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Let's Catch Up!

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's Will for you in Christ Jesus. - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Wow! It's been over a month since I began the apprenticeship and it feels like I just started yesterday. My role for this year is leading a small group (also known as "Core") on Sunday nights with a student. Almost everyone on our staff team will be leading Core with a student leader as well. Collin College just started school in the last week of August, and our staff team came up with a plan for welcome week to get students engaged and help new students feel welcome at Collin. I remember when I was a freshman at Collin, I was sitting inside the atrium by myself at the Plano campus waiting for my first class to start. I remember feeling overwhelmed seeing new faces because this is my first time going to a new school. But then a student from FOCUS approached me, and he initiated a conversation and sat next to me so I wouldn't feel alone on a big campus. The rest of the story is history, and I am super thankful God lead me to this ministry. This past month was full of adventures, and here's why.

WELCOME WEEK!

I am very excited to share with you all how the first week went. Welcome week is the biggest event of our ministry because, at the beginning of each school year, Collin receives a massive number of first-year students coming out of high school. Most freshmen students have no idea what their first semester of college will look like, and we want them to know there is social engagement at Collin. We encourage our students to initiate conversations in their classrooms and invite anyone to join our community. During welcome week we had events planned like playing yard games outside, drawing bad tattoos (using skin crayons), sharing solarium cards, and playing volleyball next to the campus. Most of the students I got to meet do not have a Christian faith background. I've been praying that God would draw me out of my comfort zone to people who don't look like me or have the same spiritual experience. I am reminded of the story in John 4 when Jesus spoke to a Samaritan woman. In this passage, the Jews never associated with the Samarians, until Jesus asked this woman for a drink. Jesus challenged and broke the social boundaries that people had constructed. There's a reason Jesus said we must "go and make disciples of all nations" (Matt. 28:18). The gospel is open to everyone, not only for existing Christians. Please pray for the students I met will come to know Jesus and experience his love.

Here are some more photos from welcome week and from August

Me (bottom left) playing 'Spikeball' with 3 other students.

Here is one of our outreach events: solarium cards. We set up a table and present these photos to the students, and we asked them, "Pick three photos that describe your life right now, and why?"

Our 1st Thursday Night Focus! We had a big turn out of new students coming and wanting to know about Jesus. We started a new series this semester called, "Do you know the man Jesus?". Our goal is for our students to begin engaging in a relationship with Jesus. Do you know him? Do you know how he's doing? 

 We asked students at our Plano campus to share their creativeness on our collaborative art canvas. Isn't this a masterpiece?!?!

Here is what's happening at our Preston Ridge Campus (Frisco, TX). My heart goes out to this campus because I used to be a student leader at this campus four years ago. When I left Preston Ridge, I see nothing but great things happening at this campus. Pray that God continues to bless this campus and our two staff people (Pedro & Jacy) for strength and the Lord's guidance to minister the students there.

Volleyball night!!

Hanging out with the Collin Apprentices!

Corefa prep day. Before the school year started, all the Corefas and staff spend a day together in fellowship preparing for the semester.   

This is Stian. I'm leading a core group with him on Sunday nights. One thing you should know about Stian is he's very thoughtful, kind, and a super talented singer. I cannot wait to see what God has in store for him and share life with him this school year. Pray that our friendship grows stronger and reflect more like Jesus.

This is my friend Xavier. He was a part of our teen ministry (Christian Teen Fellowship - CTF) at our church in Garland. I got to spend time with him last summer as one of the CTF interns. He's now a freshman at Collin this year, and I'm excited to see him around more. 

This photo was taken a year ago when I first met Xavier. I'm super blessed of our friendship and excited to see where God is leading him.

Thank you!

To my supporters, I want to say again, thank you for your prayers and monetary support. Your support for this ministry means so much! You are all in my prayers, and please reach out to me if you have any prayer request.

Prayer request:

1. Fall Camp is coming up September 21-22! Pray that God will open the hearts, hoping our students want to seek more profound friendship.

2. For Stian and I's Core group. Pray that these guys know they are in a safe environment where they can be real with each other, be vulnerable, and witness the love of Jesus if they have never experienced before. Pray that hearts will be changed.

3. For my apprenticeship classes. The classes have started to change the way I think about the Bible that I've never encountered before. Pray that God reveals Himself in a way I've never experienced before.