Chelsea's Story

I remember when I was young my mom had me repeat a prayer after her to accept Christ. Of course, I didn’t fully understand what it was that I was doing but I knew I should. I remember one winter camp in Jr High with the youth group we were in chapel singing the “Nails in your Hands,” and it just ‘clicked’ in my mind. I started crying as I realized what Jesus went through and that it was all for me. The words in that song were and still are so powerful to me.

Because I grew up as a Christian and accepted Christ at a young age I don’t really remember what my life was like before I accepted Christ, but I look at people who don’t have faith and I know how fortunate and blessed I am to know Christ. I know that no matter the situation I find myself in, somehow it is in God’s plan. I believe the Lord has blessed me with being able to trust Him no matter whatever happens, because I know that He is there by my side.

In life we all have struggles that we have to work through and one of the biggest struggles I have had was growing up without a dad. My parents divorced when I was 2 so I never had a relationship with my dad. When I was younger it never really fazed me to think about not having a dad around, but in the last couple of years it has gotten to me. There were times I would lie in bed and cry because all I longed for was to have a father. I saw friends with their dads and I wished I had one. Last summer when the youth group went to CHIC, a christian youth conference, I went to a workshop about growing up without a father and there was a woman speaker that talked about how God has helped her with her relationship with her dad. Through this experience, I realized that God is my father.

On that trip, God filled a hole that was within me. God Himself replaced my earthly father and became my dad and He is far better Father than any other. Sometimes I still struggle with not having an earthly father, but I rely on what God has taught me and I look at the blessings He has given me. Even though my parents are divorced, I think I have the best family. I am so thankful for my mom. She raised 3 daughters on her own and I love and respect her so much for that. She is the best mom ever. I also deeply love my sisters. I am so blessed to be so close to them and that all 3 of us can get along and share the love of Christ.

Not having a dad around has caused me to rely upon the Lord. In my AP English class this year we had to write a sonnet and it took me a while to get started because I had never written a poem or anything like a poem before. I ended up writing about my dad and our relationship. This is how the poem goes. It is called ‘His Love’.

Like a distant relative visiting
Both can sense the awkwardness between two
The converstations as thin as a string
Memories never old, not even new
The bond between two that was never made
Can hurt in more ways than she can explain
The thought of having a father can fade
As tears flood down like a gray sky and rain
Knowing that he will never change his way
That he may never feel her hurt or pain
She’s still strong knowing God is here to stay
Leaning on the Lord like a walking cane
His love is greater than the world can give
Heaven gave her another chance to live

The poem sums up what I said earlier about God being my Father. God has also blessed me with “replacement” fathers. I have my grandpa that I am really close to and love him so much. Pastor Greg has also been a father-like figure to me. He, Mari and the girls are basically my second family and I am so incredibly blessed to have their love and kindness in my life. Being on the topic of blessings, I know the Lord has blessed me with so many things. From family to friends and the gifts he has given me down to the clothes on my back and the food provided for me. My favorite bible verse is John 15:13, “Greater love has no one than this; to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” I like this verse because it shows you the value of friendship and if you look at verse 12 it says “my commandment is this: love each other as I have loved you”. God commands us to love our friends not just with words but in action. Knowing that I am graduating from high school in June, God has showed me where he wants me as far as college and my profession. My passion is to help people. I know God is calling me to be a Physical Therapist. I find so much joy in that and I believe that God has gifted me the ability to follow this dream. I am going to Mesa College this fall. At the beginning of my senior year, Mesa was not even an option I was thinking about. I wanted to go to APU or Point Loma. I applied to both and got accepted to both, but what I wanted wasn’t what God wanted. He wanted me to go to Mesa. I never thought I would be going there, but now I am and I am completely content with it. God has also opened my thoughts about the mission field. I went on all the missions trips with our youth group to Mexicali and Mexico City. I loved them. I knew I went on these trips for reason, but God has really shown me that I have a passion for missions. I really desire to go to Africa and help anyone I can there. I know I would like to become a Physical therapist and then travel to Africa or anywhere and use those skills to help others. So don’t be surprised if in the near future you hear that I am going to Africa because any chance I get I will take it.
 

Chelsea's Story

I remember when I was young my mom had me repeat a prayer after her to accept Christ. Of course, I didn’t fully understand what it was that I was doing but I knew I should. I remember one winter camp in Jr High with the youth group we were in chapel singing the “Nails in your Hands,” and it just ‘clicked’ in my mind. I started crying as I realized what Jesus went through and that it was all for me. The words in that song were and still are so powerful to me.

Because I grew up as a Christian and accepted Christ at a young age I don’t really remember what my life was like before I accepted Christ, but I look at people who don’t have faith and I know how fortunate and blessed I am to know Christ. I know that no matter the situation I find myself in, somehow it is in God’s plan. I believe the Lord has blessed me with being able to trust Him no matter whatever happens, because I know that He is there by my side.

In life we all have struggles that we have to work through and one of the biggest struggles I have had was growing up without a dad. My parents divorced when I was 2 so I never had a relationship with my dad. When I was younger it never really fazed me to think about not having a dad around, but in the last couple of years it has gotten to me. There were times I would lie in bed and cry because all I longed for was to have a father. I saw friends with their dads and I wished I had one. Last summer when the youth group went to CHIC, a christian youth conference, I went to a workshop about growing up without a father and there was a woman speaker that talked about how God has helped her with her relationship with her dad. Through this experience, I realized that God is my father.

On that trip, God filled a hole that was within me. God Himself replaced my earthly father and became my dad and He is far better Father than any other. Sometimes I still struggle with not having an earthly father, but I rely on what God has taught me and I look at the blessings He has given me. Even though my parents are divorced, I think I have the best family. I am so thankful for my mom. She raised 3 daughters on her own and I love and respect her so much for that. She is the best mom ever. I also deeply love my sisters. I am so blessed to be so close to them and that all 3 of us can get along and share the love of Christ.

Not having a dad around has caused me to rely upon the Lord. In my AP English class this year we had to write a sonnet and it took me a while to get started because I had never written a poem or anything like a poem before. I ended up writing about my dad and our relationship. This is how the poem goes. It is called ‘His Love’.

Like a distant relative visiting
Both can sense the awkwardness between two
The converstations as thin as a string
Memories never old, not even new
The bond between two that was never made
Can hurt in more ways than she can explain
The thought of having a father can fade
As tears flood down like a gray sky and rain
Knowing that he will never change his way
That he may never feel her hurt or pain
She’s still strong knowing God is here to stay
Leaning on the Lord like a walking cane
His love is greater than the world can give
Heaven gave her another chance to live

The poem sums up what I said earlier about God being my Father. God has also blessed me with “replacement” fathers. I have my grandpa that I am really close to and love him so much. Pastor Greg has also been a father-like figure to me. He, Mari and the girls are basically my second family and I am so incredibly blessed to have their love and kindness in my life. Being on the topic of blessings, I know the Lord has blessed me with so many things. From family to friends and the gifts he has given me down to the clothes on my back and the food provided for me. My favorite bible verse is John 15:13, “Greater love has no one than this; to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” I like this verse because it shows you the value of friendship and if you look at verse 12 it says “my commandment is this: love each other as I have loved you”. God commands us to love our friends not just with words but in action. Knowing that I am graduating from high school in June, God has showed me where he wants me as far as college and my profession. My passion is to help people. I know God is calling me to be a Physical Therapist. I find so much joy in that and I believe that God has gifted me the ability to follow this dream. I am going to Mesa College this fall. At the beginning of my senior year, Mesa was not even an option I was thinking about. I wanted to go to APU or Point Loma. I applied to both and got accepted to both, but what I wanted wasn’t what God wanted. He wanted me to go to Mesa. I never thought I would be going there, but now I am and I am completely content with it. God has also opened my thoughts about the mission field. I went on all the missions trips with our youth group to Mexicali and Mexico City. I loved them. I knew I went on these trips for reason, but God has really shown me that I have a passion for missions. I really desire to go to Africa and help anyone I can there. I know I would like to become a Physical therapist and then travel to Africa or anywhere and use those skills to help others. So don’t be surprised if in the near future you hear that I am going to Africa because any chance I get I will take it.