Beginning of Fall Semester

This month has flown by, so many things have happened, it's impressive to spend time and reflect on it all.

For those of you just joining us, please take a few minutes to read this post. It explains a little on what I am preparing for and might answer some of your questions.

FIU Volunteering

It's been exciting to be back on campus and volunteer with the InterVarsity Chapter at FIU! As expected, the beginning of the semester was hectic and full of meeting and talking with new students on campus. We were able to do tabling for freshman students before the semester began and took a few hours during the first week of classes to prayer walk around campus. 

We had initially wanted to schedule a table and show our IV pictures and gifts but weren't able to find an open spot. What at first seemed like a limitation, became our gateway to more personal conversations and to gain a new perspective on a campus we can easily overlook. Thank you God for the time we prayed for our campus and over the needs and requests of other students we met as we walked around.

That same week we were able to participate in a joint event with other religious organizations on campus. It was great to briefly catch-up with the staff from Cru, Navigators, and others as we invited students for free pizza and to fill out a survey for us. I'm grateful for the help and collaboration between InterVarsity undergraduate and graduate ministries. After the event, we realized that around 400 students passed by our event! It's amazing to see how God blessed our efforts as we came and worked together for a common goal. It was also eye opening to see that after evangelical Christianity, Catholicism is the next popular religious affiliation.

In this month, we also experienced hurricane Dorian, that didn't hit South Florida but brought a lot of uncertainty and rescheduling. Sadly, it affected the chapter's "Welcome Back" event. When we finally got to do the event, students were able to have a time of friendship and fun, playing games and getting to know each other.

Towards the end of the month, I was invited to attend a staff and volunteers meeting for South Florida InterVarsity. It was encouraging to hear the ways God was working in different schools in the area. It was also a beautiful reunion with staff I hadn't seen in months or years. Apart from testimonies, we were able to prepare for our upcoming Fall Conference happening in October 18-20. 

Preparing for Chile

Wow, it's been 2 months of support raising! This month has been a great lesson of what it means to rely on Jesus. In my prayer for all those that are supporting me and those I meet with, it's been encouraging to see God caring for the needs of all of us. I'm grateful for each conversation and time spent together, sharing the ways God is moving and learning from the experiences of such friends.

Thankfully, I was able to enroll in a free online class given by the IFES on fundraising. I've really enjoyed each lesson as it is carefully curated to bring in worldwide perspectives on giving and reliance on God. This upcoming month, I will be having more opportunities of online calls with the class and presenting on practical ways that I've been able to implement the coursework in fundraising thus far. 

I'll end this post with this passage that I've been reflecting on recently:

Isaiah 40:6-8

A voice says, “Cry!”

    And I said, “What shall I cry?”

All flesh is grass,

    and all its beauty is like the flower of the field.

The grass withers, the flower fades

    when the breath of the Lord blows on it;

    surely the people are grass.

The grass withers, the flower fades,

    but the word of our God will stand forever.

I pray the Lord may continue to reveal his will and purposes for your life as you read the Bible this week, until next time!

Tabling at the Multifaith Fair

Giving free popsicles for Freshman and families

Serving pizza for "Welcome Back" event

If you are wanting to know more about the specifics of where I am going and how you can be part of that please click here for a previous blog post or here for a video update.