Hey guys! 

This year has been blowing right past me. Not only have I been able to grow spiritually, but I have also learned a lot of things on how to be a leader. 

So far, I have gone on my international mission trip to the Dominican Republic. It was such a beautiful place with beautiful people. It was honestly a humbly experience and as well as a check your heart experience as well. We were able to hold a Pastors conference for Pastors around the area and we got to meet Pastor Rudy and his family. We also visited a Haitian Baptist Church that was about 30 minutes from the border of the Dominican Republic and Haiti. It was such an awesome experience to see how people from a different nationality than me praised Jesus. I enjoyed every minute of worship and felt welcomed by them. We also visited different churches around the area and would ask the pastors if they needed anything from us. The main thing that they would respond with was Bibles. For the Haitian churches, it was hard for them to get bibles in their language since the Bibles are expensive. That truly spoke to me on how I have my Bible and sometimes don't feel like reading it when there are people around the world who are wishing to have Bibles so that they can read the. 
But God really spoke to me on a day when we went to go visit a lady at her house. She was so sweet. When we stepped in the back area of where she lived, she quickly fixed chairs for us to sit on. She welcomed everyone personally and would make sure to shake your hand. When it was time to pray for her, we all laid hands on her and one thing that she said was to not be scared of laying hands on her because she had taken a shower in the river a couple of hours ago. That completely shattered my heart. I didn't care if she was clean or not, I didn't care about any physical thing, we all just wanted to pray for her. She was completely honest and humble with us and in that moment I was asking myself;
Am I being humble? Am I being honest?
I was also reminded of how dirty we are, but how gracious God is and yet He still loves us, and wraps His arms around us. 
After we were done praying for her, our missions pastor asked her if she wanted anything for us to provide for her. She quickly replied without thinking, 
"I want things, but I don't need anything. As long as I have Jesus, I'm okay."
This is the moment when God truly spoke to me. On the ride back to the hotel, God just kept on telling me to examine my heart. I couldn't help but think of all the things that I have bought but truly never needed, or of all the negative relationships that I wanted to be a part of but truly never needed. I kept on thinking of times when I would rely on other things to bring me happiness when in reality I only need Jesus.
Jesus was the answer to everything. 
As long as I have Jesus, I too will be okay. 
And this will forever be in my heart.

Being able to serve in the student ministry has brought a lot of opportunity to grow as a leader. I am able to see what really goes on and how I can serve. Class has also helped me become a better leader. In one of our classes, we talked about how we should get home tired after work because we gave God our all. I try to strive to do that everyday and I try my very best to be available for ministry. 
An awesome opportunity that presented itself near the end of last year was to serve in the Hispanic Ministry that Pinnacle Hills was going to start in January. God honestly worked everything in to place to allow me to serve not only in the Student Ministry but also to serve in the Hispanic ministry. It truly has been an privilege to be able to serve in both ministries.

A couple of things that I have learned so far as to working in ministry are;
Be honest
Be flexible
Be on time
Have your own quiet time with God
Read the word daily
Be inviting
Keep on going

I love what I do, and I am so happy to have done what God has called me to do. I can not wait to see what God has planned for me in the future and I am so thankful to be able to take y'all along side me! Please continue to pray for not only myself but also for the rest of the School of Ministry. Please pray that God continues to use us in ways we never expected and to continue to open doors for us. 

Thank you guys for taking the time to read this. I truly appreciate it!