Goodbye Girls

This is a short tribute to my roommates, some of whom I've only lived with for about a month, and another a whole year....However, I love them all to death (despite their quirks and weird habits - TRACY!) I'm going to miss them a heck of a lot next year!


Tracy (Tracens Vermetron) - Tracy is my therapist, and as a fellow "verbal processor" has stayed up countless nights with me talking through situations and events of the day in an attempt to understand what's going on, and how to react. We have also spent countless nights in fits of laughter, as we tend to have a very similar sense of humor. I adore Tracy - my sepia toned, brownie makin', batter licking, backrub giving, add-n-to-everything roommate (actual, physical roommate). I heart you Tracens! Some of my favorite memories with Tracy (over the years) include standing in line for HP books, being read to during laundry, "squeal piggins" (piggins, yeah), swimming in the pool, that "special" trip to K-Mart, and Carly's Mom.




Allyson (Ahrison) - My little colorful ray of sunshine....My South Lake Tahoe K-Mart buddy! Allyson is one of the most uplifting people I know, and her cute little comments always make me smile. I haven't gotten to spend too much time with her this summer (seeing as how she's getting married and all), but she will always have a special place in my heart. She made my time working as a cashier at K-Mart enjoyable with her hand motions and funny comments. I love you Allyson! Some of my best memories include, Does your back hurt? Nudy duty, "the field", and getting "smashed" at the Christmas party.












Julie - Junie, JuliANNA - This girl is the girliest girl I've ever met (besides me!) and I couldn't adore her more. Julie and I have been close for a while now, and I wouldn't trade this relationship for the world. She's crazy, a hypchondriac and madly in love with her caveman boyfriend ( I love you Andy!), but she's also an amazing listener, Seinfeld quoter, entertaining story teller (hahahahaha), go-with shopper, Long Island Drinker, and one of my best friends in the world. I love you Junie! There are way too many stories to list, but as to a few: Shopping at Gap, making tapioca, "Sacajawea", New Orleans, LIQUOR and WINE!, getting lost EVERY time, strong drinks at the Mexican restaurant downtown, The Fray, Snow Patrol, and Relient K concerts, sunshine cupcakes, and "whine" at Open Sores....













Jennifer Palmer - JPalm, Jenny *ahem*....Jennifer Palmer, my soulmate, my number one supporter, the voice in my head. Part of me hopes that she'll stay single forever so we can always be roommates. Jennifer always has the ability to make me laugh, talk me down, smack me around when needed, talk me through a situation, share biblical wisdom, convince me of what I really want to do, and comfort me when I really need it. Jennifer definitely has wisdom beyond her years, but can also interpretive dance like the best of 'em when she lets her inner child out. Her quick wit and strong hand to put up with my personality (that likes to change at the last minute) is what has kept me together over this year. I love you Jennifer! Some amazing memories include: The Dock, our "clique" in Tahoe, trips to Taco Bell, the beer guy in thr truck in Tahoe, playing in the snow!, coming home from events and being sad together, "the cave", little notes on the whiteboard or mirror, and the "someday famous" black man selling body oil out of his pocket that I paid $5 to hug Jennifer!













That turned out to be a lot longer than I was anticipating....I think that only adds testament to the fact that I love these Godly, funny, cheerful, and enlightening women, and I am really going to miss them next year!

Knees to the Earth?

Ok, so a few people have asked me now, what I mean, or how I chose my blog title "....with Knees to the Earth". In fact, there are a few reasons...

First and foremost, I desire to live my life in complete humility before the Lord. (I'm not saying that I do actually live that way, because let's face it, I am a sinner, and wrecked by the fall as much as anyone out there, however...) I try to live every day of my life "on my knees" completely and wholly surrendered to the God who reigns, Jesus Christ. Every morning I make the choice to surrender my life, my desires, my needs over to the Lord and give Him control over my life. The idea of bowing, falling to my knees, in front of the King is one part of where the name comes from.

Second, there is a really awesome song called "Knees to the Earth" that I originally heard in Venezuela on project in '06 from my girl, Noemma - shout out! Love you girl....Anyway, this song is really beautiful and it just elaborates on this concept of bowing before the King of all, the Wonderful, Beautiful Savior that we serve. In case you want to read it (and I suggest you do, because it's amazing....) here are the lyrics....

Wonderful Savior
My heart belongs to Thee
I will remember always the blood You shed for me
Wonderful Savior
My heart will know Your worth
So I will embrace You always as I walk this earth

Chorus:
Be blessed, be loved, be lifted high
Be treasured here
Be glorified
I owe my life to You my Lord
Here I am....

Beautiful Jesus
How may I bless Your heart?
**********Knees to the earth I bow down to everything You are*********
Beautiful Jesus
You are my only worth
So let me embrace You always as I walk this earth

I try every day to live in complete surrender to the Lord, every day I stumble and fall in my own sin, every day He picks me up, dusts me off and I sink to my knees in awe of His grace.

Spiritual Gifts?

I took a "spiritual gifts" test the other day. I'm not surprised by the results....but it may give you a little insight into who I am, if you care to read....I'm also adding a little description of what each means, because some of them confused me! By Church, it means the body of Christ...not any specific church.

Dominant Gifts (ranked in order):

Leadership - Motivate, direct, and inspire people to do the Church's work.
Administration - Understand the goals of a given segment of the Church's ministry and to direct that area effectively.
Apostle - Lead, inspire, develop church of God by proclamation and teaching of true doctrine.
Pastor - Assumes responsibility for spiritual welfare of a group of believers.
Serving - Identify unmet needs of people and implement plans to meet those needs.
Giving - Offer material belssings for work of ministry with exceptional willingness and liberality.
Prophet - Interpret and apply God's revelation in a given situation.
Teacher - Communicate the truths of God's word so others may learn.
Discernment - Know with assurance whether some behavior is of God or Satan.
Helps - Willingly bear burdens of other Christians and help them get tasks done.
Wisdom - Understanding of God's will and work as it relates to the living of life.

Sub-Dominant Gifts -
Exhoration - Stand beside fellow Christians in need and bring comfort, counsel, and encouragement.
Evangelist - Share the Gospel to unbelievers in such a way that the unbeliever becomes a disciple of Jesus Christ.
Faith - Extrodinary confidence in God's promises, power, and presence so that they can take heroic stands for the future of God's work in the church.
Missionary - Minister whatever other spiritual gifts they have in a second culture or second community.

Gifts I definitely don't have.....
Music - self explanatory
Knowledge - Understanding in an exceptional way the great truths of God's Word.
Mercy - Ability to feel exceptional empathy and compassion for those who are suffering........I admit it, I struggle with this.
Hospitality - Ability to open own's home to people and offer lodging, food, and fellowship.
Craftsmanship - Use hands and minds to build up the Kingdom through artistic means.
Intercession - Pray for extended periods of time with great effect for the Kingdom.
Healing - Restore health to the sick.

More thoughts later, people just showed up for one last hurrah before I move out....!

So long Eddie Bauer...and Stability

This morning I worked my final shift at Eddie Bauer. I have worked there for 11 months.....there have been ups and downs but overall, I really enjoyed working there. In contradiction with almost everyone I know, or have ever met, I enjoy working retail. I really enjoy working with people and interacting with people as a job. The only job I've had that tops Eddie Bauer, would have to be teaching swim lessons at SARC. That was a riot, the kids were adorable, and we almost always walked away with funny stories....Eddie Bauer has been one of the only consistencies in my life this year, and for that reason I felt melancholy walking out of the store today, rather than the relief I've felt at the end of other jobs. My life at the moment is filled with uncertainty in almost every area....Will I raise the support I need, or not? If I don't....I don't have plans, a job, a home....the only thing I can count on is Jesus.....I'm moving out of my apartment in a week, I left my job today, I have 26% of my support and am running dangerously low on contacts.....More than ever before, I'm putting my life in the Lord's hands....Wholly Surrendered, as it should be each and every day.

One other thing I can count on....my parents. As many qualms as I may have with my parents, they are very generous people and I know that they will take care of me as long as I need them....I'll always need them, and they're always there to help me out. Whatever my flaws, whatever their flaws, I hope I am as much of a blessing to them as they are to me.

To sum up, I'll miss Eddie Bauer, I'm terrified about the amount of control over my life I have given up, but the Lord is Faithful beyond belief, and no matter where I end up, He's going to provide for me (although it may not be in the way I'd desire initially). He has also blessed me with parents that are amazing and that will always be there for me, as well they are able.

Wholly Surrendered......eek!

For Sale!

Hey All, in light of the direction of my life (aka....to Venezuela) I am selling almost everything I own! That's right, as it would be difficult for my parents to store, at least the large items, that I have acquired over the last year...I'm getting rid of them! If you're interested let me know, I'm selling them very cheap and all the money goes towards my ministry....

2 Blue Comfy Chairs - One has a little paint on it, but is easily hidden. They're both very comfortable, they rock, although they do not recline.

1 Gold Comfy Chair - The color is ugly, but it's very comfortable, you could easily recover it. Doesn't rock or recline, but is my favorite chair of all time.

1 27" TV - TV is old, has large remote, but works great! Minor detail - it has a BB gun hole in it, but it is only in the glass and does not effect the picture at all. It simply provides conversation starters for when your friends come over....we have found it a source of entertainment all year.

1 Light Wood Desk - In great shape, basic desk with sliding drawer.

Ok, maybe it all sounds ghetto, but I promise it's good stuff! I have greatly enjoyed it's company this year in my home, and I'd love for you to share in it in the future.....

Contact me if you're interested: Chelsea.Hasenpflug@uscm.org or (360) 809-3259

Visit from Una Sapa!

So, as you may or may not know I have been feeling pretty discouraged lately about support raising stuff. I have been stuck at 17% for over a week now. However, I was really encouraged this weekend. Lucia, one of the students from the ministry in Venezuela, is here in the states visiting. So yesterday I went to pick her up from Chehalis. Although, it was much more complicated than that. It ended up that I met Sarah - the leader of my team - in Federal Way, and we drove together to Chehalis. So we got to chat and get to know each other better, which was really cool. I even got to chat with her grandparents for a little while, as we made a stop at their house on the way.


We met Lu and Lisa (an ex-stinter who I got to meet last summer) in Chehalis and Lisa handed Lu over to us for the trip back to Federal Way. We got stuck in some pretty heavy traffic, so it took quite a significant amount of time to get back. Although we kept ourselves pretty entertained by asking odd questions and listening to Spanish music. We dropped Sarah off in Federal Way, but not before taking a few snapshots to commemorate our adventure.

Lu and I headed back to Seattle and met up with some friends so I could introduce her. We didn't do anything too significant, our activities included dinner in U-Village, a trip to the Mac store, old school video games and a late night Jamba Juice run....but I was encouraged just the same. Spending time with Lu reminded me about all the Venezuelans who still so desperately need Jesus. It's so easy to get caught up in the details of support raising and how frustrating it can be....but it's so good to be reminded that we live for and serve an awesome, powerful King and that He is still so totally in control. If He desires for me to serve in Venezuela He will be the one to bring in the funds....no one else! It doesn't matter how much I worry about it one bit.

After a lunch at the Olive Garden today we took Lu back, ironically, to Federal Way and dropped her off with Roxanne (another ex-stinter). It was also really good to chat, although only briefly, with both Lisa and Roxanne, who have done the who MPD thing and know how INCREDIBLY hard it is! Anyway, all of that to say....my support hasn't gone up much this week, but I did finally break out of the 17% barrier, and I know that the Lord will bring in the rest, if it is in accordance with His will. I praise God for the refreshment He brought me this weekend. I am so excited to spend the next year with Sarah, and Lu and all of the other people on my team and those I will meet!!

By the way: Sapa means frog! That is Lu's favorite new thing to call people. We also taught her "Super Duper Fly" this weekend, as her new favorite English saying. I think it ended up being more like "Dupafly"....but it's all good!

Yikes!!

I just realized that I have less than three weeks left in Seattle!! I have to be out of my apartment by July 31st. That means I have about a month until all of my support has to be in. I'm currently at about 15%, so I have a long way to go.....but I know that the Lord will be faithful....I'm just planning on working my tail off to raise my support for the next month. If you have not yet decided whether or not to support me, please pray about it and get back to me soon! We serve a good, perfect, and wonderful God who has this whole thing in His hands and so I know I do not need to fear. He has already won the battle!! Whether or not my support comes in, whether or not things happen the way I would have them happen, it doesn't matter because I serve the almighty King - He has it all under control. He is strong in my weakness, and for that, among other things, I praise Him with my whole heart.