Beginning of something new.

I am now back at home, finished with Alamo City Summer Project. I am quite sad to leave what we have done in San Antonio, but I am looking forward to God working through each of us on the team wherever we go. (Joshua 1:9)

Before I want to tell you how life changing this summer has been, I want to share with you my journey back to Houston from San Antonio.

On the way back, I made two stops before finally arriving home. I stopped by Sonic to talk with Tino. Tino is the boss at Sonic where the girls on the summer project team worked at. He has been very friendly and kind to us. Each time we go to Sonic, we would have such a great time just joking with Tino, and he would always sit and eat with us. I got to talk with him one last time, just got to know him better, and just give him the reassurance of faith in God during the situations he is dealing with.
Then I stopped by Buc-ee's to use the restroom and get some food. On the way into the restroom, I saw a familar face, but just kept walking. Then I ran into him in the restroom, and it was Principal Salem from Bellaire HS. What a coincidence! haha We chatted, this is my first time talk with him. He was vacationing at San Antonio with family and heading back to Houston. I got to share with him what I did, and he was really chill and nice. I wish I got to know him bettter when I was still at Bellaire.

Now that I am home, completely empty, I will have a lot of time to myself. Please pray for me to use my time wisely this next week. =)

This summer has truly been a life-changing experience for me. I didn't know what to expect, came out understanding better of what it means to be a Christian. I have been challenged, did things I never would have imagined.
I always thought being a Christian would be easy, as long as you don't do anything bad. But I have come to understand that as a Christ follower, we are meant to face trials, difficult times, and persecutions. For 2 Corinthians 12: 9-10 says "But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." These things happen because God loves us, and he wants us to grow.
I hate confrontation, if you know me well, or just ask me, I would say I hate confronting people. But this summer God has given me the priviledge to serve Him as student director, which is something I never even thought about happening. During these past two weeks, I have been challenged with dealing with people and balancing my daily schedule to where everything works out. I have a better understanding of confrontation, and that it is necessary to to happen, as long as it is encouraging and that you "should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry" (James 1:19), especially as a leader. Being the director, the need for Christ to lead me became more apparent. I could see the less time I spent with God, the more frustrated I would get. So I encourage you guys to do your devotionals daily, it really makes a difference in your days.

Now I want to say something to Jay, Erica, Christie Ramos, Sarah J, Patrick, Anton, Emily, James, Sarah H, and Tristan. These are the people I got to work with. I want to say this summer has really helped me mature. I want to thank all of you for bearing with me and just being focused on God. I learned something from each of you, and I pray that our friendships live on. Don't forget what happened in San Antonio this summer, take it with you and use it to reach other people in your lives. Don't ever lose sight of God.

NON-NEGOTIABLE!!(time with God is non-negotiable)

-Kevin