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! =]