by Erick Flores, Ministry Apprentice

It’s that time again, our Summer Interns have arrived! I am so excited to introduce you all to this year’s Summer Interns. In previous years, we’ve had smaller groups, but this year we’ve expanded to seven interns! That might not seem like a lot, but for us, it’s huge!

Our interns this summer are Elian, Julissa, Blake, Anjali, Unisha, Katalina, and Ramiro!

by Erika Guedez, Community Resource Manager

Have you ever prayed and struggled to find the right words when talking to God? Have you ever felt disconnected from the source? Or maybe you feel like you repeat the same words over and over every single day?

That’s exactly how I had been feeling lately.

Yes, I prayed every morning. I would surrender my day to God, ask Him to protect my family, and to guide us safely wherever we went. During the day, I would pray again and give thanks. At night, before sleeping, I would finish my day with another prayer.

by Patrique Harris, Ministry Community Director

Recently, our GYVOAT (Greatest Youth Volunteer Of All Time), Michael, hosted a small study hall for our Youth Club teens. We shared some Pollo Ranchero from a spot down the street, Pollos El Junior, and hit the books. Even Michael benefited from the study time. Sure, he helped tutor math, but he also had his atlas in tow to brush up on Caribbean geography for the dailyGloble game (try it!). Honestly, I benefited from the community study time too because it gave me the perfect inspiration for this article.

If you’re a friend of mine, you know I love a good check-in question. Listening is one of the best ways we can love and support the people around us, and sometimes all it takes is asking a simple but meaningful question. While the teens snacked and worked through homework, I asked a few of them two simple questions: What’s bringing you joy? And what’s been hard lately?

by Kristina Flores, Children’s Ministry Manager

As a kid, I always wanted to learn how to play an instrument. I learned the flute, the piano, and barely half of “Hot Cross Buns” on the recorder. In school, we had to play the recorder in music class, and I was terrible at it. I dreaded those classes. To this day, I don’t know why it was so hard for me, especially since I could already play the piano and the flute. I never earned a ribbon, and “Hot Cross Buns” still haunts me.

By Carla Garcia, Partner Engagement Director

There’s something about thrifting that has always felt like home to me.

Some of my earliest memories are of going to Minnesota Ave Thrift with my mom. The only local thrift store we knew, where we could find what we needed and sometimes what we didn’t even know we were looking for. I remember walking the aisles, not really knowing what I’d find, but always leaving with something that felt like a treasure.

by Elaine Reimers, Adult Ministry Director

II have always loved music. Since the days when I was wearing diapers and before I can even remember, music has had the power to move me. I grew up with parents and an extended family who had a wide range of musical tastes, so I was exposed to nearly every genre. I remember listening to mostly country and doo-wop R&B with my mom as she would pat her leg to the beat. When I was with my dad, I recall listening to mostly R&B and pop music. My Aunt Karen would fly down the road, flicking the ashes of her Marlboro Red out the window with my cousin Melissa and me in the back seat, blaring music by artists including Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, and Queen. I have fond memories of listening to "Eye of the Tiger" over the years with my Uncle Rick while we watched the "Rocky" movies. My Vietnam Veteran stepdad would even break out his classical music/symphony vinyls at times. My friends and I listened to hip-hop, rap, and alternative music, and even dabbled in heavy metal and goth music for a short time. My mother tells me, as she giggles and reminisces, that whenever Hank William Jr.´s Born to Boogie would come on the radio, I couldn't stand still and I´d boogie all over the room. She says ¨that song just turned on your boogie!¨ and that I would come close to boogieing right out of my diaper. Can you imagine?!

by Erika Guedez, Community Resource Manager

Aaaah!.. Spring…. Wonderful, Radiant, Achooohh! Allergic Spring!

One of the new things I have learned during my year and a half in the United States is to experience life in stages, with its well-defined seasons and shifting weather patterns. Broadly speaking, where I come from, there are only two periods: the dry period (drought), which lasts approximately from December to April, and is characterized by a lack of rainfall and high temperatures; and the rainy period (heavy rains), which extends approximately from May to November, and during which precipitation is constant. A transitional period serves as a bridge between these two climatic phases. Due to its geography, Venezuela maintains a tropical climate year-round; consequently, the only things that really change in one's wardrobe are whether or not one carries an umbrella and wears rain boots.

by Patrique Harris, Ministry Director

Over the years, I’ve shared a lot about leadership development at Mission Adelante. I’ve seen so many kids, teens, and young adults thrive through our leadership development programs and pipeline. What I haven’t shared as much is how pivotal Mission Adelante has been in my own growth as a ministry leader.

As many of you know, I joined the Mission Adelante team in 2021, nearly five years ago, as Youth Ministry Director. With a somewhat unconventional background for the role, I had a lot to learn. Still, I was met with an incredible amount of support, from encouraging teammates, committed volunteers, wise supervisors, and, of course, God’s grace. With this, I felt a deep and divine confidence in my calling. I felt free to dream, build, and lead youth programming that has really flourished.

by Kristina Flores, Children’s Ministry Manager

I’m sure most of you have prayed about something and then waited… and waited… and nothing seemed to change? Maybe you prayed for a situation to work out, for an answer to a problem, or even just for your day to go smoothly. And instead of a miracle, you got… the exact same situation you started with.  I think sometimes we treat prayer a little bit like a customer service request. We submit the request and then expect a quick response time. Preferably same-day delivery. But prayer isn’t Amazon Prime for life problems. 

by Erick Flores, Ministry Apprentice

Migrating to a new country without knowing any English, adjusting to a completely different environment and culture — that is a huge change that can easily discourage someone. But it can definitely surprise you how comfortable and confident you can become in the United States in just one year. Today, I will be talking about Elian Heredia and the huge impact he has made at Mission Adelante.