He is Risen!

Hello everyone! I hope that each of you is doing well and that this month has brought God’s blessings to you in both big and small ways. I pray that each of you have found yourselves clinging onto God as your source of hope and joy.

Core This month my core has been going through an article discussing different spiritual disciplines that we can practice in order to deepen our relationship with God. We have spent time discussing topics like confession, prayer and fasting, silence and solitude, and thankfulness. One week instead of meeting at Ruth’s apartment like we normally do, we decided to volunteer at Feed My Starving Children and it was so lifegiving! At the beginning of the volunteer session, one of the staff members gave a presentation on the organization and shared with us that 1 person dies of hunger every 4 seconds. That statistic has stuck with me this whole month. Getting to make food packages for people we will likely never meet across the world was very touching for our core, we even got to pray over the boxes of food we put together at the end of the night. As people who have been highly privileged to never experience extreme hunger, I have been asking God every day to remind us of those facing physical need every day and that we would ask God to provide for them as only he can.

FOJs My FOCUS on Jesus studies have been going well! As we near the semester, I have finished studying with Nyellie and am close to finishing with Priscilla. Both of these ladies have grown so much in their walk with God this year and it has been a privilege to be the one that gets to point them to Jesus week to week. Priscilla has grown in seeing herself as a disciple of Jesus who would be compelled by her love of Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:14) to go and share about his love to others. Priscilla has been bringing her roommate who is not a Christian to church and to core and I’ve gotten to hear her share about the conversations she is having with her roommate who is curious about Jesus but is skeptical to believe it to be true. Nyellie has grown in not being embarrassed or ashamed of following Jesus. I have noticed God transforming her heart to be open about sharing her faith with her friends because she can’t help but to proclaim the hope and joy that Jesus has brought to her life. Both of these ladies will be attending SICM (Student Institute of Campus Ministry) in Washington state in a few weeks. At SICM, they will have the opportunity to gain tools of how to be on mission for Jesus on their college campus. Please pray that these ladies will receive openly what God has in store for them to learn there and that He would empower them to see themselves as a part of the cosmic redemption story he is writing.

Easter The week leading up to Easter Sunday, we held a Resurrection Fair (dubbed Rez Fair) on campus. It was so awesome! Every year we gather as campus ministries and local churches to celebrate the resurrection of our Savior right in the middle of campus, it is one of my favorite events we get to do every year. Each organization/church brings an activity or giveaway for the students walking by to enjoy and to hear about Jesus. As I was walking around this year, I heard many conversations being had about Jesus and what his sacrifice and resurrection means for us who believe in him. I also saw many students get invited to a church service that upcoming Sunday. It filled me with joy and courage to proclaim the gospel of Jesus at the Plinth, a large space on campus that I’ve seen be used as a grounds to promote all kinds of different agendas. As the days led up to Easter Sunday, I prayed eagerly for God to move in the hearts of every person who would step foot into a service that weekend. On a day we celebrate with our whole beings the One who gave himself for us on that cross and who rose from the dead, I pleaded with God for my deepest desires–to save my friends who seem to be so far from him and who sometimes it seems impossible for them to come to the feet of Jesus, to end injustice and violence in this world where hate and divisiveness thrives, to end poverty and hunger, to heal my loved ones battling cancer. I believe that in the name of Jesus, all things are possible, and that all things surrendered to God and put into his hands, He will take care of as only he can. I pray that each of you would turn to Jesus and pray earnestly for injustices to be made right, for broken relationships to be reconciled, for those you love to turn to Him. God is in the business of bringing new and abundant life out of dead things and places.

Spiritual Retreat This past week, I took the day off to do a spiritual retreat where I spent the whole day talking, praying, thanking, and praising God, just me and God. As we near the end of the year, there are many things I find myself stressing out over–challenging and encouraging conversations I need to have, questions I feel the need to ask, end of year events to plan, leading by example of how to finish core, FOJs, The Grove well. Entering into my sabbatical day, I found myself stresing over how to spend my day with God and if we would have enough time to tackle all of the topics I wanted to talk to him about. I found my mind racing and wanting to make the most out of the 6 hours we had together. Of course, God silenced my thoughts with these two Scriptures and I will leave you with them today. Psalm 31 (Rewritten into a song) You are my refuge, faithful God; You shelter me from shame. I put my spirit in your hands And call upon your name. Deliver me from hidden snares, From sorrow, pain, and strife. When troubles seem to smother me, Take heed, and save my life! Be gracious, God, in my distress, And dry my bitter tears. My life is spent in misery; I sigh away my years. I am a wretched sight to see: A broken, empty thing. With only terror all around, And deathly whispering. And yet I trust in you, O God; Your covenant still stands. Redeem me, in your faithful love: My life is in your hands. Matthew 11:29-30 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Thank you so much for your constant support. I am thankful for your partnership with me and God, He is doing mighty things and I am excited and grateful that you and I get to be a part of it.  Blessings, Andrea

Enjoy this student testimony from one of our Mi Gente students! I love Juan!