Wyld Adventure

STOP! Ok so do me a favor, before you read this post, watch the video below. I know its like 3 minuets, but trust me, you're gonna wanna see this:)

Ya awesome right! The video is of a Young Life camp called Creekside, And a couple of weeks ago I got to spend one amazing and wyld week there with kids from Singapore.

And before you think am an even worse speller that I am, I should explain that Young life calls their middle school program Wyld Life... reason being, middle school kids are literally wild. Ok so quick side story.....

When I first started volunteering with youth, which is about 9 yrs ago now, I found pretty quickly that I really enjoyed working with teens and God really begun to grow in me a passion for ministering to them. I knew even then that youth ministry would be a big part of my life. So I told God I was willing to do whatever he asked of me. Well, except for this one thing. I would not, repeat would NOT ever work with Middle school kids. I found them way too crazy and yes, wyld for my taste. I stayed away from them like the plague, I even put it on my Young life application. really, I did. Well He must have thought I was joking because guess what age group I have been at camp with the last two summers? Ya the wyld ones. Man plans...God Laughs. Moral of the story, telling the creator of the universe what He can and cant do with you, not a good idea. In fact, he pretty much delights in working the exact opposite way. "Hey Abraham kill your long awaited son for me.... Esther go up to the king uninvited and risk your life....Joseph marry that pregnant girl..." I bet you anything that's not the story any of those people would have chosen. And not that my issue was nearly big as those above, but it frightened me. 

Now back to the story about my trip to Creekside, you remember, the video we watched at the beginning? Yes that awesome place. Ok so, I went last year to the same camp and was asked to help with middle school girls. It was a great time, I mostly assisted the main leader at the time so my Job was very easy:) Camp was camp, fun was fun, and by Gods grace, kids met Jesus. But even with all that great stuff, secretly I was so glad I worked with High school kids. But as fate would have it, the girl who ran the middle school program in Singapore left (she finished out her 3 yrs) so when the group came to camp this year, guess who the middle school trip leader was?  This girl. Hahaha, funny Jesus:)

We had a cabin of 9 girls and 2 leaders, plus a full cabin of boys with their leader as well. We spent the first night in a hotel because most of the kids had to fly in from all over. And then the next day, we took the 3 hr bus ride to the camp. And I can honestly say that by the time we got off the bus I was already in love with every single kid God had on that trip. Through out the week God broke my heart for middle school kids. They are at such a vulnerable age. Still very much children, but often dealing with a complex and emotionally taxing world. I felt their pain about having to live life so far removed from family in a strange country. I felt for them when the described the issues they face at school or with ever changing and equally hormonal friends. But more than anything, my heart broke when I saw the overwhelming need for love in their lives. A love that cant be bought... a love that never changes or leaves...a love that heals all brokenness... a love that comes only from Christ.

By the end of the week, 3 kids made decisions to follow Christ.  It was so humbling to see God work.  He is doing great things in Singapore and I am so ready to be there, like today:) Being with these kids brought a realness to Singapore for me, no longer is it just a place on a map am moving to, its my future home with friends and stories. And being at a place where everything and everyone exists so that kids can hear about God in a Bod AKA Jesus literally makes Creekside one of my absolute favorite places on Earth.  I left that magical camp knowing 3 things for sure:

1. God is unbelievably, unmatchable, beyond powerful, ever loving God.

2. He is calling me to work with Singapore middle school students.

3. I couldn't be more excited to join him on this Wyld adventure.

I know this is a long post so thank you so much for reading it all. I will try to update more frequently and ramble less :)

Here are some pictures from the week

 Beautiful Creekside #nofilter

 Its not YL camp without crazy games and ridiculous costumes 

Alex and I celebrating 1yr of being friends:) I will be living with her family when I first get to Sing.

The fearless leader team. Bendy and Sammy were amazing, loved getting to share life with them. Sammy will be moving to Sing as well in the coming year. Please be praying for her as she begins this process.

 Lots of amazing conversations happened while the girls taught me how to make bracelets.

 These cool cats :)

 Crazy girls

Thank you so much for all your support and prayers that made this week of camp possible. If you are feeling inspired to join me on this wyld adventure, just click on the Join my team tab above.

Love you for reading.

XOXO

  

Let the countdown begin!

I woke up today with the sound of a clock ticking in my head. Not the crazy person kind, but more the Alice in wonderland sort of insensate tick tock-ing. Which now that I try to describe it sounds a lot like crazy...
This crazy tick tock brought with it the realization that my "go date" for Singapore is quickly approaching. Yup, we are almost at the 2 month mark people! So surreal right!?! I am  planning, praying and believing God will have me in Singapore by the last week of July. It's an ambitious goal considering I haven't got all my support in yet, but I know in my heart God will provide.  "I am confident of this very thing, that he who has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ"" Phil 1:6
I know God has amazing plans for these last couple of months I have here and I look forward to seeing what he will do in and through me.  
The list of things that need to be done before July seems to be growing larger everyday, so pray that I will have focus and motivation to do what is required. Next week, I will be sending out my very first newsletter to all my ministry partners and friends. Just the act of sitting down and penning what will be my primary method of communication when am in Singapore make everything feel all the more real:) 
So unlike Alice who was constantly late for tea (oh ya have to use a tea analogy) I feel for the first time in a long time that I am finally on track with Gods divine timing. 
I love you for reading.

SO THIS IS 25!!!

 My how the time flies! Its not merely an observation, but a straight up truth. I was out for lunch recently with one of my close friends and we were trying to figure out how long we have known each other, am sure you've done this too at some point. It took us a while but we came up with 4 years... 4 yrs of laughs, tears, crazy girls nights out, even crazier girls nights in, birthdays, weddings, camping trips, stupid movies and wine, too many inside jokes, hurts, reconciliations, talks about the future, confessions about the past and so much more. In some ways it seems like we have been friends forever, but at times I cant shake the feeling we only just met.

What spurred on this train of thought you might ask? Well this past Monday, I had a birthday, yup turned the big 2.5. Okay, so this should come as no surprise to anyone who knows me, but in the interest of full disclosure, you should know that I tend to over think things....everything:) Well it didn't take a lot of analysis and thought to arrive at this much dreaded conclusion.... 25 is old! lol. No not like nursing home old of course. But like ""you're a grown up" old, like "you should have your stuff together" kind of old. This would be the point that the 2 yr old in me screams, "I don't wanna grow up....!" haha.

But alas, grow up we must. And after the shell shock wears off, and the smoke clears, I realize 25 isn't that bad. On the contrary, I cant remember ever being more excited for a new year of life. God has been beyond gracious to me over the years, but for some reason it feels like He's been saving all the fun stuff for this, my 25th year:) It seems unreal that in a few short months I will living on the other side of the world, ya literally. I cant wait for this grand adventure with the lover of my soul. I plan, hope and dream for Singapore, genuinely cant wait :D Knowing that God is working in my life is the best birthday present ever!

Am so excited to share this 'new year' of my life with all of you. Aren't you glad we serve a God who longs to give us the desires of our hearts and so much more (Psalm 37:4).  Sometimes it seems to take a lifetime to happen_ and believe me I know the waiting stinks. But remember God is always faithful in keeping His promises. So here's to getting older and looking forward to new things together.

 Here are a few highlights from this past weekend

                                           Had so much fun with good friends:)

                            My attempt to blow out the candles was photo bombed haha!

                                          Made me laugh!!! Lots of laughing actually:D

                                         And yes, I wore a tiara, no big deal:)
 Love you for reading XOXO!

Am about to lose my mind... I need a doctor



Not to sound melodramatic, but moving is the just worst! Really, it is. Don't get me wrong, i love traveling and new experiences, but moving is like that weird friend of a friend that you don't really like but a forced to be around. I have moved 4 times this year and 2 of these were within the same month. The thing that made it stressful was the fact that these moves weren't planed at all. Due to a crazy series of unfortunate event, i found myself having to move right away. So i got to packing, cleaning and lifting...so much lifting, tell me why does it seem like the amount of stuff you own triples when it comes time to move, aah!

But lest you think this is going to be a whiny post, I learned something during this time too.

I found out that i don't do well with disorder. I like things being just so, particularly in my surroundings. Now I know that this may not be surprising for those who know me well, but this was a whole new level of crazy. I was super OCD about everything, and felt super overwhelmed when things didn't look or work the way i wanted. And the unfortunate few who were stuck with me endured my shockingly bossy and impatient attitude...sorry friends, my bad.
I realised that i was being a total crazy person because i wanted to feel in control of something in my life because the moving was making me feel very unsettled and out of control. Ya, all that from psych 101 haha.

Thankfully, I was able to find some comfort in my faith that helped me cope. God was super awesome at bringing just the right words to mind, i was reminded that he is never surprised or shaken. He maintains loving control of all things.

^" Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand."(Isaiah 41:10)

This was just the medicine i needed to get me out of my funk and feel more comfortable with not always being the one in control. I cant say am cured...my constant room organizing gives me away. But treatment is working, and as I anticipate the moves that lie in my future, specifically the move to Singapore, am glad am getting to deal with some of my crazy here and now.

Oh and speaking of Singapore, am super excited to fill you guys in on whats been going on.
Thanks for reading.
XOXO

So you blog now???

Hello world! ok confession, i have been a blog devotee for a long time now (like 3 years, seriously). I stay up far too late on too many nights catching up on all things vlog/blog related. I spend more time on YouTube than watching real TV, I think people are instantly cool and Bff material if they know what The Blond salad,  Style Pantry or Meek nd Mild have in common. Yap am full on Blog addicted:)
With this conclusion came another realisation. "I should start a blog!" For months i thought about this but kept coning up with reasons why not. Mostly, it all came down to the fear that I didn't have anything interesting to say. Now not to brag but am pretty freakin interesting haha, nah for real though my grandma tells me am cool and i for one choose to believe it :) I guess I just realised that ultimately i have a unique and singular perspective and i owe it to myself to explore it, ya am finding my self ok, don't judge lol. i might as well write things down for myself, even if no one else ever stumbles across it ( am glad you did btw).
So here we are, I finally decided to take the leap and just go for it. Now comes the dreaded question, "What do I talk about?" Well, for these first few posts, i thought i would just start off with a mini intro in each of the areas my blog will cover. Hope you check back in soon and  see where this goes.
Peace nd Love
~Cecilia~