The One Where Chelsea Goes to London
Donation protected
Call the Hogwarts Express...I'M GOING TO LONDON!!
I've been accepted into a 5-month program in London to train and serve with an organization called Youth With A Mission (YWAM). I will be attending their Discipleship Training School (DTS) with a focus in Creative Writing from July 13 - December 16, 2019.
If you're thinking, "what the heck is YWAM??" - check out this quick video! You can also read all about the organization at ywam.org.
The mission of YWAM is to know God and to make Him known. A DTS is designed for people with a radical desire to know God better. This program will grow my relationship with God through worship and prayer, challenge me to hear His voice, and equip me to serve Him practically and creatively.
____________________
Ok, so I've said a lot of fancy words...now what does all of that look like?
The 5-month DTS consists of...
Lecture (12 weeks)
- 15 hours of lecture per week
- Topics on world evangelism and practical missions (more info here).
- Teachers from various cultures and backgrounds with years of experience in ministry.
- Insight on how to build up and develop a portfolio/production/event and a missionary lifestyle through the creative arts.
- Time for local evangelism, worship and intercession, and a creative writing track.
- More about lectures here!
Creative Writing track
- Reading blogs and seeking inspiration
- Improvised writing exercises
- Editing and grammar work, proofreading practice, and focus on other writing concepts.
- Practice writing in various themes/styles such as poetry, nonfiction, short stories, blog posts, song lyrics, playwriting, etc.
- Preparing writing pieces to display in an exhibition.
Outreach (8 weeks)
- One week at a time, mixed in between lecture weeks, spread out over the course of my 5 months there (ex. I could have 2 weeks of lecture, then 1 week of outreach in another country, then back to London for another few weeks of lecture, and so on).
- Where I will go for outreach weeks and what I will be doing there will be determined after I start my DTS.
- More about outreach here!
Community Living
- Sharing a house and room with other students and YWAM staff.
- Eating meals together, sharing responsibilities around the house, spending time together in community.
- Focus on blessing and serving one another.
- Surrounded by different nations, languages and cultures at all times!
____________________
Here's where YOU come in...
The cost for the DTS is $5500. This includes my accommodations, meals, and some of the materials I will need throughout the program.
I will need to apply for a visa, which will cost $350.
It will cost about $400 to fly to London, and I'm calculating about the same for when I fly back home in December, bringing travel expenses to around $800.
I will also need support to cover bills I will still have here in the US while I'm gone, such as car payments, phone bill, credit card payments, and sponsorship payments for the sweet little 7-year-old girl in Honduras I sponsor through Compassion International.
Additionally, I will have miscellaneous expenses while I'm in London for food (outside of the provided meals), in-country travel, toiletries and other necessities.
I am estimating approximately $10,000 total for the cost of the program, travel and all other expenses. With the uncertainty of how those expenses could fluctuate, I am asking for $12,000 to allow me to be financially stable while I learn, grow, serve, share the Gospel, and pursue a dream the Lord has spent many years leading me to (I'll be sharing the story of my writing journey and how God called me to this school and mission field on my website soon...so follow along at dearwildflower.com and stay tuned!).
In 2010 as I raised support for my first of three mission trips to St. Petersburg, Russia, my family and I saw a sign in front of a church one day that said, "Where God guides, He will provide." Over the next couple months, we experienced the beautiful truth in that, seeing every single penny of the funds I needed to raise come in well before my final payment was due.
That promise has stuck with me ever since, and I believe it even more today as I dive back into support raising for my biggest mission to date. I'm filled with so much peace knowing that this opportunity is an answer to years of prayers, and a step I am confident the Lord is calling me to take. For that reason, I am stepping out with open hands and faith in His plans, trusting He will provide every dollar and every prayer I will need on this journey.
Missions are a Kingdom effort, and behind every missionary is a team of people who send them. So I'm asking you - my friends and family - to come alongside me and support me in both finances and prayer. Will you consider being a part of my team and contributing to the ministry God is calling me into?
You can give through this website, or if you'd feel more comfortable writing a check, please message me for my address.
If you have any questions or want to hear more - let's chat! Message me or call me any time :)
I've been accepted into a 5-month program in London to train and serve with an organization called Youth With A Mission (YWAM). I will be attending their Discipleship Training School (DTS) with a focus in Creative Writing from July 13 - December 16, 2019.
If you're thinking, "what the heck is YWAM??" - check out this quick video! You can also read all about the organization at ywam.org.
The mission of YWAM is to know God and to make Him known. A DTS is designed for people with a radical desire to know God better. This program will grow my relationship with God through worship and prayer, challenge me to hear His voice, and equip me to serve Him practically and creatively.
____________________
Ok, so I've said a lot of fancy words...now what does all of that look like?
The 5-month DTS consists of...
Lecture (12 weeks)
- 15 hours of lecture per week
- Topics on world evangelism and practical missions (more info here).
- Teachers from various cultures and backgrounds with years of experience in ministry.
- Insight on how to build up and develop a portfolio/production/event and a missionary lifestyle through the creative arts.
- Time for local evangelism, worship and intercession, and a creative writing track.
- More about lectures here!
Creative Writing track
- Reading blogs and seeking inspiration
- Improvised writing exercises
- Editing and grammar work, proofreading practice, and focus on other writing concepts.
- Practice writing in various themes/styles such as poetry, nonfiction, short stories, blog posts, song lyrics, playwriting, etc.
- Preparing writing pieces to display in an exhibition.
Outreach (8 weeks)
- One week at a time, mixed in between lecture weeks, spread out over the course of my 5 months there (ex. I could have 2 weeks of lecture, then 1 week of outreach in another country, then back to London for another few weeks of lecture, and so on).
- Where I will go for outreach weeks and what I will be doing there will be determined after I start my DTS.
- More about outreach here!
Community Living
- Sharing a house and room with other students and YWAM staff.
- Eating meals together, sharing responsibilities around the house, spending time together in community.
- Focus on blessing and serving one another.
- Surrounded by different nations, languages and cultures at all times!
____________________
Here's where YOU come in...
The cost for the DTS is $5500. This includes my accommodations, meals, and some of the materials I will need throughout the program.
I will need to apply for a visa, which will cost $350.
It will cost about $400 to fly to London, and I'm calculating about the same for when I fly back home in December, bringing travel expenses to around $800.
I will also need support to cover bills I will still have here in the US while I'm gone, such as car payments, phone bill, credit card payments, and sponsorship payments for the sweet little 7-year-old girl in Honduras I sponsor through Compassion International.
Additionally, I will have miscellaneous expenses while I'm in London for food (outside of the provided meals), in-country travel, toiletries and other necessities.
I am estimating approximately $10,000 total for the cost of the program, travel and all other expenses. With the uncertainty of how those expenses could fluctuate, I am asking for $12,000 to allow me to be financially stable while I learn, grow, serve, share the Gospel, and pursue a dream the Lord has spent many years leading me to (I'll be sharing the story of my writing journey and how God called me to this school and mission field on my website soon...so follow along at dearwildflower.com and stay tuned!).
In 2010 as I raised support for my first of three mission trips to St. Petersburg, Russia, my family and I saw a sign in front of a church one day that said, "Where God guides, He will provide." Over the next couple months, we experienced the beautiful truth in that, seeing every single penny of the funds I needed to raise come in well before my final payment was due.
That promise has stuck with me ever since, and I believe it even more today as I dive back into support raising for my biggest mission to date. I'm filled with so much peace knowing that this opportunity is an answer to years of prayers, and a step I am confident the Lord is calling me to take. For that reason, I am stepping out with open hands and faith in His plans, trusting He will provide every dollar and every prayer I will need on this journey.
Missions are a Kingdom effort, and behind every missionary is a team of people who send them. So I'm asking you - my friends and family - to come alongside me and support me in both finances and prayer. Will you consider being a part of my team and contributing to the ministry God is calling me into?
You can give through this website, or if you'd feel more comfortable writing a check, please message me for my address.
If you have any questions or want to hear more - let's chat! Message me or call me any time :)
Organizer
Chelsea Empfield
Organizer
Nashville, TN
