Can’t Do It Alone

First of all before I begin, I can’t believe it has been so long since I wrote my last blog! With a new year and a new country I really want to begin being more consistent with my blogs. Just a prewarning this may be a heart spill of my thoughts, prayers, stories and adventures, I hope your ok with that. : )

Sitting squished in the car, driving to the New York airport with suitcases falling on my head as I write this. 3 girls + 3 guitars + 7 suitcases + 3 purses + box of my favourite cereal = We’re REALLY DOING THIS. It’s really crazy that this big moving day has come and with that being said, I am flooded with all sorts of emotions. (For those of you who don’t know and possibly are stumbling across this blog, I am moving overseas. Today consisted of packing, re packing, and then packing one more time with a grand finale of jumping on my suitcase to get it to close. SUCCESS!
With the last sweep of the floor, lights off, and door closed on my once nicely decorated and filled room, amidst the sadness of the season ending, prayers of thankfulness left my lips all day today. As I handed in my keys to my house and began to reflect on the purpose of the last season, I couldn’t help think of a moment with the Lord that I had awhile back, about 4.5 years ago after a completely life changing season of being in Africa. I was back in my hometown in Canada (before I had ever heard about Harrisburg), and was being totally wrecked with the Lord’s heart for the poor, the broken and the people who no one else wanted to reach. I was really wrestling with God about what was the next step for my life, and because I really believe there is always an invitation to respond, I began to seek Papa as to how I was to respond with my life to what I had just seen in the nations. The moving on my heart was so strong, I just wanted to leave everything that minute, leave the West for good and move to Africa. In that wrestle, I felt the Lord speak to me so tenderly, but with such firm importance and clarity. I felt Him say “Kelsie, my dear, I want to put you in a family. I want to put you in a family that you can be sent and received from, that you would be set up for long term success.” I really believe I had a choice, I could have moved and I think He would have blessed me, but I knew in my heart when He spoke that, that He had something way better for me and that His timing was perfect. Even though everything in me was screaming to just DO IT, I felt Him grab my hand and tenderly speak “wait, just wait a little longer and follow me some place a little different than you thought.” Having absolutely no clue what was next, where I would move or if I would ever move, He began to speak to me. He began to share about family and the importance of longevity and that His desire for me was not just for me to move by myself and be “ok” and maybe do some great things for the next 6 months or 12 months, but that His desire for me was that I would have long term success. He lifted my eyes beyond the immediate circumstance I was in, to being to see glimpses of the next 5-10 to 20 years and that for me to do all He was called me to do. . . I couldn’t do it alone AND honestly it wasn’t even about me in the end. I needed family and I was called to bring others with me, so instead of Africa like I thought, He sent me to Harrisburg. Huts to a mansion in the inner of city. Rainy jungle to snowy bridges and city blocks. Internally displaced people to the homeless of Harrisburg. Fast forward to today, closing the door on one season and walking into something completely new, I see the faithfulness of God and I think I possibly might understand a little bit more of what He was telling me that day. As I reflect on this past season, I begin to think about all the people I have gotten to run with, those who stayed and those who passed though, the rich relationships gained, my church family, the list goes on. So many things come to mind when I think about Harrisburg and before, but one of the biggest lessons I feel the Lord teaching me was my need for family and the importance of building history with Him. You know whats funny is the move overseas really isn’t that much different to my move to Harrisburg. The move to the States was a very big step of faith for me as I really didn’t know anyone, or know what I was going to do, but just knew that Jesus was inviting me to follow Him there as His friend. The past 3.5 years have been filled with scary trust falls and also beautiful dances with the Lord as I have grown to trust Him deeper through the struggles, hard times and through the amazing times. I am beginning more and more to get a glimpse at the Lord’s plan to send me in this season not alone as a rogue missionary, but I get the privilege to go out prayed for, believed in, and SENT. I have so many relationships and people I consider family now from places all over the world,  and we get to run together, encourage each other and cheer each other on! And I am not going alone, but instead have an incredible team both with me and Stateside that we get to do this together!! It’s definitely not when I thought I would be moving overseas, nor is it the place I thought. . . but in all of this I am so confident that I am right where I am supposed to be and wouldn’t have it any other way! Such thankfulness for my friend and family in Canada, the States, UK and abroad that have stood with me through the years, various transitions and missions the Lord has brought me into over the past seasons.  Couldn’t do it alone.

 

A lot of people ask me about why in the world I would be moving to the area I am moving too, or ask what would lead me to the decision to want to live in a war torn place. Even though that can be a really hard question to answer, I think in the end it possibly has a very simple answer. I might say in response that simply, I have a friend who cares so deeply about the people that live in this country and that if I can in anyway bring those people closer to my friend, than it’s worth my time and my life to do so. Location can change. People change. Country situation can change. But what will stay the same and what I hope will be the anchoring factor in my life is that I am in love with a God who cares about every heart, including mine, and that He will take care of me in every situation. Believing that the best place for me to be is in His will. I want to be someone who sits really close. Maybe even annoyingly close, 🙂 like right up tight where if He wants to share His heart, I will be right there wanting and desiring to listen, ready to respond because it always requires a response. It is such a scary thing doing something you have never done before, and really walk blindly into something you don’t know the outcome of and yet I know the more I trust, the more I find freedom to follow Him.

 

Well this is a short first blog, mainly because we are quickly approaching the airport! That might be a ramble of thoughts as I process my move. . . but there it is. 🙂 YAYYYYYY. But in closing this blog, if it even needs a closing because its been so long since I have written one of these things. . . I would say that I am so excited to see what He will do with our little lives and be apart of what He is doing in the Middle East! He is moving, working, breathing, singing, dancing over this land. FOR REAL though.

Thank you for your prayers and support. I couldn’t do this alone or without many of you in my life. I really mean that and thankfulness fills my heart as I think about all the texts, emails, calls etc as I have been getting ready to journey over the ocean.

More to come. . . ..

Sincerely,

Kelsie
P.s if you do not yet receive my update emails and would like to, please email me at kelsiep@theburn247.com and I will add you!

First Update from Congo

 

Wow what an incredible time in the Democratic Republic of Congo!! It was such a joy in my heart to be able to be there for an entire month this time with my team joining me half way in! THere was so much that happened on this trip and so many things I am processing. I thought I would just make my first blog an overview and be adding more posts and pictures as the weeks go on!!! First things first. . BACK HOME SAFELY! 🙂

Partnering with Justice Rising who is seeing transformation throughout Eastern Congo with hundreds of children going to school, sowing groups for widows and child mothers, soccer team and discipleship for over 40 children effected by war, we desired to love those in front of us and gather together with our Congolese family to sing our hearts out to enthrone Jesus in this nation. With the desire to see worshipers rise up in Congo, we got to lock hands with a people who have persevered through more than we could ever understand or imagine and worship. We got the opportunity to gather youth from the city of Goma and spend time worshiping and teaching on hearing the voice of God, identity, forgiveness and the love movement. Creativity and imagination has really been something that the enemy has attacked in Congo because such intense trauma, many people have been blocked from using their imagination, but we believe God is restoring that, and he is starting with the children and youth! It was beautiful as the kids began to interact with the Holy Spirit, ask Him questions and see how He was speaking to them. Next we headed to a church built right in a slum area and we gathering together with many Congolese for a day to pray and worship together. Our team was blown away by the perseverance of the believers of this nation who continuously are lifting up the name of Jesus even in the midst of trauma and war.

 

Heading 7 hours into the bush, we trekked to one of my favourite places in the entire world. Mud huts, mountains, raging river, jungle . . the list could go on. The village of Kalembe has been at the heart of the war in Congo for the past 20 years. This time was my first time going to the Kalembe when there was peace and it was so strange to be there without troops of soldiers walking around with their Ak-47s and rocket launchers. The fighting has stopped, but the stories live on and the memories become a new kind of reality. Its moments of hearing of horrendous trauma that seeking the Lord and His goodness become everything there is to cling on to. The team set foot on the land to pour out, worship, pray and see what Jesus would want to do. We held a conference with some of the village and at one point we found ourselves in a church on the top of a hill overlooking the land. In a huge circle of adults and about a hundred kids singing out “karibu Jesu, nakwee tagee, Karibu Jesu ponya Congo (Come Jesus, we need you, come Jesus and heal Congo).” As children, men and women each began to each pray out their declarations of the goodness of God and their cries for peace, it was as if all of Heaven was fixed on our little wooden church on the hill. The presence of God came and filled the room as it was so apparent he responds to the voices of His sons and daughters. We got to pray for those who were sick, hold multiple brand new babies, play soccer with the most precious kids and with our guitar strapped to our backs, sang all over the village gathering crowds around with curiosity of the “mazungus” (white people), sharing the love of Jesus. In our first day adventure through Kalembe we found ourselves in what our pastor told us was a brothel. We all crowded in this brothel for soldiers disguised as an ordinary hut and began to sing Swahili worship with four women who invited us in. One of which was clearly the head woman running the “business”. The team began to speak out words of identity and worth and insight into these women’s lives. We asked if they knew Jesus loved them and if they wanted to know His love. We invited them to experience this love and give their whole hearts to Him right then and there. . . and they all said yes! 🙂 There in that mud hut, a place where innocence is stolen, rape, dreams ripped apart. . Jesus came. He isn’t afraid of these places. He doesn’t stay to far off afraid that the darkness will rub off on Him. He runs in to these places knowing His love will always win even in our hardness and brokenness. It was kind of one of those moments that you don’t really realize the reality of the situation until later when your eating beans and rice and all of a sudden it hits you that Jesus was worshiped in the very rooms of darkness and 4 women who work in a brothel just gave their hearts to Jesus. His love truly is not a respecter of persons. These women want to meet on a continual basis for chai with our long term staff for chats and prayer. So excited to see what God does in that place and he transforms that brothel. He does it again and surprises me at His desire for those who are lost and hurting.
Back in Goma, we also spent some time in one of the hospitals in the city where there are many have had to come from distant villages for treatment. Our hearts were broken as we sat with many women and children who were there because of effects of the war. We got to pray for all those who would let us, sit with them, hear their stories and invite Jesus to come to some of the most impossible situations. 
Whether it was simplicity of holding a child, playing soccer, singing, praying, sharing the love of Jesus, it was evident that the love of Jesus is real and tangible. It is evident that it is His desire is to heal, exchange our ashes for beauty and see the barren woman sing.
As Isaiah 61 says:
“to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified. They shall build up the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations. (‭Isaiah‬ ‭61‬:‭3-4‬ ESV)

 

Thank you so much for all your prayers and support, we truly felt all the love and covering. Our team is healthy and safe, and truly have been changed. Please keep the nation of Congo and all the believers there continually in your prayers as they journey to healing!

 

Much love,

 

Kelsie

 

 

Mysteries found in the Desert

I feel like every country I go to, I fall more and more in love with this amazing God with endless creativity. The more I get to know Him and see what He has created, the more this beautiful mystery grows. From Harrisburg, I travelled to my freezing cold home in Canada, to the hottest weather I have been in the desert in the Gulf Region of the Middle East. From there I flew to Rwanda and then to now where I am writing this about to jump in a jeep and head to the bush of Congo. This journey He is taking me on has lead my heart to an even greater place of wonder and awe at the beauty of Jesus. Different cultures, climates, languages, faces, and different ways of living. All reflecting the beauty of this invisible God. I was stuck with this even more as I spent a week in Oman.

The beauty and vulnerability seen in the creation of man, that God would say, “I pick them to carry my image. I choose that one to have my eyes, and this one to have a piece of my heart. . . I choose those beings out of all creation to be my home and the representation of my love.” What a mystery.

We see the vulnerability of God as we look how He entrusted the models of the Kingdom for us to demonstrate. We see His trust in us to represent His character and devotion through the picture of marriage, or in the way He gave us the model of family. And in all this, He gave us a choice. . .fully knowing our immaturity in love and that we often would fall short. He didn’t make cookie cutter people, or marriages. He didn’t make robotic servants or carbon copy families that He wanted to control. In all His infinite power, He opened the door to rejection, giving us the free will to choose Him or reject Him. Yet I think it is the choice that makes our devotion so beautiful and His unconditional devotion so incomprehensible. It is the journey of a God who is lovesick with those He created. His longing for friendship and unbroken communion with a broken humanity is beautiful mystery. Song of Songs says, “You have captivated my heart, my sister, my bride; you have captivated my heart with one glance of your eyes and with one jewel of your necklace. . . Turn your eyes away from me, for they overwhelm me.” (Song of Songs 4:9,6:5) WHAT, how could this be!? The God who made the entire heavens, who formed the raging sea and handcrafted the skies, is overwhelmed when I choose Him and turn my gaze to Him? The beauty and vulnerability of this powerful God.

The reason I say all of this is because I was struck with revelation this more than ever before as I sat in a room worshiping with some of my best friends in a nation that has estimated 40 known believers native to that country. Covered in sand, we worshiped Jesus and asked for the hearts of the people this Middle Eastern country. I could feel the burning heart of God over this region of the world, a completely Muslim nation. I began to think about His uniqueness and creativity as the faces of the people I had met came flooding my mind. They are carriers of His image and beauty and ones Jesus couldn’t keep His eyes off of. I was inspired as I got to stay with a family I am very close with and who is an answer to Jesus’ prayer to send forth labourers. Giving themselves to learn the language, raise a family in a foreign country, building relationship, going low and loving courageously. We must pray for them and missionaries like them. And pray that Jesus would thrust forth laid down sons and daughters like them. Ones who are on a journey to understand the heart of God and the beauty and vulnerability He shows as He asks, “who will say yes? As my friend, who will go?”

I am overwhelmed the more I think about it. I am filled with joy that even while I was an enemy with God, He chose me and loved me. It is this good news that has forever changed my life. This is the news that must be shared. Every person must know!! They must know that they are image bearers of a God who loves them unconditionally and who’s gaze is fixed upon them. 

Much love,

Kelsie

Immanuel God With Us

 

Beauty in Brokenness

I am currently on a plane flying over I think Bagdad at the moment. . .I’ll have to check the interactive map to make sure when the screen changes because it is in Arabic right now. 🙂 From Calgary, Canada I am heading to the Middle East for a week on my way to Congo to visit incredible friends of mine who have moved there to give their lives for Jesus to this region of the world! In a nation that is completely Muslim, they are bringing prayer and worship with a desire to see hearts turn back to Jesus all across this region. God’s heart is so burning with jealous love and desire for every heart to return back to Him. He wants to reveal Himself and His love!! I am so excited to spend some time with them and in this amazing nation.

On June 5th (my birthday!)after a couple plane rides, buses and a few more taxis with a motorcycle ride or two somewhere in there, and hopefully no bribes. . I will arrive at the border of the DR Congo.  Hallelujah!! For those of you who know me, you know that this is one of my favourite nations on the planet. My heart feels so many emotions as I prepare to set foot in this nation again. Congo is a nation that has been devastated year after year by war, hatred and death. A nation where women are used as a weapon of war and children made to fight a battle that is not their own. Yet this is the nation God has promised to give hope to. Many emotions flood my heart as I think about sitting with a mama who’s had to flee from her village because her home was bombed. Hearing her story of how she was abandoned by her husband to take care of her six children. Yet there in that hut, with yelling outside, smoke filling the room from the fire she has built. . . right there on the dirt floor, she lifts her gaze to Jesus and clings with all she has to His goodness. She poured out before Him all she had to give, her future and her tomorrow. There is such beauty here, like Mary who broke her jar of perfume which held her inheritance upon the feet of Jesus. There is beauty in her brokenness as it collides with His goodness. He has not abandoned this nation, but He is ever present.

 Oh the marking of the Lord as He draws near to the broken hearted. How it changes us as He lets us in on glimpses of His heart. The beautiful mystery of Jesus Immanuel. . .God WITH US. This God with all the power and riches he could want, chose to come as a baby to be borne into poverty. With arms as wide as they would stretch, He embraced weakness and gripped onto the goodness of the Father with all He had. Jesus, the King, suffered utter rejection and brokenness. . . for me and my brokenness. He grabs us in our tears and says, “I am Immanuel, and I am WITH YOU bright eyed one. I am WITH YOU in your grief and in your tears. On this dirt floor, I am WITH YOU here in your brokenness.” With a fixed gaze He says, “Right here, right now, I am here and I am not going anywhere. For you have ravished my heart beautiful one. You MUST know that you have ravished my heart.” The beautiful mystery hidden in the desire of a King to come close even in the times we feel we have nothing to give.

As I prepare to go, I think I am coming to the realization that I don’t have answers or even understanding. I actually feel really broken and weak. Yet I think what I can hold onto, is the nearness of Him. The closeness and healing that comes when He meets us in our moments of honesty saying, “Jesus, I need you. I need you to help me cling to your goodness, cause I can’t do it on my own.” I have to  believe he will come time and time again with a collision of beauty. Whether it’s in Congo, in my room in Harrisburg, He promises to draw near. When I read His word, I see a Bridegroom who is captivated by His Bride, even in her weakness He sees beauty. I see a man who sings to the ashes and tells beauty to arise. I see a Father that sings to darkness and awakens the dawn. I see a lovesick God who touches those covered in shame and gives them a double portion of honour.

In my heart I want to believe in that more than ever, trust in it and I want to be apart of that more than ever. The Great Exchange. Even in the darkest places. . . even in my darkest places. Like a vile of worship, broken upon His feet. Congo is His Bride and He is ravished at the site of her. What a privilege to journey hand in hand with Jesus. 

Will update soon from the Middle East. So excited for all God is going to do. Thank you for all those who are praying and support, I am so incredibly thankful for each of you and really do feel the prayers and love!!

 Mucho Love from Moi,

 

Kels 

 

 

 

Hidden Treasures of Darkness – Salem 2013

“I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places. That you may know that I, the Lord, who call you by your name, am the God of Israel.” Isaiah 45:3

I remember the first time when this verse jumped out of the page and literally hit me over the head with revelation! 🙂 I was leading a devotional set on my 22nd birthday in Harrisburg, getting ready to take a team to DR. Congo. Even though I had read this chapter many times before, it all of a sudden STRUCK my heart with such weight. . THIS is what I am called for, this is the desire of His heart, and this is what I AM to Him. . a treasure that was hidden in darkness. Covered in my sin and shame, I did not know Him and yet He knew me by name. He loved me and desired to deliver me out of the hands of death and impossible hopelessness. He didn’t see the darkness, but saw the treasure. . .  and that the treasure was worth piercing every dark night and going to the ends of earth for it’s redemption. 

When I say this verse has haunted my life, I mean it literally has haunted my life! haha BUT seriously. . . I can’t get away from it, I can’t get it out of my head and there is no words to describe the feeling of love that fills my heart when I read it. In this verse contains a promise of hope for every people, every nation that is “too dark” or “too hopeless”, “in too much war”, “too hard hearted”. To every nation that is ridden with death and poverty, to every slum that is filled with sex trafficking and slavery, to every street filled with drugs and crime, to every family broken to pieces, marriages fallen apart . . .YOU ARE HIS TREASURE.

This is His Treasure and as sons and daughters of the light and of the King, this is OUR TREASURE.

 

TO SALEM. . . 

So with this in my heart we headed to Salem, MA for one of the biggest witch gatherings and Halloween festivities in North America. This is city is KNOWN for witches and magic . . I mean when you drive in you see “witch museum” to the left, pagan churches, and “physic readings”  on every street corner. There IS a lot of entertainment and that is a huge pull for many people gathering, but in the midst of that, there really is many people there for more than just a drunken party. We arrived and jumped straight into worship. 60 hours of straight worship and enthroning Jesus was our starting place in this city that would be considered one of America’s “darkest”. We really take Ps 108:2-3  seriously when it says

” I will sing and make music with all my soul. Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn. I will praise you, Lord, among the nations.”

 

Where there is darkness. .  lets praise!! And then from that place of first love we GO OUT to find the treasures as labourers in this harvest that is ripe! So we did two days of outreach while worship was going on. We set up booths for free dream interpretation and free spiritual readings (aka prophecy) :). Then on Halloween night all 100 of us hit the streets with worship, signs for free healings, spiritual readings and to go on a massive treasure hunt to see who God would encounter!  All of my preconceived ideas about what a witch or a warlock was, got shattered over the time I got to interact with many of them over this weekend. I didn’t see “pure evil” or “darkness” but someone looking for love, someone desiring acceptance, and someone who needs a Saviour. As people sat down in front of us for a spiritual reading, or for healing. .His love overwhelmed me for them!! These were the treasures Jesus was desiring.

I am so happy to say that between all of our teams we saw hundreds of healings, including a girl’s completely deaf ear open up, dozens of salvations and so many people leaving crying because God’s love had encountered them. We danced on the streets with signs and flags in our hands, having FUN with smiles on our faces!! Seeing people get set free IS FUN!!!! One girl sat down in front of us and with tears in her eyes said to me and my team after we had prophesied over her .  . .” wow, why did I just pay $35 to get a physic reading!?! I should have just come here, this is WAY BETTER!” 

 

HE IS WAY BETTER than any thing this world can offer! 

 

Thanks so much for reading, I hope you were encouraged!! Thank you everyone for covering our team in prayers as we went to Salem and for your prayers over my life. I truly do feel them and am so THANKFUL for each of you in my life!! 

 

LOVE 

Kelsie

Turkey 2013 – He Never Turns Away

WOW, what an incredible two weeks it has been in the beautiful country of Turkey. I can honestly say my life will never be the same ever again. . . yet AGAIN Jesus continues to overwhelm me with His goodness. . . SERIOUSLY!!! I am so so SO filled with encouragement as the testimony of what God is doing in the Middle East and specifically in Turkey, spills from my heart. I can tell you with 100 percent certainty that God’s plans for Turkey are good and His desire really is for the drawing of all Turkey and the Middle East unto Himself.  Before my very eyes I got to see Turks come into the Kingdom, encounter the real tangible love of Christ, and get healed. From the first moment I arrived in the city of Antalya, I jumped into 121 hours of continuous vertical worship and prayer. . literally jumped straight in. Even though I was jet lagged, having been up for over 30 hours, the moment I stepped foot on the land, a hunger for His presence over took my heart and so the journey began with the midnight set that night. 🙂 haha classic burn style. Over 150 people came together from all over the world and from around Turkey for one thing. . . the man Jesus Christ. Singing the song of the Lord over this land, joining hands in prayer, gathering leaders and missionaries in times of teaching and encouragement. . . it was the largest gathering of Christians Turkey has had this year. . SO EPIC and Beautiful! LET ME JUST SAY AGAIN 121 HOURS OF WORSHIP IN TURKEY!! 🙂

From the place of intimacy and the presence we spilled onto the streets of Kelici, old Antalya, filling the atmosphere with MORE WORSHIP (cause we just can’t get enough) and seeking the lost! We got to see beautiful Turks come to know Jesus as SAVIOUR and also physical bodies were healed!! I am convinced that the more time we spend in His presence, the more we should become overcome with the desires of this God who seeks and saves the lost. How could we not?! The more time we spend drawing near to the heart of God, the more we realize that He is jealously drawing every lost heart unto Himself. We just can’t help ourselves but to partner with this man who we are SO IN LOVE WITH.

 I feel like I need to set the stage of this trip a little better, help paint the picture so that you get it in full colour!!  Turkey is the second largest Muslim country behind in the world, approximately 99.9% are Muslim.  Antalya is a city know for sex trafficking, and Turkey as a nation is known as a country famous for the import and export of women. My heart completely broke as I walked the streets at night and witnessed women walking the streets waiting for men, their customers to pick them up. Women selling what no man should ever purchase. . . Most of these women, from Eastern Europe are brought in under the impression of getting jobs in the tourism industry or nanny’s, but upon arrival, passports are taken, they are raped, locked up, and forced into a life of prostitution. Innocence stolen. The injustice overwhelms my heart, human slavery never gets old. . . it NEVER gets easier to witness, and I pray that it never does. I pray that it never EVER becomes normal to us, especially as children of God because it never becomes normal to Him. 

As I walked down the strip by the Mediterranean Sea, praying and worshiping, feeling the vulnerability of being a woman, men stopped all around. . . I was overwhelmed. In that moment, I looked into the eyes of Papa God and I saw a jealous Father, with eyes of fire who is burning with desire. . . who never turns away. I am continually being wrecked by this Father who literally can never turn His face away from the suffering of the one’s He loves.  As humans we naturally turn our faces away from suffering. . . because we “just can’t handle to see”, but He does not. He says that He hears every cry, EVERY pain and does not turn his ear or eye away from the suffering of the poor and the needy.

Please join with me to pray for every woman, man and child who has been forced into slavery, and pray for Freedom. I encourage you to ask Jesus even right now what part you have to play in the ending of this injustice. 

 

One night I was really wanting to write some songs, so I grabbed the guitar and headed down to the sea. I sat on the steps looking down onto the small patch of  beach that was not taken over by the fierce crashing of the waves. It had just stormed all day long. As I began to sing, I began to think about the apostle Paul. This was the very port that He came into. I thought about his travels and the revelation of Jesus he carried. How he infiltrated the political systems, spheres of influence all across Turkey. . . and all of a sudden I was approached by a Turkish man. A bit on guard, as you do when a random man approaches you. . . he begin to tell me in broken English that he owns the bar down the beach and wanted to know if I would come and play the music in his bar that night. Haha what?!?! OF COARSE I SAID YES!! I began to worship as I do normally, and because they didn’t speak much English I as plain as I could uplifted the name of Jesus in that place. Songs of Hope and salvation began to fill my heart and my mouth. . . randomly the owner and his workers would turn to me and say, “ohhhhh sooo good” ahah only if they knew I had just finished calling them into the Kingdom and singing the heart of the Father over them. After playing for about an hour, I had to head back to the hotel cause it was getting quite late to be out alone. . and they invited me back to play!! So I did return another night to play in the bars.

What a privilege it was to get to openly worship Jesus and declare His Kingdom in a bar in one of the most Muslim nations of the world, in the very area where sex trafficking is the mot prevalent . . .lets just say Jesus set me up and set that city up for transformation. This is not a testament to my good skills or voice. . . because lets be honest here, I really can’t even play the guitar well.. . I really wouldn’t be smart enough to think to play in the bars in Turkey. . .but this area and this country is SO IN THE HEART OF GOD!!!  And he will use even a young kid from a small town in Canada to see His throne established. The foundations of His Throne are righteousness and Justice!! He is really not a respecter of persons and is just looking for a “YES”!

There are so many other testimonies and things that the Lord did, especially in my own heart during these past 2 weeks, but so that this blog is not a novel for you to read. . . I will conclude with the fact that I am just undone at the thought that Jesus is returning for a spotless Bride. In this divine romance, He is beckoning every nation and every soul to HImself in lovingkindness and persistent AFFECTION. I pray that as you have read about what God is doing in the nations of the Earth, you are moved with love for your city, region, school, and family. Let us put our heads on HIs chest and hear the heart beat of our Saviour. 

 

Thank you for all your prayers and support, I can not tell you enough how much it means to me and is so appreciated!!!! So privileged to get to run together!! 🙂

 

 

LOVE LOVE LOVE

 

Kels

 

LIke an Arrow

My heart is so full, and I just don’t know exactly how to write about all God is doing in a short blog, but I will try!! ☺

 

In September in Harrisburg we began a 3 month program called “Intro To the Burn” and with over 20 people that moved to Harrisburg to see worship and prayer ignited in a new way, teaching, discipleship, building the house of prayer here in Harrisburg, we began on a journey together pursuing the presence of God! It is such a privilege to help lead and be apart of such an amazing thing that God is doing here. We are truly wanting to see authentic community that is based around the presence become the normal all across the body of Christ! One morning I awoke early and heard very clearly “Worship is what is going to change Harrisburg.” 

 With that I am excited to tell you that together with YWAM, Life Center International, Global Awakening, Global Celebration, Burn 24-7 (just to name a few of the diverse people God is bringing together here) we are jumping into the beginning stages of seeing 24-7 worship and prayer house raised up in Harrisburg! It was an incredible thing to see 70 people show up at our first planning night for the house of prayer and that we will launch on October 22 with 17-7 hours of prayer!! CRAZY! How could our city not be changed?? 

We believe that the prayers and incense lifted from this place will go out like arrows to the nations and that people will be sent out like arrows shot from the quiver of the Father to the hardest darkest nations of the Earth. That Amos 9:11 would be a reality and that literally every place would be filled with worship. . . every knee would bow and every tongue would confess Jesus is LORD and that every heart would encounter his INCREDIBLE salvation! It is really that simple!

 

My heart is literally EXPLODING with expectation and happiness!! 

 TURKEY 2013

Speaking of arrows being shot to the nations, I am heading to the nation of Turkey tomorrow! It will be my first time in the Middle East, but it is also a long awaited journey for me. God has put this region on my heart for many years and it is a complete dream come true to travel there with Burn 24-7 and be apart of a 100 hour Burn (straight vertical worship) and then go to the villages sharing the gospel, loving the people, preaching and leading worship in different areas of the country!! We really feel that this gospel of love is going to turn so many Turkish hearts toward Jesus on this trip!! Turkey is a country that is approximately 99% Muslim, yet the Christian heritage in this nations is INSANE!! So much history and inheritance! I so believe that the harvest in Turkey is RIPE and I feel so privileged to get to go and be a small apart of what He is doing there! We believe that the worship released will be like a huge title wave sweeping across that nation and surrounding regions!! This is going to be one of the largest gatherings of Christians in Turkey and one of the largest and longest worship sessions since the early church that we know it!! We really believe it is a HISTORIC time.

Please keep myself and our team in prayer  as we travel to Turkey, protection, encounters and salvations!!! I haven’t yet raised all that I need for this trip, if you feel lead to give at all you can do so through Pay Pal on the link above named “Contact/give” or email me at kelsiep@theburn247.com for a mailing address if you are from Canada and would like a tax receipt! 

ALSO When I get back to Harrisburg, our team will ride up to Salem, MA for the largest gathering of witches in North America ..  what are we going to do?? We are going to LOVE LOVE LOVE and worship! 🙂 Fully expecting to see many miracles, healings, and salvations on this trip! 

There is so much more I could write about, but for now I think it gives a little picture of my life right now!! I am continually just amazed at the incredible hand of Papa God and just this journey He is taking me on. Sometimes I think, what is a young blonde kid from Canada doing in war zones or going to the Middle East??. . . and then I remember who my Dad is and I understand that it is exactly BECAUSE of my weakness, He can move!! I am convinced more than any other time in my life that this God of HOPE is always GOOD, always LOVE, and always LIFE. From sitting in the dirt with the most precious African mama, to singing my heart out in the prayer room, to worshiping on the streets of India. . . I am CONVINCED of His pursuit for my heart and the hearts of His lost sons and daughters. He is calling them Home and I get to respond by being the hands and feet of Christ. SO SIMPLE!!!!! 🙂

  I am so honoured that you read this, thank you so much for taking time to be apart of what God is doing in and through my life! 

 

LOVE LOVE LOVE

 Kelsie

 

Chloe, The Girl That Changed My Life

The Girl That Changed My Life

 

So before when I went to Africa in 2011 and began to blog, I discovered in me a new way to be able to tell stories and be raw and real. ..  though not easy at first to do because I naturally I don’t really like to post things that I don’t think are done well, or maybe are a bit “too much information”. .  I learned to let things spill on to the page. I haven’t written anything like this in a while and so, this is what this blog is going to be.  I want to share the story of one girl who’s life has been poured out and who has wrecked me in the process. 

In this blog I am going to call her Chloe.

I met Chloe on my first of many trips to the war torn bush in the Democratic Republic of Congo. After 7 hours of driving through rough terrain and being thrown around as if I were stuck in a washing machine . . .we finally made it to our destination! A small wooden house in a village of mud huts was our home. Kids everywhere, mamas with their babies on their backs, charcoal fires cooking beans and rice and soldiers roaming the streets.  . . home. As our vehicle pulled up a crowd of many men, women and children approached us with happy smiles, Cassandra the amazing friend I am with, works in this village often so they knew who we were! As we get out of the car, the kids make way, and all of a sudden I see little Chloe come and walk into Cassandra’s arms. With her snotty nose running, dirt everywhere, and food still crusted around her lips and on her shirt, she hugs Cass like there is no tomorrow. She then turns to me and with a grin I can not forget, comes and hugs me too. Chloe is not like the other children, she has a mental disability. . and it turn doesn’t get treated like the other children. Often forgotten and not taken care of.  In the rape capital of the world and the worst place for a child or a woman to live. . .you can only imagine what this little girl has been through, no defences and misunderstood. Yet there she greeted us that day with a smile and a joy I will never forget, and everyday she would come and hold my hand. Whether it was following us though the village, singing songs with us and sitting in our laps, she was there in her dirt covered little self and ripped clothes.  

I don’t really think I had any idea the impact she would have on my life. The impact her touch and her love. Many people would say that I did a good thing by loving this child, but I say she did a good thing by loving me. Never before had I experienced such pure love, such pure touch and smiles. From a little girl neglected, rejected, probably not fed nearly enough, abused, no education, not bathed . . . I was loved. 

It was her kiss that was my invitation to kiss apathy goodbye. 

All this I didn’t fully realize until on my last trip to Congo a month ago, I found out that beautiful Chloe had died. This precious child, who I got the privilege of loving and who loved me so purely . . .died of diarrhea. 

As the news came to me, a flood of emotions filled my heart and tears fell quickly. Anger. Sadness. Regret. How could something so small take the life of a child so precious? How could that really happen? I wish I could clearly describe what I felt and the questions I had in my heart in those moments. Grieved that her life could be taken by something clean water could have fixed. I have heard the facts about children dying everyday all over the world over simple, fixable things. I had heard the statistics about children dying of dehydration and starvation.. . but here it was in my face. This statistic wasn’t a statistic any longer. This was a girl who changed me who died over something that could have easily been prevented. This was a face and a name. I am angry at injustice. . . my heart turned within me. The night I found out, I laid on my bed and cried before the Lord. I began to cry and I began to write. All of the hugs and the grins began to flash before me as I sat in the darkness of my room and I wrote this. 

“Dear Chloe,

You have changed my life. Your crooked smile and glowing eyes pierced my heart. Your simple hugs, dirty little hands in mine. . . beauty unveiled. Deserted by those meant to take care of you and misunderstood, I see you are now in the arms of Jesus and there you will stay forever. You are no longer dirty, your clothes are no longer ripped and you are perfect in every way and He is holding you just as tight as you held me. Though you are in heaven now, you will be missed here. Your kiss was an invitation for me to kiss my apathy goodbye and now I know I must. . . no turning back. I will never forget you, even the short time I got to be with you. May your life always be a reminder of Justice. I saw Jesus in you, thank you little one. “

Because I held Chloe, I can never again say I did not know or did not see. It is estimated that 1.5 million children die of Diarrhea a year, and over 3 million children die of starvation every single year.. . over 8000 every day. This is injustice and it is not the way God intended it to be. Their lives are too precious, and their smiles are not to be forgotten. I hope I never ever forget. I hope these stories never make me less angry at injustice. I pray this never becomes normal to me or just “a number.”. I don’t believe it is ever normal to the Lord. He never can turn away and loves them so intensely. Something I do know is that I have been invited into a life that is wrecked for the ordinary and a life to fight for the things that His Heart longs for. For it is not just faith alone, but without action, my faith is dead. (James 2) 

I don’t write this to make you feel sad or feel bad. I wrote this because I believe the life of Chloe and the seed of her life lives on and her story of being robbed of life. . .NEEDS TO BE HEARD.

She was to me a picture of the love of the Father. As I held this child, who was looked down on by many and neglected .  .she was absolutely perfect. As I held her, I got a glimpse into the heart of Jesus and I didn’t care about the stains, or the smell or the dirt. In the same way. . . He has held me though my struggles and my filth. .  and still holds me. I will never be the same. 

Thank you Chloe for showing me Him who never turns away. For you I will dream. 

DRCongo Update 2013

DR Congo update!! Wow, what an incredible couple weeks we had in the Democratic Republic of Congo. We partnered with Cassandra Basnett and justice Rising for this trip! Her and her staff have a couple schools, a group of former …

The Song of India

I closed my eyes and all I could hear was the sound of singing. Sweet melodies filled the room, a chorus of Indian voices singing out a Hindi chorus to Jesus. Little did I know the chorus they were singing was more than just a sweet song, it was worship that challenged my heart.

“Even if I were cut into 1000 pieces, never would I stop singing Jesus’ name. For nothing will ever take your name from my lips.”

The reality that I was humbly standing in the midst of India’s persecuted church began to hit me. People who know what it really means to pick up your cross and follow him. For their decision for Christ could very well mean their lives. I am undone and forever changed.

 

India is quickly becoming one of the fastest growing churches history has ever seen. They estimate 15000 people are accepting Christ on a daily basis. With this incredible move of God, also comes much persecution, especially in the Northern Region of Punjab where we spend a few days by the Pakistan border.  As I stood in a village of an unreached area of India, I was changed as I looked into the dimly lighted crowd to see the image of a beautiful Indian man with tears falling from his softly closed eyes. For a moment, closed off the world around him and with eyes sealed shut, he just couldn’t help himself but be overwhelmed as he began to get a better look at the beauty of this man named Jesus.

That night we got to worship, speak of the incredible simple goodness of God, pray for the sick and see healings. I quickly found myself sitting on the very uneven ground surrounded by women and babies, soaking up every moment in the presence of Jesus with them. His presence was truly beautiful that night. It was an honor.

 

My two and a half week journey in India consisted of everything from spending time with youth in a rehab youth center, playing with the kids on the street, sharing my testimony, training up young and old worship leaders, and getting to sing my heart out in the cities of Hubli, Mumbai, Dehli, and Armristar and Punjabi villages. We experienced everything from early morning flights, to all night burns on buses, trains, crazy crazy taxis and motorcycles. To many it seemed a little insane, and maybe it was a bit. . .but we are so convinced and blinded by the childlike optimism of the God of Hope that we just can’t help ourselves. We can’t help ourselves but see the crime, murder and intense rapes happening in the city of New Delhi and feel the intense draw to GO there. With guitars, ukuleles, tambourines, and shakers in hand and songs in our hearts, we KNOW and are convinced His presence is the only answer.

It says in Psalm 22:3 that “ the Lord is enthroned on the praises of His people.“ And in Psalm 89:14 it says that “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne; Loving kindness and truth go before Him.”

So if this is true, than I conclude that at the sound of our voice and simple song to Him, Heaven comes down. He alone IS worthy and I know that those words sung out is sweet incense to Him that He can not resist. A heartbeat goes out that calls for a pilgrimage back to His heart for many who are lost. Aka. . . HARVEST TIME.  J

We got to put on a 5 hour burn in New Delhi, that city supposedly filled with crime and hopelessness. As I am listening to a girl get up on stage and testify of how the presence of God has just healed her of an intense stuttering problem. . . I become even more convinced of these truths. His presence is enough. Not being able to speak more than a word of two at a time for her whole entire life, she began to sing out a song to the Lord that she had never been able to do before. For probably the first time in her life she began to preach to us with tears falling from her eyes and a huge smile she declared, “ I am called to be a voice to the nations.” Her heart spilt with freedom and joy.

 

I really believe this is a picture of what God is doing. Giving a voice to the voiceless and a song to the captive ones that releases praise in the nations!

We got to see the hunger of hundreds and hundreds of Indians saying they want to give their lives to love Jesus and worship Him all across their nation and to the ends of the Earth. I am simply overwhelmed.

 

The promises of God is a powerful thing. Hope in these promises is even more powerful. As I got to sit with a young 18 year old girl who’s parents died, left alone and confused, stuck in poverty and hear her testify of this man named Jesus who took care of her, her whole life; I am ruined for any other lover. As I looked into the eyes of a once Hindu single mother, left and abandoned by all those she thought were supposed to love her. As I looked in her eyes and heard her speak of the goodness of God that found her like no other could, that no matter what happens in her life, that the name of Jesus Christ will always be found on her lips. .  I am convinced. I am convinced that there is no end to this love. I am convinced that God is filling India with the song of the redeemed that breaks every chain of injustice and darkness. I am convinced and fully confident that I am the luckiest girl on the planet to be loved by such a man.

 

I just wanted to finish by sharing something I wrote in India, I feel it kind of sums up a big part of this trip for me.

 Be blessed and thank you for reading!  LOVE YOU GUYS!

 

 

“Eyes fixed, gaze steady, you never turn away

Not one forgotten, not one lost from your sight

Rhythms of a heartbeat heard, the call of pilgrimage

Home into true embrace

 

 

As a refuge, you spread your wings over me

Covered completely in your love

Peace takes home in my heart

Finally I breathe once again

 

 

There is hope for the captive when a throne is made

make way for the King

with the song that you sing.”