseageyer.myadventures.org/?filename=life-with-god-is-a-magic-carpet-ride-when-its-leaving-where-its-going-not-important It's officially official I am going to Swaziland and my team will join up with ministries there. I'm not really sure what I'll be doing, as soon as I have a better idea, I'll post it. I also don't know when I'll be leaving, hopefully soon. I was supposed to leave on the 14th for Kenya, but that's changing.  I don't have a plane ticket to Johannesburg at the moment. I'm having troubles cancelling and trying to refund my Kenya ticket and getting another one. Please pray for favor with th Wed, 9 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://chelseageyer.myadventures.org/?filename=god-is-bigger-than-the-boogie-man-hes-bigger-than-political-uproar-and-the-violence-on-tv http://chelseageyer.myadventures.org/?filename=god-is-bigger-than-the-boogie-man-hes-bigger-than-political-uproar-and-the-violence-on-tv Yes I decided to soak up the Veggie Tales. I love that song as a reminder  that God reigns (even over the boogie man!) The riots and voilence in Kenya is still going on. Here is what I know in a nutshell: -The current president Mwai  Kibeki  was just elected into his secon term. His opponent, Raila Odinga, says that the voting was rigged.  The tribes supporting each are now butting heads and people are losing their lives over it. 350 haved died and at least 180,000 people h Fri, 4 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://chelseageyer.myadventures.org/?filename=hello http://chelseageyer.myadventures.org/?filename=hello I'm sorry I couldn't think of a better title. I'll work on it for the next blog. So I know I haven't blogged in a while, sorry about that. No cute African children to report on here. Life at home: has been intersting. I love being here, I absolutely  love seeing family and spending time hanging out with friends. It's been really refreshing and just good. But it's bittersweet, because while I'm loving sleeping in my own house, I miss Africa. I miss the people I met, my team and not ha Tue, 1 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://chelseageyer.myadventures.org/?filename=theres-no-place-like-home http://chelseageyer.myadventures.org/?filename=theres-no-place-like-home After walking down the brown dirt road, meeting the Great and Wonderful God and clicking my flip flops three times I landed at home in Colorado. I had a safe but long trip, going from Lion King to Narnia was a little weird though (I'm going to try and soak up the movie analogies). It was hard to say goodbye to my team, but  even harder to leave African culture. We were sitting in the Germany airport and saw an African family walk by and we all looked and nudged each othe Wed, 19 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://chelseageyer.myadventures.org/?filename=two-sides-to-every-story http://chelseageyer.myadventures.org/?filename=two-sides-to-every-story Hello! So this past week has been the leadership conference and I've still been going out and getting to know the lifeguards and talking with them. I love talking with them!             The other day I was sitting with Ziweli and one of the other lifeguards, Dumi, and talking about what they believe. Dumi was explaining about ancestor worship and all that entails. It was really interesting to hear about how the belief in ancestors is Fri, 7 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT http://chelseageyer.myadventures.org/?filename=holy-spirit-rise-up-in-us http://chelseageyer.myadventures.org/?filename=holy-spirit-rise-up-in-us             Hello! It's hard to believe that I'm entering into the last week of this first semester and that I'll soon be home and then off to Kenya! This may be my last blog in South Africa. Between finishing up the leadership conference and preparing to go home I started to wind down and I guess not be as focused as I maybe was at Alabanza. Little did I know that God had other plans. That He was not even close to closing down but rather pr Fri, 7 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT