So, I tried to write this out in paragraph form approximately 35 times and ended up deleting them all, so I’m gonna simplify to bullet points  :)

-         My name is Chelsie Maynard and I’m 20 (21 on July 25^th… woot Thailand birthdays!).

-         I’m a junior religion and social work double-major at Eastern Nazarene College in Boston, MA.

-         I. Love. Boston.

-         When I’m not at school I live with my parents in the small town of Horsheads, NY, which is about 20 minutes from the border to Pennsylvania.  It also has the WORST name ever, so if you’re ever looking to be grossed out, go look up the story behind it. :)

-         I have two awesome younger siblings: Michael who’s 19 and goes to college with me, and Bethany who’s 10 going on 16.

-         Right now I’m serving as the student chaplain for my college, which means that I get to coordinate worship teams, sound guys, and everything else required for our chapel services.  I get to work with some pretty sweet people, and I’m learning more about the administrative side of ministry very day, so that’s pretty awesome.

-         Here at school I live with the three funniest girls on earth, Victoria, Rebecca, and Shelby, and we spend most of our free time dancing around our room, trying to scare each other, and eating Nutella.  We. Love. Nutella.  All of them are super supportive of my trip, and two of them are wicked passionate about missions, which is incredible.  I’m so grateful to call them three of my best friends.

-         When I’m not doing homework… which it seems like I’m always doing… I love to go hang out in Boston.  My friends and I love to try random new restaurants and coffee houses… especially the coffee houses.

-         I love music, and I LOVE to sing.  I’m in the Gospel Choir at my school now, and it’s pretty much the highlight of my college experience thus far.   I like pretty much all music, but especially the kind that’s praising Jesus, and a few of my favorite artists are: Michael Gungor, Will Reagan and the United Pursuit Band, For Today (somewhat unexpected, I know) and Ingrid Michaelson.  I seriously have the most diverse taste ever and you can find me on any given day listening to country, rap, hardcore, folk, and classical all at the same time. 

-         I like to be crafty, and I’m teaching myself how to crochet.  I’m also trying to teach myself to play guitar, but that’s a lot harder and I’m kind of failing miserably. 

-         Things I love:  Coffee. Oh goodness, how I love coffee.  Books… only a little less than coffee.  Put me in a Barnes and Nobles/Starbucks and I am literally singing the Hallelujah Chorus.

-         Also, I have a tattoo on my foot of John 3:30 in Greek, and I want more.

Now the important stuff:

-         I am desperately in love with Jesus Christ and want to tell everyone about the life, freedom, and hope that He brings.

-         I’m not entirely sure what God wants me to do with my life yet, but I’m definitely feeling led toward full time ministry pastoring/as a missionary in an urban context.  I’m in a preaching class right now that’s turning all of my previous plans upside down.

-         I have never been on a mission trip out of the country before, but I have been on trips to Washington D.C. to work with immigrant populations, and to Orange County, FL to work in a school with the most precious children EVER.

-         Last summer I got the chance to be on a summer ministry team that traveled around the east coast leading worship and hanging out at teen camps, and it was possibly the best summer of my life thus far.  I also got to serve as the youth pastor at my church a few summers ago, and I loved every minute of it.  I love teenagers- especially the obnoxious ones J

-         I have a heart for the international church and to see God’s people truly come together as one across gender, age, and racial lines.

-         Human trafficking has been something that God has been putting on my heart for a long time and though there’s a really long story associated with what led to me going on this trip, I am completely assured that it’s where I’m supposed to be.

-         Growing up I had really terrible self-esteem, and was (and still probably am) incredibly hard on myself.  I cannot wait to have the opportunity to tell even one girl of her worth in Christ and in the purity and beauty He has for her.

-        As far as fears, I’m pretty nervous about everything, not going to lie.  I think I relate a lot to Moses being told to lead the people out of Egypt- God, I don’t have what it takes to do this.  I’m kind of shy until you get to know me and sometimes I have a hard time making words come out of my mouth.  I’ve been struck time and time again with the fact that I don’t have what it takes to go on this trip, to speak truth into the lives of these women and men, or to show my team members the love and support that you deserve.  However, God is faithful, and reminds me OVER and OVER (seriously, like, every day) that His strength is made perfect in my weakness and that He has called me and will equip me through the power of His Holy Spirit. 

-       Connected to that, my promise verse is Isaiah 40:8-10, and you should all look it up :)

Sorry this was so wicked long… I am so excited to meet you girls and to be a part of what God is up to in Thailand!