Thank You

Hi to everyone, as this email reaches to you in the off-month for MYF where I can rest and reflect upon the joys of the past year. I thank God very much for what he has provided for the MYF group as well as for myself.




With that said, I wanted to share with you all this email as a letter of thanks. I am so grateful for what you all have done: the parents, the advisors, the church leadership, and congregation as a whole. Most of all, I would like to thank all of the MYFers for everything they have done for the group, the church, and for the future of MYF.



To the parents and congregation of the church, I would like to spend a moment to say thank you, as you are the guardian angels of the group as well as those whom watch over myself. I appreciate how much time and effort you have put into the MYF program, if that means chaperoning retreats, driving youth to events, help make food for fundraisers, and allowing me to be part of your youth's lives. I am very grateful for you all checking up on me and making sure I'm doing OK and asking if there is anything I needed help with.



To the youth, you have no idea how important you are in my own faith journey. Countless times I have been so proud of you, as you have stepped up in leadership, hard work, and effort throughout the year. You are all the reasons I need to work on lesson plans and events, because you were the reasons why I wanted to become a minister. I was considerably blessed to see you all showed your love and support for Mike in the worship service, the end of the year bonfire, and the worship service at Asian Camp. I believe that it is this love that keeps the MYF group strong and supportive of both youth and leaders.



I realize that there is no way that I would be able to run this ministry alone, and that it takes the combined effort of everyone to make the youth group such a strong presence. Thank you very much for all that you do. Thank you very much for the appreciation gift you gave me as well as the many other gifts throughout the year. Thank you for letting me into your lives and being part of your family.



I love you all and do not know what I would do without each and everyone of you.



Jonathan Visitacion

Mission Trip To New Orleans - Day 1 - traveling

Hey, sorry for not posting in FOREVER.  I can't sleep, as i'm in Slidell, Louisiana about to begin our mission trip 5 hours from now...

its 1am.

I'm just overwhelmed by everything right now, as I heard that the organization has lost its funding, and this will be the last year they will be able to serve the community. 

I was reading through Ecclesiastes ch 1 and 2, and listening to Jack Johnson's all at once, and it was just reiterating the spiritual "stress" that I'm trying to swallow on this mission trip.  It's hard to remember that you make a difference, but the world moves and doesn't stop.  God wants you here in this moment to do His (or Her for gender equality) work.  At the same time, funding stops when there's still houses to be built, people living in FEMA trailers, etc. 

If you are familiar with the starfish story...I just got to remember to save not all of the starfish...just this one and any others I can put my hands on. 

I ask for your prayers at this moment for the youth mission team, and just that God does not stop doing his work for those still struggling after Katrina...now 5 years later.

Blessings. -JV