Quick Update

I just made it back to Wisconsin this morning. Time surely does fly. One thing that I find hard to do is prioritize. When you have so much to do its hard to know what comes first. So here's a quick update.

I spent Christmas at home in Hawaii for 2 1/2 weeks. My Christmas gift from my AMAZING team. I had 4 doctor's appointments while I was home. I'm trusting God in all of this. I'll let you know the results, hopefully soon.

Please pray that I will keep God the first and foremost priority in my life. That I would continually trust Him in every situation. And would bring Him glory in all I do and say.

I got to see a lot of family. That was a special blessing to me. A lot of my cousins have kids of their own now. I can play "auntie" now. I love that.

Well I got to go. Priorities first.

A bunch of pictures from El Salvador

This is a picture of me and two of the youngest girls at the home. I'm holding Kimberly and the other girl is Paola.


My Alabama friends that I travel with: MaryBeth and Jonathan. The volcano behind us is an active one.



Luke Johnson is our team's Youth Revivalist and this is while he was hanging out with some of the teenage boys one afternoon.

This is Christopher. I think he is 8 years old. He would give me a hug everytime I saw him. This year he is in a new house with the older elementary age boys.

Our team with many of the kids from the home. Not all of them but most of them. It was a great week. Can you find me? Lol. I was told I look El Salvadorian.

El Salvador Trip 2009

First off: Thank you, Thank You, THANK YOU, Gracias, Mahalo to all who prayer for me and my team while we were in El Salvador. And thank you to all those who supported me financially to go to El Salvador for a week (I'm still working on writing thank you cards to you and I'm sorry if you got two or none I'm having a hard time keeping track of which ones actually made it to the mailbox).



We departed the airport in Chicago Saturday November 28th at 2 in the morning. We spent a week in El Salvador and arrived back in the United States Saturday December 5th before 2 in the morning.

Our team was able to minister to the Shalom Children's Home. We helped with a lot of physical labor on the property. A few weeks before we arrived a hurricane came through El Salvador. I believe it was Hurricane Ida but don't quote me on that one. Our team was able to do a lot of painting, built a new gate by one of the houses, cleared fallen branches and trees from the hilltop behind their office building, cleared debri from a mudslide that took out part of their fence, decorated their church for Christmas, and other things I cannot remember but I know there were more.

Last year our team was able to come to El Salvador and help at the Children's Home. A lot of the children remembered me, by name. It was an amazing experience. Last year I played soccer with the 8 to 12 year old boys. It was very neat when I saw them because they ran out to meet me while we were touring the Home. I was sad that I wasn't able to play much soccer with them this time. We had a lot less time to play with the children this year because of the amount of work they needed help with at the home.

One day while we were hauling a lot of branches some of the teenage girls were calling for me to come over. I told them "no puedo" which means I can't. They asked "why" and I had to tell them I was working and I wasn't allowed to leave what I was doing.

This year I was able to spend time with one of the girls at the home. She is usually shy but I was able to befriend her. I heard her story when I got back to the states last year. I knew I wanted to meet her on this trip. The first day I saw her I told her "hello" and said her name. I think she was a little surprised that I knew who she was. But from then on she said hello to me every time she saw me. She was a great helper and by that she was an encouragement to me. She didn't look like she had a lot of friends but yet she still had a joy in her life. She was an example of serving regardless of being thanked or appreciated.

I plan to share more about the trip, but this is all I have time to write right now. The next time I get a chance I'll share about the church we were able to minister to on Sunday.

No I Haven't Forgotten

I know I said I would update my blog soon about El Salvador but it's been so busy. I'm now at home in Hawaii visiting my family and enjoying my Christmas gift from my team. Thanks guys! Love ya tons!

I'm trying to go through my pictures to pick out some good ones before I start my post. So much happened in El Salvador in a week. Well...I promise I will do my best to write a post about El Salvador. Soon. I hope. :)

Thanks for reading this post anyways.

Shawntay

5k, Thanksgiving Day Run, Niles, Michigan

The race went really well for Joanna and I. We finished together. Our time was 31:22, yes both of us got the exact same time. Josh ad Reuben ran the 5k as well Josh's time was 25:28 and Reuben's time was 24:31. Susanna ran the 10k and her time was 47:59. She didn't do as well as she wanted to but came in less than a minute after the person she was trying to beat.

The team I traveled with showed up to the race before they headed to their Thanksgiving Day meal at our Team Manager's house. It was awesome. They didn't see us start because they were late, but they saw us at a corner and I think it was about half way. Joanna and I were really tired so it was a big encouragement. Especially to me. They ended up going to another corner and some of them even ended up running with us a little bit. Well toward the end of the race Reuben ended up running with Joanna and I and pushed us to finish strong and at a sprint. Well Joanna and I got to finish really well.

Joanna and I took a walk around the YMCA to warm down and then we rushed off to try to get back to the finish line to watch Susanna finish. Joanna and I waited for her before the finish line and then we ran with her till the end. Joanna ran on her right and I on her left. We pushed her and encouragement her till we could run no longer with her because of the chip timers we were using.

Susanna and I now have goals for next year's Thanksgiving Day Run at the YMCA. I want to run the 10k with her so we have a year to train. Our goal is to train for the top of her age group. To come in first for Susanna's age group, we need to run the 10k at 42:15. As a long term goal I jokingly said that we should do the Honolulu Marathon one day. Who knows it could happen. God has been making my dreams come true so why not dream big. My grandfather has run in marathons before so I have it in my blood I just have to find it and train it. :)

PS- One of the big things that God is still teaching me is: When I become who God wants me to be, everything else will fall into place.

Jesus Loves Me This I Know!

So this week was AMAZING because God is faithful and never changes. He truly is the lover of my soul. Tonight we just completed our last week of conferences for 2009. Well this week God showed Himself strong and surprised me in the process and caused me to be overwhelmed. I was really missing my family this week. Which is unusual for me because I'm pretty used to being away and am content with where God has me. Well I was having an extremely hard time with not being able to see my family for Christmas. I asked my team to pray for me because I knew I was going to Wisconsin because I had no money to go home. My plan was to look forward to trying to go to Hawaii in the summer if I had the money. Well my team prayed for me.

I was able to keep focus during our services but every once in a while during the day it would just hit me how much I missed my dad and sisters. Well as much as I put my focus on God and asked Him to give me the grace to get through this I was still really struggling. My heart felt like it couldn't be calmed as much as I wanted it to. Well...God had a reason for that. On Wednesday when we were packing up all our stuff our team Revivalist sat us down for a meeting. He wanted to read some testimonies from people at the church. He read how God had changed them in the course of 4 days. Then He thanked us for our giving. We wanted to help the widows in the church financially and we raised hundreds of dollars within our team. He said that as a "dad" he was proud of us. He said not only had we been giving to the body of Christ at the church we were ministering at but were giving to each other. Then Ryan said Shawntay, I want to let you know that your team wants to send you home for Christmas. My eyes welled up with tears of joy. Now I saw why God wouldn't let my missing my family go away. And God let me see how much my team loves me.

So I'll be going home to Hawaii a few days after our team's missions trip to El Salvador. I'll be going to Wisconsin to touch base with friends there and then I'll head home for a few weeks. I'll go back to Wisconsin and then head to Michigan at the beginning of January. I'm stoked to see what God has in store for me. He has been refining me and changing me to be more like Him. I'm learning what it is like to live a Christian life with freedom and joy and not in bondage of this flesh.

I love God and I'm glad He is the lover of my soul. I love talking to Him in prayer. Its better than any conversation on the cellphone.

One BIG thing God is teaching me is: to be who God wants me to be.

Update for October

In the month of October I sent around 130 support letters out for my missions trip to El Salvador. Along with sending an e-mail to a bunch of people and posting it on my facebook. I needed $1,000 by October 31st. Well today being November 2nd the $1,000 is supposed to be in. Well God did like only He can do. He provided "exceeding abundantly above all we ask or think". In the month of October I had around $1,800 come in. I knew God would be faithful. It's been neat to see God provide for me through the years.

Although I'm done with raising support for my missions trip, I'm still having to raise funds for this year's expenses. This year I needed $1,500 for El Salvador's missions trip, $3,000 for my ministry fees, and $3,000 for health insurance. Currently I need a little less than $3,000 to cover for the rest of this year.

Some of you know that I also have to raise personal support. I haven't wanted to really mention that yet this year because I had so much I had to raise in order to be traveling with Life Action. Well because we have a break in December I know I'm going to be needing some money. Since I've been traveling the Lord has used host parents to provide cash for me to get things I need personally. Specifically on my birthday my host parents ended up getting a card and having a bunch of people from the church sign it and they had given money to me too. That was such a huge blessing because I was running quite low on cash.

I also need to mention a change that was made this summer regarding our support raising. Previously we were able to raise money for ministry support and personal support. We are not able to do that separately anymore. Now what is happening is that all the funds that come in go directly to my personal ministry support. After I raise my ministry support I am able to receive a stipend. The stipend is determined by how much excess in funds I have. But I will only be able to receive up to $300 a month. For example, when my ministry expense is paid off if I have $50 in excess I will get $50. If I have $400 in excess I will get $300 for that month and the next month I can get $100 more. I hope that makes sense it is kind of confusing.

They have advised us that we can raise personal support and just ask our supporters to send it directly to us. So if you would like to send me some personal support and help me make it financially through December you can send it to me at

Shawntay Celestino
PO BOX 31
Buchanan, MI 49107

You can also send me letters through this address. At this PO Box they collect all the team's mail and send it on to the church that we'll be at.

There's so much more that I'd like to say but I'd have to save it for another time. I have to get ready for my day.

I hope you all have a God honoring day.

Serving Him,
Shawntay Celestino

My Most Recent Mass E-mail and Facebook Note

Most of you know that I'm traveling with Life Action Ministries. Last year we had the opportunity to go to El Salvador and minister to a children's home and put a well in at a local village. Previously they were getting all their water from the stream which was very dirty.

We have the opportunity to go back and help at the Children's Home and at a church near last year's well site. We leave November 28th and will be there for about a week. Our team consist of 15 single aged team members and 3 families. All the team members will be going but not all the families will be going.

We have been asked to raise $1,500 each and they have asked that $1,000 be in by October 30th. Will you please consider supporting me on this mission trip?

Serving Him,
Shawntay Celestino

Make checks out to Life Action Ministries with a note designating the funds for Shawntay Celestino otherwise it will go to Life Action's general fund.

Send to:
Support Development Department
Life Action Ministries
PO BOX 31
Buchanan, MI 49107

A Couple Pictures

Here's a picture of this year's team, they have a great spirit about them and it's been neat to get to know all of them. The other picture is one someone took of me while I was reading Danny and the Dinosaur to the 2 year olds in the nursery. During our 8-day Summit in Waller, Texas I was able to help out a little bit in the nursery. I now appreciate nursery workers more and I wish I would have sooner.

Thank you for all those who serve in church nurseries. You are being a blessing to those mothers who have very young children.

Just a quick update

I haven't really been able to be on line for a bit. But since I have time right now I just wanted to ask you all to pray. I have either broken my toe or badly bruised it. My current host dad used to work as an EMT. He said that I should wear close toed shoes and not jump and stuff like that for about 6 weeks. I praise the Lord that after the 6th week we will be going to El Salvador. But I'd like you to pray that my foot would be okay for my trip to El Salvador. Last year I enjoyed playing soccer a lot with the kids and I really would like to be able to do that again.

God answers prayer. Ye have not because ye ask not. So please join with me in prayer for my foot.

Shawntay

Happy Early Birthday!

The Lord used a boy in Base Camp to be such a blessing to me. This week in Hopkinsville, KY I asked two kids how old they were and then I asked "when's your birthday?" Come to find out one of the boys birthday was the day before mine. Well a few nights later I was greeted with a birthday card and early birthday present. He was very thoughtful and wanted to get me something because I was going to be away from my family. Last night his mother told me that they would be praying for me.

I thank the Lord that He chooses to use people to be a blessing to one another.

Our next stop will be in Dallas, Georgia.

On the Road Again

My second year of traveling with Life Action Ministries has officially started. At the end of July the new teams were all in Buchanan, Michigan to start traveling for the 2009-2010 season. Last week my team arrived in Troy, TN for our 1st 4-day THIRST Conference. The conference went very well. I am helping out in Base Camp (2nd grade to 6th grade) again. I enjoyed our Tuesday night service with the kids; they were terrific. They were so attentive to the story and were enthusiastic singing the songs. One little boy was so into the story that he almost fell off his chair while he was listening.

This week we are in Hopkinsville, KY. This morning was our Sunday service where we have the children for 3 hours. The count was over 60 kids. I hope that most of them get to come back. There are quite a few that come through a bus ministry. Please pray that things will go well for them so that the ones that minister to them all the time can take a break and be refreshed themselves.

Oh this year my team consist of 15 team members and 3 families. All but the 3 families and 6 of the girls are new to traveling with Life Action. Please pray for us as we transition with the new team and that the new team members would adjust easily to our crazy traveling schedule.

Life is Like a Vapor

I never knew that when I casually said “see you later” that I wouldn’t be seeing my friend again till heaven. Three weeks ago we received news that Stephen Maines was in a motorcycle accident with his sister and he did not make it. He was my teammate and a close friend this past year. The first part of the year he would call me mom and later he said I was more like his sister. I sure do miss him. But I am thankful to God to have the opportunity to have him as my friend for the past year.

I will miss the conversations we were able to have. Iron sharpens iron and that’s the type of friend he was. He would encourage me to preserver and he told me the truth even though he knew it would hurt. Finding a friend that is going to tell you the truth because it’s best for you is hard to find and I thank the Lord I had that last year.

So many times we look to people to find our encouragement. Even though I will miss Stephen, through this I’ve been learning that God will never leave me or forsake me. To be honest I feel like I’m going through a dry time spiritually but I’m not going to let my “feels” dictate my life. I’m choosing to trust God at His word. Please keep me in your prayers.

“O Lord, I pray that I glorify you in every aspect of my life and that when I will see your face I will be known as a good and faithful servant.”

Summer Break: Destination- Waianae, Hawaii

June 8th to July 8th I've been on Oahu visiting my family. Haven't been home for a year and a half. I've been able to take a break and catch up with family and friends. I've spent more time at the beach this summer since I can remember.

Camp Malama Na O'pio was the camp that I grew up going to. That camp was where God drew me closer to Himself. Seeing the campgrounds brings back a ton of memories. This summer they were only able to have 3 weeks of camp and I was able to visit them and help out a little bit. During the junior camp there were many campers that recieved Christ as their Savior.

One really neat opportunity I've had while home is with one of my friends. During one of my weeks here we would walk to the beach around 7:30 and do our devotions there. It was a unique way to spend some time together and to keep each other accountable. I love being able to just watch God's creation. The ocean will never cease to amaze me. Taking in the scenery always makes me think about how BIG God is.

Next I'll be headed to Wisconsin to spend a week or so with friends and then it will be back to Life Action's Camp. Please pray that I'll be safe while I'm traveling and that I'll have opportunities to talk with people and share with them about what I do and more importantly about Jesus.

I still have financial needs for this next year. I will need around $6,000 for my ministry expense this year. It is a lot more this year because I will be needing to get insurance through Life Action Ministries. So far a little more than $1,000 has come in. Thank you so much to those of you that have supported me. I'm always amazed at how God uses others to provide for me. I know I'm just a little nobody that God choses to use. I'm not perfect but God is forgiving and I want to do what's right.

I've sent out an update letter for my 2008-2009 travel year if you would like me to send you a copy please e-mail me your address or post it in the comments.
I do appreciate your prayers and thank you for checking out my blogspot.

Smichic01@gmail.com

DC and Maryland

A couple weeks ago while in Maryland we were able to go to Washington DC on our off day. It had been rainy most of the conference but Thursday was nice enough to go site seeing. I was able to tour DC with Jess, it was awesome. I haven't been there for 10 years and it was neat to be there once again. On Friday we were able to walk around our host parent's property. It was beautiful and it was a beautiful day so we took a ton of pictures before we left.




Holly and I
























Host Mom, Holly, and Margo

















Jess and I in front of the White House










Jess and I in front of the Lincoln Memorial
















MaryBeth, Michelle, Jess, and I in front of the Natural History Museum













I found Hawaii at the WWII Memorial











Another pic of Jess and I in front of the Lincoln Memorial









Our Host Parent's property

A Substitute for a Few Hours

Here's a picture of the class except for two that were absent this morning when I had to say goodbye to them.

At our Summit in Wabash, IN I was able to fill in as a substitute teacher for a few hours. I substituted for Mrs. Monroe's 3rd and 4th grade class. I am thankful for the opportunity to be able to be back in the classroom. Mrs. Monroe was able to attend the Ladies Luncheon while I had the priviledge to spend time with her precious students. Sometimes I miss having my own class. Being a school teacher isn't always easy, but you do get the opportunity to be a part of a child's life. It's a challenge, but its worth it. I admire the men and women who are dedicated to teaching children and molding their lives. Thank you Mrs. Monroe for letting me watch your students!

6 Whole Months On The Road

Yes, it's true. I've been traveling around the United States of America for 6 months. We started in September and were on break for December and tomorrow we will start Month #7 on the road.

Since our team returned from Christmas break, we have spent most of our time in Texas with the exception of two conferences: Duncan, OK and Sulphur, LA. Currently I'm at my host home in Graham, TX, we concluded an 8 day conference last Sunday.

As I think over my life over the past few months, I realize it is quite an adventure. Life always has its ups and downs and I've been able to see God provide for me. I now own a red Sony VAIO laptop. It amazes me when I stop and look at what God has provided me with. I'm amazed to have a new laptop without having to pay a cent for it.

Another provision of the Lord was while I was in San Saba, TX. I was running low on money and we were about to go on Spring Break. Because the break was split up into two parts and only a few days I wasn't able to go away for a break. I knew I would need money to go and do things in San Antonio. Well...I shared my need with one of the girls on my team and that very day the Lord provided $140 between two different people.

Recently the Lord has provided again. I was in need of a couple of things from Wal-Mart and once again was low on cash. I was trying to trust in God's timing but that's not always easy. Well God used my host parent to provide me the money that I needed. They have no clue how much of a blessing they were to me. God used them to show me "Yes, Shawntay! I will continually provide for you." I don't know why it's so hard to trust that God will provided. He can do anything and I am continually learning that.

It seems like there's so much I could write about but it's getting late so I better get to bed. Tomorrow is another long day.

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding in all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths." PROVERBS 3:5-6

Where I've been and Where I'm going 2008-2009

Since September I've been to so many places and meet so many people.

Where I've been:

September

Douglas, GA
Jesup, GA Calvary Baptist Church
Tupelo, MS West Jackson Street Church
Tupelo, MS First Baptist Church
Princeton, IN Bethel Memorial Church

October

Elkview, WV Elkview Baptist Church
Gettysburg, PA Gettysburg Baptist Church
Elizabethtown, PA Mount Calvary Church

November

Winston-Salem, NC Old Town Baptist Church
Mansfield, OH Berean Baptist Church
Brownsville, TN Brownsville Baptist Church
El Salvador, Central America Shalom Children's Home and Living Waters International

January

Sulphur, LA First Baptist Church
Denison, TX Parkside Baptist Church

February

Duncan, OK First Baptist Church
Ennis, TX Tabernacle Baptist Church
Brenham, TX Brenham's First Baptist Church
San Saba, TX First Baptist Church

March

Lubbock, TX First Church of the Nazarene
San Antonio, TX Life Action Ministries: Vision Gathering
Graham, TX Oak Street Baptist Church

April

Rock Falls, IL Harvest Time Bible Church
Wabash, IN Emmanuel Free Will Baptist Church
Buchanan, MI Life Action Camp- Work Week preping the camp grounds

May

Upper Malboro, MD Riverdale Baptist Church

Gettysburg, PA Gettysburg Baptist Church 4 day follow up conference

Bethlehem, PA Calvary Baptist Church

More conferences maybe scheduled till the end of June

El Salvador November 2008 Pics

Here are the pictures that I said I would try to post up a long time ago. It was a great trip and I'd love to go back again.

Duncan, Oklahoma

Superbowl Sunday and still a great turn out. I thank the Lord that we still had a good crowd of people at our evening service. This week I'll be sitting through the Youth Services. Please pray for me, that I'd be able to connect with the teens. I haven't worked with teenagers since college.

We're all getting a little sick

The Summit here at Parkside Baptist Church in Denison, Texas has been going well, but recently we are starting to battle with colds. I am also one of them. Please pray for our team as we finish up Sunday through Wednesday.

Ladies Luncheon on Thursday was well attended. I think the count was around 180. And today's Home Life Cafe was attended by around 200.

Tomorrow will be another long day. But my prayer is that this body of believers would come ready to meet with their Lord and Savior.

This week I was able to watch the response time at the end of one of our services. One of the messages is about THIRST and how we are satisfying our THIRST in things besides God. WE give out Styrofoam cups and they can write the things they have been satisfying their THIRST with. At the end of the service they can come to the front of the auditorium to place their cup on the stairs and pray and ask God to help them find their satisfaction in Him. Seeing the congregation respond and seeking God to satisfy them is what I love most about traveling with Life Action Ministries. Seeing Christians return to a dependence on God makes all the hardships of traveling week to week seem minuscule.

Sulphur, Louisana

Sulphur, LA was the first conference for 2009. Our 4 day conference has flew by faster than I thought it would. We have gotten back into the swing of things and are working together again. I spent most of my evenings in either Happy Heart City (4 years to 1st grade) or Base Camp (2nd to 6th grade). The services were well attended in the evenings. We were told that the average attendance for a Sunday Evening Service was 50. But every evening was attended by an average of 200! Which was an encouragement to all those who attended.

This week a Jewish man who has been attending the church made his profession of faith known to the church, and was baptized on Wednesday evening. It was a special occassion because our team revivalist is also a completed Jew. Seeing the joy in this man's life is what I love about being a part of this Revival Ministry. I get the opportunity to see people find their joy in the Lord by restoring their relationship with the Lord to the place where it needs to be.

Please pray for me as well. That I would be in the place I need to be in my relationship with Christ.

Starting 2009

I'm back on the road and we are headed to our first Thirst Conference in Sulphur, LA. It's been nice to catch up with some of our team members during our three days of traveling. Half of the team will meet up with the rest of us in LA. 

The next two months will be spent mostly in Texas in Denison, Ennis, Brenham, San Saba,  Lubbock, and Graham. I'm hoping that I'll be able to keep up my blogspot during the year. 

Please let me know if you are keeping up with my blogspot because it will help me to be motivated to update it frequently.