Name: Chelsea Jones
Age: 19
Hometown: DeSoto, TX
School: McMurry University
Major/Minor: Education/Music
Site/s where you have served: Oak Cliff
Q: Why did you want to serve full-time as a PT intern?
I wanted to experience something totally different. I had worked with kids before, and didn’t find it challenging for the most part. But after my first summer with PT, everything changed for me. I had never been so physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually exhausted in my life, but it was the very thing that tired me out that kept me going. The relationships that blossomed from just one summer still amazes me, and it’s something that I wouldn’t change for the world.
Q: What is the most important lesson you have learned from working with underserved children/youth?
At the end of the day, children are truly a gift from God and all they need is a little love. Yes, there were days when I strongly questioned that, but my kids truly changed me. I went in thinking about all the things I could teach my youth, but they ended up teaching me. They taught me that nothing in this life should be taken for granted; you should thank God everyday for every little thing He has given you.
Q: How has PT affected your faith journey?
Oh my, where to start? Project Transformation changed my faith completely, not only by bringing me closer to God, but also made me question God in a lot of ways. I started the summer being content where I was spiritually, said all my prayers as usual, but I quickly received my wake-up call. I spoke one night at worship about God meeting us at our own prayer meeting and that’s exactly what God did. With the stresses from site and the everyday challenges of being a college student and teenager, I felt like I hit rock bottom emotionally and spiritually. However, it was at that same time that I realized that I was placed at PT for a reason and that I was truly surrounded by people who loved me and were willing to go out of their way to help and support me. I still consider them my family to this day.
Q: How has your experience with PT helped you to better understand your gifts and your calling?
PT challenged me and pushed me farther than I believed I could be pushed. I stepped beyond my comfort zone this summer and realized my true calling. I was never one to sing in public or be a leader, but with the help of the House Pastors, fellow interns and tons of encouragement, I sang for the first time at a worship service and slowly but surely gained the respect and trust of my peers. I had never experienced so much joy just by singing and waking up at 7 am to be with kids all day. After about two services, I felt so at home at PT. I went from being the shy intern who was just kind of there and singing on occasion in worship to being a part of the worship team at Urban Camp, which was probably the most terrifying and exciting thing in the world that I truly put my heart into and loved every second of it.
Q: What is your favorite part of the Project Transformation experience?
The relationships that were built throughout the course of the summer. Whether it’s going on a home visit or a Family Fun Night, it was the days where I was beyond ready to pull my hair out from stress that a simple hug from one of my kids made everything better. The way your name changes from “Chelsea” to, “Miss Chelsea, to just “Miss,” those are the things I cherish the most. The many sweaty hugs and high fives you get make it all worthwhile.
Q: What are your future vocational plans and how has PT helped to shape or clarify those plans?
PT helped me realize that heart is helping people and utilizing my ability to interact with people and kids. Granted, there were days when I felt like quitting because the kids were just everywhere, but they were a huge part of the reason why I decided to become an educator. I realized that teaching or working with an after school program is something I feel like I have been called to do. It took awhile to finally accept it, but God gave me this gift for a reason and who am I not to use what He’s given me? Seeing the way the kids can go from not saying more than two words to you the first day to not wanting to leave your side by the end of the summer. They’re my little motivators and it’s because of them that I’ve made so many changes to my life. And when your once most problematic youth calls you seven months later to tell you that they’ve made the honor roll twice, it just makes you feel on top of the world.
Q: What have you learned from living with other young adults in such a diverse Christian community?
You’ll be surprised what you find out about someone just by sharing your space with them. Placing 98 unique individuals in rooms with strangers can go two ways, really bad or really good. Thankfully, I learned a lot about my super awesome roommate Kelsey just by sharing my space with her. I had a pretty bad roommate experience my freshman year of college, but she gave me hope after rooming with her for the summer. We hit it off from the first day we met, and not only because our names rhymed, but because we kind of balanced each other out.
Q: What is the most important thing you will take away from serving through Project Transformation?
That God puts you where He wants you for a reason. You don’t really have to understand why at first, but once you finally allow Him to move through you and use you, prepare to be amazed and blown away by the outcome.
Q: What advice would you give to a young adult who is interested in serving as a PT intern?
Do it or else! As long as you’re ready for the best, most amazing, exhausting, life changing summer of your life. Go in with an open heart and an open mind, because you will be challenged in so many ways, pushed beyond your comfort zone and blessed in every way possible.
If you could tell one story from your experience at PT – what story would you tell?
I was picked to be the opening speaker at Urban Camp and I was beyond nervous, not only because I had to speak, but I had to speak in front of my fellow interns and the kids. To say I was nervous was an understatement, so I did what I do best when I’m nervous, I cracked a super lame joke and hoped for the best. As I was telling the campers what they should look forward to in the upcoming week, I began to talk about how much the campers meant to the interns and that we were there for them if they needed us. Later on that week while I was walking to one my classes, a camper came up to me and tugged on my shirt and I leaned down to him and he whispered in my ear to pray for him. That is my most cherished moment from PT and when the time came for the campers to leave, he ran up to me and gave me the biggest hug and said that I was his biggest inspiration. That moment for me made me realize just how much PT changed me and that’s something I’ll never forget.