Chelsie… spelled with an IE… O’Neal… spelled with an EA.
Hey! I’m Chelsie! I am 25. I will turn 26 in Romania… so cool!
I’ve lived a lot of places, and will randomly call them all home…. Reno, NV; Lake Tahoe, NV; Sherman Oaks, CA; Sunriver, OR; Bend, OR; Randolph, NJ; Florham Park, NJ; Las Vegas, NV; Lahaina, HI; Kihei, HI; Hume Lake, CA; Branson, MO. I’ve moved so many times, I cant even count them on my hands.
I feel overwhelmed at the thought of my “life story”… but here we go!
I grew up in Lake Tahoe, went to a Christian Pre-School, and had a pretty happy childhood. I have a half sister that is 4 years older, Tracy, whom I’ve never really lived with other than summers. My dad is in the entertainment business so we moved to LA when I was 7. My mom hated it there and did everything she could to get us out! A year later, we moved to Oregon, and my parents bought a convenience store (random, I know). We lived with my grandparents for a few years and then finally got a house of our own. I was involved in AWANA, and gave my life to Christ at age 8 or 9. It was shortly after that that my parents divorced, in 5th grade. My dad moved to Reno (then Shreveport, then to Vegas), and we stayed.
After I couldnt be in AWANA anymore, I stopped going to church, but still always believed in God, and that Jesus was my savior. I went to church with a few friends and their families, but never went otherwise. I had a time of rebellion my junior and senior year of high school, and into my late teens/early twenties. A year out of high school, I moved to NJ to be a nanny. I thought that it was a great decision. NOT. I moved back home 6 months later. I was a nanny again, but this time, for a family that has become my own. After a year of that, I grew tired of Oregon and needed a change. I moved to Las Vegas to live with my dad and attend massage school. After school ended, I went on to esthetic (facials, makeup, waxing… ) school and turned 21. Vegas at 21 = disaster. Thankfully it was only for a few months.
During this time of rebellion (thats easier to call it), I was also trying to seek the Lord and figure things out. It was then I decided to move to Maui. I had gone there for my graduation trip with my mom and fell in love. I believe the Lord led me there, even in the midst of my junk. Galations 5:13: For you have been called to live in freedom, not freedom to satisfy your sinful nature, but freedom to serve one another in love. The verse came on Air 1 the day I made the decsion. SO, off I went to Maui, alone, with a “job”, a place to live, and not knowing anyone really. I spent the first month living the Vegas lifestyle, which didnt really work out… I quit the job I moved there for and got an AWESOME job at a hotel, The Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort Villas, in their kids day camp program. A co-worker brought me to church with her, and God took hold of my life. I spent the next two years working my booty off at the hotel, even working my way into the management traning program. At church, I was a high school youth leader, and had a great community.
In June, August and October of 2007, I dislocated my shoulder, and in November, I had to have surgery. I was only going to take a week or so off work… BUT NO. God had a different plan. I wasnt allowed to come back to work for 3 months. Praise the Lord for disability insurance! During that time, the Lord stirred in me, and called me to work at a summer camp the following summer. I thought this was CRAZY. I fought it so hard, but eventually, with persistance, God won that battle. Oddly enough, he called me to Hume Lake Christian Camps in California, as a LIFEGUARD. Thats crazy right?!?!?! Yes. I thought so too. Lifeguard that just had shoulder surgery. Yes. Well, turns out, my summer was AMAZING. I met some great people, and thats how God called me to where I am right now.
I’m currently working for a ministry in Branson, MO. Doulos Ministries is the parent ministry for Shelterwood, a residential care facility for teenagers in crisis, and LeadTime, a discipleship program. I am IN LeadTime, and also work FOR Shelterwood. Its a weird combo, but basically, I live with teenage girls that have emotional/behavioral etc issues, and provide 24/7 care. But, during the day, when they are in school, we have LeadTime classes, like Life of Paul, Life of Christ, Community, Spiritual Disciplines…. etc. I hope that makes sense. Im a “big sister” to 11 current “little sisters” here at Shelterwood. I live in a room with two girls, and live in a big house with the rest of them. Its very “family” style, and very community oriented.
(Me and Savannah, my old little)
(LeadTime Girls)
God called me here, and sometimes I still wonder why, but Im beginning to think that its to bring me to the race… (?) Only God knows. Its been an extremely difficult year for me. I’ve learned a lot about conflict resolution, communication, “being a parent” to teenagers, and really who I am, and who God says I am. The really hard part though, was losing my step-mom (Forgot to put this in here, my dad got married on Valentines day 2008) to cancer in January. And, in April, lost my sisters mom to cancer also. From January until May, God led me into the desert and really broke me. Oh yeah, I’ve learned a lot about brokenness too. Let me tell you how hard it is to lose two people in your family in 4 months time, in a place like Doulos, where you cant HIDE ANYTHING. I was a mess. LIterally. A. Mess. BUT! God is faithful and has brought me out of the desert just in time to find out about the race from a former LeadTimer (who actually just went back out as a squad leader!!!!) I’ve learned to be vulnerable, to love freely, and to receive what others give to me. I’ve learned how to be okay with my mess, with my brokenness, and how to greive, most days anyway.
Im looking forward to the race and all that it will be! BRING IT ON!!!!
Random Facts about me:
- I tried out for Say What? Karaoke on MTV
- I was in a Luau
- I get REALLY excited about small things
- I am addicted to Diet Vanilla Pepsi
- I LOVE Papa Johns pizza
- I am short. and okay with it.
- Im a little bit nuts. I think that makes me ME
- Ive never been out of the country
- I dont own a car currently
- I went to the regional spelling bee in 4th grade
- Im a LOT like my mom and grandma
- I miss general Hawaiian/Pidgeon slang… and wish I could use it in everyday language
