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 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 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.

by Erika Guedez, Community Resource Manager

It all starts on a Tuesday at 6:00am.

I wake up and organize my day with my husband. I prepare lunch, get my daughter ready, and take her to daycare. Then I head to work. Tuesdays are the longest days for me. I arrive at Mission Adelante at 8:30am, update information, answer emails, messages, and calls, and prepare the attendance list to organize the citizenship class groups.

I know, I admit it: sometimes I'm a little intense about making sure none of the students miss class. For me, every day counts, especially because Tuesdays also exist thanks to people with hearts willing to serve. Volunteers, men and women who, like the students, come from demanding jobs, family responsibilities, and long days. However, they decide to give their time because they believe in this purpose.

by Kristina Flores, Children’s Ministry Manager

There is a word in the English language that makes absolutely no sense to me. Ineffable: too great or extreme to be expressed or described in words. 

How can a word be used to describe something that cannot be described??? That feels illegal! Please tell me I’m not alone in thinking that makes zero sense. I need everyone to understand the severity of how much this word has caused me to lose my marbles. I can’t remember where or how I first heard it (definitely something I’ll be asking God one day), but I do remember the confusion hitting me immediately. I couldn’t keep this dumb word to myself, so naturally, I asked everyone if they were aware of this nonsense. People laughed. But I was serious. I needed answers. Who created this word? Why would they do such a thing? Were they okay? No one has answers. And so, for years, I’ve been stuck carrying the burden of this word.

by Erick Flores, Ministry Apprentice

I have now completed my 20th year of life. I often think back and reminisce about the past, and Mission Adelante is always present in my memories. Mission Adelante has made a huge impact on my life—it changed me for the better. Mission Adelante is a home to me.

Many people don’t often realize the huge impact volunteers make on our participants. They’re not just volunteers; they’re friends. I was once a participant myself when I was younger. I attended our former Youth Club, Latino Teens Adelante. My older sister, Carla, and her now-husband (then boyfriend), Daniel, tried to get me involved in teens for a long time. They were apprentices at the time. It wasn’t until I got in trouble at school that my mom forced me to go to teens. Little did I know, it would be the best reward I ever received for getting in trouble.

by Erika Guedez, Community Resource Manager

In the early years of school, from ages 6 to 12, our education focused on human values. I don’t know if you remember, but basically we were taught to identify the ethical and moral principles that guide a person’s behavior, helping us distinguish between right and wrong in order to live in society. These included respect, honesty, responsibility, solidarity, freedom, justice, tolerance, empathy, kindness, love, and so on. I remember studying the context of each one, but I didn’t realize how important they were at my young age. The truth is that values are universal, although their importance and prioritization can vary depending on the individual, culture, and context. As a child, I used to analyze terms and delve deeper into feelings. For example, we’re taught that love is a human value, but do you love? We’re taught that life is a value, but do you live? Do you understand what I mean? It’s like the difference between hearing and listening: Hearing is a physiological and passive act of perceiving sounds, whereas listening is a voluntary and active act that requires concentration and interpretation.

by Kristina Flores, Children’s Ministry Manager

This weekend was my very first Great Wolf Lodge trip, and it was such a blast! For those who may not know, our Leaders in Training students go every year to celebrate all their hard work. It’s a sweet tradition, and this year I had the honor of leading it.

I’ll be honest: I was nervous. I prayed constantly, and the anticipation was the hardest part. But God showed up for me in such a real way and filled me with peace. Once the students arrived, all that nervousness melted away and I felt excited all over again.

by Erick Flores, Ministry Apprentice

Leadership Training Project (LTP) is a meaningful discipleship and leadership development program designed for teens who show strong potential to lead and serve within our community. The program is intentionally selective, focusing on students who demonstrate maturity, initiative, and a heart for ministry. This year, we are excited to have five outstanding participants in the program: Elian, Hudson, Josee, Anjali, and Unisha. Each of them has stepped into the year with enthusiasm, ready to be challenged, to grow, and to serve with purpose.