Bye Summer

Hello friends 

and 

W E L C O M E 

to those that are new!

Hope you all had a great summer. Many of you are probably wondering what does ministry look like for you this summer? Well let me loop ya in with a list of how this summer went down! 

Fundraising:

Throughout the school year our top priority are our students. The only way we can do ministry full time is if we are fully fundraised, therefore when summer comes around fundraising becomes a top priority. Fundraising then consists of following up, visiting people, reaching out to neighbors, extended family, old college and high school friends, co-workers and getting creative. I remember my first time fundraising, three summers ago, feeling overwhelmed and intimidated at the thought of asking people for money. This was my third summer raising support and I felt the most excited and confident! I had to ask my self the "Why?" Why am I fundraising? Why am I doing ministry? in order to realize I am not asking people for money but rather I am asking people to join God's mission, to help me reach the loss, share the gospel and bring the most unexpected students to Jesus. This change of approach and perspective has allowed me to get excited when I get in front of a potential partnership. Thank you for catching on to the vision and what God is doing here at our Collin campuses!

Bonding with everyone:

One of the things that I love about our ministry is that our staff is encouraged to grow not as co-workers but as family! I got the opportunity to spend time with the girls that were in my peer team this past school year to Houston. Got to experience our first Summer Focus after a year of COVD and it was one of the most fulfilling experiences! Led and planned for the first time fundraisers for our incoming apprentices! We had a staff retreat where I got the opportunity to get intentional and quality time with all of our team including our new apprentices. Got to take some trips with my sweet parents and friends! Moved houses and was blessed by the help of some friends. Served our local food pantry with our I'll let the pictures speak for themselves,

Collin women's staff (missing Renee). L to R: Dani, Alex -apprentice, Orion- apprentice, Me, Jacy

Emily and I led and planned our first fundraiser for one of our incoming apprentices! It was a success!

Had one of my favorite girl's for dinner, Andrea Martinez

Got our peer team to serve at our local food pantry. Forgot to take a picture of the rest of the girls but here we have L to R: Jessica, Jacy, Erin

This is Renee being silly at one of our SICM sessions. Renee will be joining our Collin team as an apprentice and I am really excited for her!

Sweet Andrea Sierra and Andrea Martinez and Erin (not pictured) helped me with moving!

Our first Summer Focus!

Some of the girls in my peer team visiting Houston! We picked one day to get fancy and have dinner outside!

Lailah and I dancing to salsa at our SICM dance party! Lailah is one of our incoming apprentices and I am excited to see what the Lord does with her at UTD.

This is Andrea and I celebrating one of our good friends at his wedding! Andrea is also one of my sweet and faithful supporters!

Laiya has been part of our CTF (Christian Teen Fellowship) our teen ministry and is now transitioning into Focus! Have gotten some time with her this summer and I am excited for her to join our Wylie Campus!

Hiked for some s'mores on top of a mountain with some sweet girls! L to R: Andrea (one of our students), Emily (on staff with UTA).

Andrea and Sandra (not pictured) have become some of my closest friends on staff. Both have been two encouraging friends that have helped me embrace and celebrate my culture and latina background.

My co-worker/friend Lon and his sweet wife Caitlin invited some friends over to celebrate fourth of July!

My sweet parents took me to Chicago for my birthday! Here we are visiting one of the most beautiful Botanical Gardens!