Donation protected
" Hello everyone! My name is Jay and I'm 21 years old. I was born and raised in San Diego California, grew up in a conservative household where my parents would say, don't have sex before marriage or dating should be at 18, etc. when I was growing up, I started noticing I wasn't like all the "normal" little boys. I was different, I liked to play with ken dolls instead of action figures, I was attracted to dancing and singing, and I remember when my sister and I would watch a movie, I would always wanted to be the pretty actress. (Lol) well, as I grew older, I started finding myself, I started noticing that I was attracted more to guys than girls. I
guess at the time, I was confused. I didn't know what was going on with me. Well, I knew that with conservative parents, I couldn't be "gay."
Time past by and around junior year, I came out as gay to my close friends. They were accepting and made me feel comfortable. But I knew I had to tell my parents before they find out somewhere else. before I told my parents I was gay, this sister from church pulled me aside and told me that she knew about me and that if I didn't tell my parents now, she was going to do it
herself. In a way, she was threatening me. But in that moment, that's when I knew I had to tell them.
When I told my mom and dad, they were not happy about it and in a way, they were already condemning me, telling me that I was going to hell and that I had a demon in me because when they had me they were not Christians so I was born with a "demon of sin". so what they did, they started to pray for me and "helped" me out. Like If I had some sort of cancer. Well they did that
for about a year and a half. And that's when I got tired of them asking me all the time if I felt any better. That right there was the last straw. That day I stood up for myself and told them I was never going to change, that
God doesn't make mistakes, I am not a mistake nor I have a demon. Well, they sure didn't like that, but I can say that if I never would've done that, they wouldn't have change their point of view. They're not 100 percent on this, but they're more accepting now than before. (Thank God!).
Anyways, by the end of my junior year in high school, one of my teachers nominated me to go to a leadership camp. I didn't know about this until the principal asked me if I wanted to go. So I agreed and went to "camp lead" for the weekend. I thought it was going to be a camp where they mentor you to become a leader, nothing too special, but boy was I wrong. That
experience change my life completely. Not only did I learn to become a leader, but I helped so many young guys and girls my age (at the time I was 17). I loved getting involved with helping the community and helping others in need. But what I am the most passionate about, is helping young people that are struggling with the same situation I struggled with. That's my passion. And that's what xplor will bring to my life. I know xplor will help me grow spiritually and is going to make me a leader for my generation.
And during the time I am with xplor, I will be able to help a lot of people my age, older, sick or homeless. And not only them, but will also be working with the church and helping in the church as well. Something so beautiful
and exciting because everything is, first of all, going to be lead by our lord and savior Jesus Christ, and bright mentors and guidance that will help us, guide us and teach us how to be better followers of Christ and how to
strengthen our faith. What is XPLOR- a 10 month intentional Christian living community; working 30 hours a week in a social service agency; working closely with a Spiritual Guide every week; being closely related to a local church and helping their ministry; and experiencing the love of God in a new place
and with new Christian friends.
Now, xplor would be a full time devotion. Going away from home for 10 months and helping the community and the church. Not only hanging and bettering my life but others as well. Helping them get a brighter and better understanding of what it is to have faith in the lord. I am 100 percent ready and excited to start this journey and I am working so hard to pay off
as much debt as possible since I won't be able to work on the side to make money to pay my medical bills and orthodontist bills, which amount to over $10,000 and other small debt that is stopping me from going. That's is why, I come to gofundme.com to ask for your help. Anything that you would like to give would help me out a bunch! You will give me the opportunity to change my
life. To strengthen and be a leader to other people and hopefully, one day, share my full testimony with everyone! And be an inspiration. To say that everything I thought was impossible, with God and wonderful brothers and sister in God, everything is possible. I just want to thank you for taking the time to read this. I truly do appreciate it from the bottom of my heart.
God bless!
-Jay
guess at the time, I was confused. I didn't know what was going on with me. Well, I knew that with conservative parents, I couldn't be "gay."
Time past by and around junior year, I came out as gay to my close friends. They were accepting and made me feel comfortable. But I knew I had to tell my parents before they find out somewhere else. before I told my parents I was gay, this sister from church pulled me aside and told me that she knew about me and that if I didn't tell my parents now, she was going to do it
herself. In a way, she was threatening me. But in that moment, that's when I knew I had to tell them.
When I told my mom and dad, they were not happy about it and in a way, they were already condemning me, telling me that I was going to hell and that I had a demon in me because when they had me they were not Christians so I was born with a "demon of sin". so what they did, they started to pray for me and "helped" me out. Like If I had some sort of cancer. Well they did that
for about a year and a half. And that's when I got tired of them asking me all the time if I felt any better. That right there was the last straw. That day I stood up for myself and told them I was never going to change, that
God doesn't make mistakes, I am not a mistake nor I have a demon. Well, they sure didn't like that, but I can say that if I never would've done that, they wouldn't have change their point of view. They're not 100 percent on this, but they're more accepting now than before. (Thank God!).
Anyways, by the end of my junior year in high school, one of my teachers nominated me to go to a leadership camp. I didn't know about this until the principal asked me if I wanted to go. So I agreed and went to "camp lead" for the weekend. I thought it was going to be a camp where they mentor you to become a leader, nothing too special, but boy was I wrong. That
experience change my life completely. Not only did I learn to become a leader, but I helped so many young guys and girls my age (at the time I was 17). I loved getting involved with helping the community and helping others in need. But what I am the most passionate about, is helping young people that are struggling with the same situation I struggled with. That's my passion. And that's what xplor will bring to my life. I know xplor will help me grow spiritually and is going to make me a leader for my generation.
And during the time I am with xplor, I will be able to help a lot of people my age, older, sick or homeless. And not only them, but will also be working with the church and helping in the church as well. Something so beautiful
and exciting because everything is, first of all, going to be lead by our lord and savior Jesus Christ, and bright mentors and guidance that will help us, guide us and teach us how to be better followers of Christ and how to
strengthen our faith. What is XPLOR- a 10 month intentional Christian living community; working 30 hours a week in a social service agency; working closely with a Spiritual Guide every week; being closely related to a local church and helping their ministry; and experiencing the love of God in a new place
and with new Christian friends.
Now, xplor would be a full time devotion. Going away from home for 10 months and helping the community and the church. Not only hanging and bettering my life but others as well. Helping them get a brighter and better understanding of what it is to have faith in the lord. I am 100 percent ready and excited to start this journey and I am working so hard to pay off
as much debt as possible since I won't be able to work on the side to make money to pay my medical bills and orthodontist bills, which amount to over $10,000 and other small debt that is stopping me from going. That's is why, I come to gofundme.com to ask for your help. Anything that you would like to give would help me out a bunch! You will give me the opportunity to change my
life. To strengthen and be a leader to other people and hopefully, one day, share my full testimony with everyone! And be an inspiration. To say that everything I thought was impossible, with God and wonderful brothers and sister in God, everything is possible. I just want to thank you for taking the time to read this. I truly do appreciate it from the bottom of my heart.
God bless!
-Jay
Organizer
Jay Jimenez
Organizer
San Diego, CA