Meet Chantel

Dear Girls,

It has never been an easy thing for me to write about myself, and who I am, aside from mere facts that give but little insight into the person I am inside. However, it is only fair that you should know a little of who I am, and so I shall attempt, in the easiest way that I know of- by a letter- to give you a picture of me.Some of you may know me already. I know for sure that a few of you do. But for those who have but seen my name attached to the end of a poem, or some other short piece of writing, let me introduce myself.

My name is Chantel. I was born in Washington, raised in Alaska (where I spent my childhood and teen years), and now living with my family in Colorado. I am in my early twenties, and the middle child of three- a place which I must insist is the very best place a person could be. My family has always been a close one, and the memories we share are some of the most beautiful ever. Let me introduce you to my siblings: Craig is 25 years old, and living with his bride of 6 months, Alicia, in South Eastern Tennessee. Jennessa is 19, and about to go on a trip that will fulfill a dream that she has had since she was 8 years old- going as a Missionary Teacher to the Philippines. She will be gone for 9 months, teaching in a remote village in Occidental Mindoro, where the Mungyan, the natives of the Philippines live.

And me- could you at a glance take in my life, you would find I am much like each of you.By nature, I have always been quiet, and the deepest things of my heart have always been expressed in writing. I never intended to share these things, but what good are the things the Lord gives us, if we but bury them away? In the past two years, God has called me that it was time to stop keeping for myself these things, and to share them with others. Though it has been a journey to be willing, I am thankful and humbled that God can use even the smallest talents to encourage another on their own journeys. My dreams, my goals were common to all of us, as were my struggles and disappointments. I have watched all that I thought I would live for crumble before my eyes, and in the confusion and pain, found that His way is not ours, but it is best. And, I do not imagine I am the only one who struggled to know God's will for her life, only to find that, in what seemed like silence, His answer was to simply wait. And I don't imagine I alone struggled to accept that answer. Yet, as the years go by, and I look back on this pathway, He has been faithful, and my heart has begun to learn Life's greatest lessons. And He has blessed me with more than I had dared to hope for- a wonderful family, a beautiful friendship with the One he has brought into my life, life in some of the most beautiful places in the United States, and friends who, though I have met but few of them in person, encourage me to keep on, no matter how dark the storms. What more could I ask for?

And so, as I take my place among the other girls whose writings have blessed me so much over these past years, and open up my heart to each of you, I pray that God will use it to encourage each of you, to strengthen you in your battles, for we each have our struggles, and we each strive for the same goal.

Your Sister in Christ,

Chantel