April 2024!

 Hey everyone!

I hope this meets you well. I am so unbeliebably thankful for your support and prayers! It is hard to imagine what it would be like doing ministry without partners like you guys.

April has flown by! As the month comes to a close, so does the school year. This month has been full of celebrations - a couple students' birthdays, a my co-worker Joey's wedding, and in our small groups and Wednesday night services, celebrating what God has done in our lives throughout the year! 

Here are some of the things students shared that God has done in their life this past school year:

• "God has taught me how to have hope instead of giving into anxiety."
• "I am learning how to rest in God rather than being busy all the time."
• "When I would have rathered hide in my shame, God showed me His love for me as I have been open with my struggles. I starting to experience life to the full."
• "I am learning to trust that God is working even when I can't see it."
• "I am choosing to set down the unrealistic expectations I have set for myself. I now know life is a journey where we walk steadily with God. He has grace for me, so I need to have grace for myself too."
• "I found my voice this year. I also am learning how to love people first like God does, even when they don't love me back."
• "I have struggled with a lot of doubts this year, but God has helped me bounce back up from all the lows."
• "I did not think God had anything planned for my life. Coming to FOCUS was a huge step out of my comfort zone. Now I realize that God is not done with me yet and has good plans for my life."

These testimonies are just a glimpse into the beautiful things God has done this year. I get emotional thinking about all that He has done and seeing the growth in each of these individual students I have come to know so well. 

What a privilege it is to partner with God in this work! I could not do it with out you guys' support! I am so grateful!

Much love,

Veronica

Our students after our Wednesday night service!

A nearby church (First Global Methodist Church) is partnering wtih us to do an Intergenerational Mentorship program! Our college students are being poured into with incomparable wisdom that comes from time!

On the left is a photo of the co-ed small group I lead with Joey and on the right a picture of the women's small group I lead with Sandra!

On the left is photos of our leader team and on the right is the 2 other campus pastors I lead small groups with - Sandra and Joey!

A couple other random photos from this month! Starting from top left going to bottom right: Baking cookies for a fundraiser to help send our students to a leadership conference; preparing flower bouquets for Joey's wedding; a birthday party for our student Thaily; a birthday lunch for our student Vanessa; and a photo of our Dallas College pastoral team (Sirak, Sandra, me, & Joey)