these are the times when joy is born, despite the sadness you could have picked instead

ECCLESIASTES 3:11 & 12
“He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live”

During these past few weeks the amount of finances that God has provided has literally blown my mind away sometimes. On June 16, my friend and I had a silent auction fundraiser and we were able to get roughly 40 items. We raised a little under $1400.00! I had always heard stories of ‘and then God provided all this money in one night!’ but I actually never believed that it could happen for me. At the beginning of silent auction day, I was borderline stressed…. There was so much that still needed to be done.

The date had been picked weeks in advance, before I even knew I was going to Kona this soon. It managed to perfectly work out with when I would be leaving! I had so many mixed thoughts that day, at that point I hadn’t even heard back from Kona so I wasn’t even sure I was coming out this summer. Although I had prayed all week & all month that our silent auction would go well… that day as I was praying about the outcome of our night I said to God ‘it would be really cool if we raised $1500.00…’ Half the money was going to Robin, and half was going to myself. Both of us needed to raise significantly more than that in order to go, but being able to raise that much would have been very hopeful!    I never actually expected God to bring in that much money in one night, but the fact that he did was very encouraging to the both of us.

Money coming in very weird places. This certainly did NOT happen before I was going to Vegas, but I think God knew that I would ultimately go to Vegas no matter the fear because I was scared of being disobedient. I do not have that same assurance with Kona. This time when I go to Kona, the circumstances are much different.

I will not begin staffing the Awaken DTS until January next year, I was not accepted to staff the DTS that I applied for (separate from AWAKEN that would begin this September/give me something to do until awaken starts up)… But regardless of both these things I was still accepted into the leadership school. This was two weeks ago and I had to decide suddenly if I was actually going to Kona or not. God has continued to provide in awesome ways and the way that he would not be providing if he did not want me to go. Even though things keep coming up and complications with this school I have full confidence that God will sort everything out. My only job is to be obedient to what God has said. Nothing else.

My biggest fear in regards to going was finances. I am going to Kona without a clue what is happening next… there is a possibility that I could begin ‘general’ staff at YWAM Kona right after I finish this school, or that I could go home directly after it is finished. Either way because of the timing of all of this…. I only have a 3 month visa and can only live in Hawaii for 6 months or less.

After my flights were paid for (God someone sponsored my flight to Kona! PTL), insurance was bought…. I barely would have enough money to cover my first months rent/food & other expenses. Because of the money that came in from this silent auction and other donations (plus the final paychecks from my last few weeks of working at he greenhouse) I will have enough to possibly cover 2 months rent. During this school there are expenses for books, resources, etc. This combined with my own financial needs make my ‘cost of living’ in Hawaii $600 a month.

God has spoken to me a lot about worry…. How I do it too much.
And sure that is natural and ‘normal’ in the life of a missionary but I don’t want to do it. There is a difference in being concerned and being worried. One is healthy and one is not.

Ive noticed and seen in my life how when I worry two things happen…. I let that thought fester, im not focusing on God/who he is, and there is absolutely no fruit that comes from it. Worrying can cause us to pray a lot more. BUT we are then praying from a place of fear where we are ultimately not actually trusting God for the final result. If you are a normal human being, congratulations. Worrying is normal.

Worry is when we make the decision to simply not trust God. Scary thought.
A scripture that I want to live my life by is in Habbukuk

{Hab. 3:17-19}
Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. GOD, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's; he makes me tread on my high places. To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments.

we have to remember that it is never our place to ask god for things in the first place. We are corrupt human beings who need God, we cannot save ourselves. Our simple delight should be who he is. God will do amazing things once we focus on loving him first. The same spirit that caused the greatest revivals on earth lives on us.




During this time the biggest thing that I can ask for from you guys is your prayers.
Of course being a missionary I have several financial needs and if you are interested in supporting me either monthly or a one time donation, please prayerfully consider giving to what I will be doing in Kona. This leadership school will cultivate seeds that will allow me to be an effective leader and staff during Disipleship Training Schools.


PRAYER REQUESTS
that I would not focus on the ‘old me’ during my leadership school
that I would continue to be open to this next season
that i would continue to make time for God despite the busyness
health/my migraines would no longer be an issue..


If you would like to make a donation, please send a cheque or money order to the following address:

Chelsea Buettner
Box 2407
Blackfalds, AB
T0M 0J0





July 5 July 5 July 5.      5 Days 5 Days 5 Days? Time to start packing! =]

different paths.

here is a short update to you guys saying what is happening now! these past few weeks and months there has been much doubt in my heart, and lots of questioning Gods will for my life. Much of this was because i simply didnt like what God was asking me to do and i was asking him for the simpler option.

when he gave me a simpler option it put me in a place of stagnancy. i was not satisfied at all... at the coffee shop i loved what i was doing but i was not content what i was doing because i was not being stretched. although at one point of my life waking up and coming to do shifts there had been difficult, i had grown in ywam blackfalds alot during that season and god was teaching me alot: i had grown in many friendships and found community. my heart missed something and god pointed me to something bigger.... human trafficking.


God showed me that his desire was for my story to be used to help people. For the first time in my life i could actually see that God had a plan and a purpose.... the things i had been through God was going to do something with. At that point i was in a very broken point in my life, everyone i knew was in college and i was wondering why i wasnt thriving as an artist.

Long story short when an opportunity came to get closer to God came, i was willing to take it. This whole time i thought it was about God giving me 'the desires of my heart' and giving me an opportunity to use my opportunity to use photography in a powerful way. It was truely never about that.


As i mentioned before... the plan was always to go to Kona this winter. I had made a 3 year commitment with the Awaken DTS. What is very ironic is the very first word God gave me about Kona (JAnuary of this year, 2012) was 'by this time next year you will be in Kona.'

Since the months passed being at home i became very restless. I wanted to grow and i did not want to be stagnant. I prayed and asked God that if it was in his will for me to go to Kona. Roughly a month ago today God started speaking to me and he asked me if he would go and staff the Voice for the Voiceless DTS.

here is the very funny thing about all this.... i had [now the time has massively dropped] 6 weeks to pack up my bags and leave everything i was comfortable with for good this time. it wasnt some fun awesome 6 month growing with God and all he has for me encounter.

Before when God had asked me to leave and staff the AWAKEN DTS for 3 years i told him 'well i don't know if your serious... so i will staff one year then pray about it and decide if i will go back' During these past few months God has really been speaking to me about making an impact, and how we can only do that when we are commited. This made me feel very convicted, i simply wasnt trusting God to provide for me and i believed that Kona would be a horrible experience. I didnt want it to be, but i was scared of living in vulnerability.... yet again. But sometimes thats when we really grow the most.


God told me to go and staff the Voice for the Voiceless DTS and i firmly belive that sometimes God opens the doors or he shuts them. Sometimes he gives us a choice and expects us to simply trust him, his character and who he has said 'this is who i have proved myself to be-will you trust me and be obedient?' Are we willing to do something the very first time God asks us and for me that is what staffing this DTS and going to Kona now and not in December is about.

God shouldn't have to say things 5 times to get our attention.
finances=scary      god=bigger
spiritual attacks in order to get to kona=yucky. coming up alot.

faith can move mountains right?
God has taught me alot during these past few months. Although i do wish i could completely take a do-over sometimes and have spend more time in the word, engaging in the actual community around me. This time was very necessary for me. I learnt alot of things that i simply couldnt have any other way.

the word of God i've learnt (even though i have known this the whole time) is abiding and living and active. when you speak it over yourself daily, you actually feel a difference and your bible isnt just some 'peptalk' book whenever you want/choose to pull it out.



so. i am moving to Kona on July 5.
please pray for Gods financial provision and favor in this as all the ducks aren't yet in a row.
During this time i am trusting God and his perfect will.

-Chelsea.

awaken...

My soul quakes inside. Life is on it’s quivering edge.

YOU are what this generation needs to soar.

Too long we have tried to be love sick and passionate, too long we have tried to love on people while at the same time we have let our insides rot and fall apart.

We are decrepit without you.

we must accept that we are not simply humanitarians.

we are revolutionaries. we are radicals

we are not simply the least of these.

we were called to know you. we simply want you.

that’s all there is yet, its enough, yet…. all that’s in me wants more.

all you lost sons and precious daughters in the valley of the shadow of death, where the enemy has stolen mocked, choked, laughed….. he will never win.
valleys of living water rain down, let your anointing come ever fresher. your eyes of fire look lovingly and reach these.

Look to the miry clay and sing to these sons and daughters. Cry awaken.

To those screaming in the grips of death. Scream awaken.

For he was whipped for our iniquities………. His afflictions bore us peace.

SING awaken. WAKE UP you sons and daughters.


show us how to rest. show us how to run, show us how to race with feet like deer. Spirit of god wash over us.

Let us have the honor of being carriers of your glorious kingdom.

We want to run faster… teach our feet to keep up with our hearts that our lovesick for you.

Peace you will give. Love you will pour. Grace you poured out. Purity you have redeemed and lavished.

sons and daughters. awaken….