Here's a quick recap....
January... I learned a LOT of lessons. I learned how to stand up for myself. I learned more about what I'm worth to Jesus because of the pain a lot of people caused me. I moved on from friendships & relationships that were holding me back.
February... I started my second semester of college! I started trying to eat healthier in this time (it... kind of worked... Lol!). I golfed again for the first time in over 10 years. It used to be one of my favorite things as a kid when my uncle and aunt would take me. I hadn't golfed since then, so it was a great experience to go back! I also found a passion for making videos. I created a few such as this one:
March rolled around and I turned 19! Whoop! I also got back into art and creating things! I was just starting to learn a bit more about music theory in preparation for the dreams I felt God calling me to. My oldest sister came out to visit for my birthday & it was the first time I had seen her since I moved to California! So awesome. My friend, Alex Vieyra, and I worked on a few cool pieces of art that you can see on my Instagram. At the end of March, our church took our youth group to an event called "Night of Champions" (FCA Event @ APU) and it was epic! I started to enjoy soccer a little bit more after that event!
April was interesting! My brother in law traveled to the Philippines for a mission trip on Easter, after some of the best Easter services ever! My sister & I spent some good 2 weeks together just having girl time! I made some good friends in school (which doesn't happen very often in College) and we made some really cool videos about sex trafficking & the "get active" campaign started my Michelle Obama.
May went by quick! I started meeting with a few students, my brother in law Sean Fenner and Beau Crosetto, who is the overseer of Greek InterVarsity. We had chats about starting an InterVarsity group at Long Beach City College.
Our youth ministry team & I went to UYWI's RELOAD Conference. It was such an experience to meet some amazing youth ministers & get training from the top Urban Youth Ministry Gurus!
Here's some quick vids from the conference...
And lastly, the craziness of youth workers from inside the hotel...
Also in May, we started a youtube channel for our youth group. Our first episode of The Takeover is on this link!
June was a good month. God spoke to me in many ways, including my major. I enrolled into Music Major classes and took a really huge step of Adventurous Bravery! I also was a part of a 6-week class for worship leading in which I led a new band & sang a solo at our recital/graduation. That was also a step of Adventurous Bravery... I was nervous even though I've sung in front of people before, Lol. We also started praying for the campus (LBCC) over the summer. CSULB, me, some LBCC folks, and either Beau or Sean would be there and we would pray and worship, asking God to fill the campus!
July was a big mix of emotions! I house sat a lot during this time & made some conscious decisions to protect my heart and focus on Jesus... and the enemy was not happy. Although I knew I was doing the right thing, my heart was hurting. I worked through a lot with God and had some good quality time with our youth girls! We also had our annual GAN (Girls All Nighter)... which was a HIT! So many girls! So much energy! So much FUN!
August... I believe this was around the time that we found out that my sister was pregnant! I also started my second year of college and my first semester in Music. I auditioned for multiple things, not making a single one of them. I got down on my self for a bit, but God reminded me that this was a year of Adventurous Bravery... not the year to get everything I want. I ALSO saw my childhood best friend in this month! It was AWESOME!
In addition to that awesome experience, it was the FIRST time we took our youth group to camp since I had been there! I was able to speak at the camp, lead worship, lead a small group of girls, and meet my soul sister!
Time went on, I started classes... some of our AWESOME youth got baptized, I made some really get friends in the music department...
Then September hit! Lots of work! We had an Activities Fair for all the clubs at LBCC, and we were able to set up a tent and be a part of it! I went to IGNITE, InterVarsity's 1-day training conference in the Fall. That's where everyone learned my secret dance move... The Gazelle...
If you haven't already noticed, I really like to embarrass myself! Lol.
Any who, in September MORE awesome youth got baptized!
October, I went to Catalina for InterVarsity's FALL CON. It was quite a sight to behold. I still can't believe what I saw!
This month was also filled with lots of challenges. My grandfather passed away. I had a lot to think about and a lot to work through in this month. God was faithful and kept His promises to never leave me & to comfort the broken hearted.
Later on in the month, I had the INCREDIBLE opportunity to lead my youth girls in being a part of our church's ROAR Conference. This conference was hard for me, but I was refilled by seeing their wonderful faces learning each day! They also came to my workshop that I was teaching (aww!) & I was so blessed by that.
Right before Halloween something pretty cool happened. I got a call from one of our worship directors asking if I was free to do a gig.... with Third Day. I was so excited!
Then, for Halloween our church did a community outreach event which was super cool! Our youth group also had a party & I cam as the Pink Power Ranger while another one of our mentors came as.... well, me.
See for yourself.
In November, I learned I could play lead on electric guitar. That was fun! We also formed a really cool band at school. A lot of InterVarsity peeps are music majors so we decided to jam a few times & recorded one of the member's songs! Again, some more really awesome people got baptized this month! I also used this Adventurous Bravery that I've been learning to stop being afraid of recording myself when I'm singing so here's a 1-shot vid of something we whipped up last min!
December, I don't even remember what happened! There was so much going on! School ended, I had my first real school recital...
We had a talent show at our church where I sang with a friend of mine "Desert Song" from Hillsong, and then my sister & I did "No Longer Slaves" from Bethel... AND she sang a SOLO part!! :)
From Christmas, to New Years... there were things left & right to do!
In summation, this year was fun. It was a good year. There was lots of crying and growing and hurting, but there was also lots of laughing and empowering and lessons learned! I found a stronger focus on Jesus, a braver spirit, and a more content heart. I have prayed more times this year than ever, "Even if I'm alone, I will follow You." The bravest thing I did this year was pray that prayer. Sometimes Adventurous Bravery looks like hikes and first dates and mission trips to India... but sometimes it looks like prayers, tears, standing up for yourself, and auditioning for a program that you don't get into. And that's okay, because the adventures that God has caused me to be Brave for have changed my life.
2016
The Year of....
Victorious Faith!
I didn't think this sounded very cool at first. Definitely not as cool as Adventurous Bravery in my mind. But then God asked me, "What are you anticipating me to do this year?"
I had to stop and think because my first inclination for my theme was Courageous Faith... along the lines of 2015... but when I felt God ask that question all I could think of were victories I hope to have.. chains I hope to break... and the posture of my life. I don't want to be timid. I want to overcome! So here's to a year of victories! Here's to a year of faith that God can do what He promises to do! He CAN heal broken relationships. He CAN do the impossible. He CAN bring me to places I never would have thought possible before. And I'm believing for that this year... with no expectations of where He'll bring me, which relationships He'll fix, or which Impossible Things that He'll accomplish in front of me. I'm with Him all that way no matter what!
"The year of Victorious Faith. Where no matter what, I will follow You as I move from Timid to Victorious!"
HAPPY NEW YEAR FOLKS!
What is your year's theme?
Great Post Kimy!
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