Introduction

First and foremost, I want to convey how grateful I am to you for reading this letter. It makes me so happy to hear that you’re willing to take the time to understand the posture of my heart with God and what he has in store for me. I’m forever thankful.

I will be attending a college mission trip called El Amor Del Señor (EADS), which translates to "The Love of the Lord." This trip is hosted by an organization called 4 Christ Mission, which stands on 4 core values: Encounter, Mobilize, Bridge the Gap, and Ambassador. The purpose of EADS is to empower and mobilize college students to be a part of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20). This year, EADS will take place in San Telmo, Mexico. And it will be Stony Brook’s second year sending an EADS team to Mexico! This will be my first mission trip, which I’m excited for!

Why

I think for me, I’ve always understood that my duty is to spread God’s love. However, my lack of action never reflected what I learned from God’s word. But, the first time I heard about this trip, I immediately was curious about it. There was no specific reason for me, I felt called to it, even without having a clue about the details of the trip. Which is why I think God urged me with that spontaneousness, to make a step in my faith. To share God’s love, something I’ve always felt scared to do. I believe everything that’s happened this past year has been God’s work, and his promise to me that he is working within me.

As we get closer to May 26, I increasingly get more worried and scared. Worried I might slow others down during the trip. I heard it will be especially challenging for someone's first mission trip, which is my case. I just pray that God will give me the strength to be persistent and fill others with his joy.

My Heart

Before I transferred to Stony Brook, my relationship with God was a struggle, especially my first year of college. But even during that time, I tried reaching for him, trying to find fellowship, a place where I felt like I could grow my faith. When I arrived at Stony Brook, I was scared that my second year would end up with the same solitude I felt in my first year. I looked through the Christian clubs online and found one called InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, this one seemed like the club I’d check out. I then met my roommate the first day, and he happened to be Christian. He then continued to talk about his Korean Christian Fellowship and invited me. This would’ve been one of the clubs I would just glance over because I’m just not Korean, so I was reluctant. But, the first Prayer Night they had, I decided to show up. I really felt God’s presence with the people at this club. Then I went to their main events. School kept me busy, but by the spring semester, I was going every week. Each week, I’d pray more and more often, and I felt God working with me. Even though I was a Latino in a room full of mostly Koreans, I came for the Lord, and we are all the same when we praise him. God put this fellowship in my life to introduce me to people my age who love Christ; Something I lacked in my other school. I thank God for this fellowship he brought into my life, because it’s proof that he was trying to reach me. And now, with this trip, I’m looking to grow more spiritually.

How You Can Help

I think the most important thing you can do for the team and I is prayer. Although we’ve been training for this trip and have grown a lot throughout the semester, there is still so much we need to learn.

And for me, I’m also worried about the finances of this trip. Thankfully, my aunt Cecilia gave me $300 for this trip, which allowed me to buy the plane ticket! God bless her. Excluding the plane ticket, the trip costs $550, I still have $520 left to raise. If you are able to support me, please reach out to me!

I have the following prayer requests:

(1) To give us the strength and courage to persist in the stressful times of this trip

(2) For safety on our way to Mexico

(3) Protection in spiritual warfare, and from the lies of the enemy

(4) That we could make a difference in Mexico, and bless and serve the people in San Telmo

(5) To prepare our hearts and continue being obedient to the Lord

(6) For peace, our schedules are becoming more hectic with finals and training. May the Lord calm our stresses and anxiety so we can focus on him.

Thank you so much for reading!

Best,

Neyferson