Testimony-JRN212

When it comes to sharing your testimony, it can be a little intimidating. Getting the feeling that someone is judging you, or that maybe it that there are some things that shouldn’t be said. Some people have those very dramatic testimonies and others are simpler and consistent. Mine is kind of the median. Best of both worlds I can say, but my world hasn’t always been the best. Yes, I had a great family that loved me, and a normal childhood, until my father passed away when I was seven. My life wasn’t consistent anymore; I didn’t know how it felt to have a dad or to have that male role model in my life. Growing up with just my mom and I, I did believe in Jesus Christ and we both regularly attended church. I loved God, but I didn’t further love for Him then I should have, I just settled. Just settled for the basic minimum, me thinking “this will be enough to get me to Heaven.” I was baptized and did my First Communion and Confirmation in the Catholic Church when I was about 10 years old. I went to private schools all my life, which at times I took it for granted. While some kids at public schools are not afraid to show their love for Christ and stand out, I rather not say anything and just go with the flow. My love was always strong for Christ, but I was like a seesaw when it came to actually practicing it and being able to not be afraid to show my faith.

I kept my relationship with God to my self and it wasn’t until the beginning of college where I found out that my faith was going to be tested. I made the greatest friends, but some weren’t all that fantastic. I started talking to the wrong people and getting involved in the wrong things, never would I thought I would get myself in that kind of position. I wasn’t naïve in knowing what I was doing, but I just didn’t care anymore. I was carless with my faith, which gave me more heartache down the road. Luckily with the grace of God and realized what I was doing and stopped things before it got way out of hand. I recommitted my life to Christ last year, I gained that love for Christ that I thought I forgotten, and I wasn’t afraid to show people how much I love Jesus Christ. Having Jesus on my side, I was at peace with myself and I knew that God had forgiven me for all the sins I’ve committed. Life with out Christ is unthinkable to me now; He is my first, my foremost, my everything. You should never try to take control in your own hands, if you give all your problems and needs to God he will provide and give you healing. My faith is Jesus Christ is unconditional; I am so blessed with my family, friends, school, everything possible. Life is better when living through Jesus Christ.

Hope Healing Haiti

Hurricanes, earthquakes, fires, and mudslides, so many natural disasters occur in our world that affect so many people around us. With the recent disaster in Haiti many people lost their families and many people even lost their lives. This is a terrifying event that occurred that will go down into history and keeps us wondering what is going to happen next? Is there going to be an earthquake closer to home next time? There is so much worry when these disasters occur and through the media we can see all of it. There are over 300 journalists in Haiti covering what has occurred and the aftermath of it all. 300 journalists, that seems like one to many to be in Haiti at this crucial time, especially when they are all covering the same stories. It seems redundant that there has to be that many journalist that are being well kept when the Haitians that now have no homes and are going through food and water shortages. I do agree that the news must come out and we should know what is going, for the sake of our knowledge and giving us a chance to give back and help the less fortunate. These tragedies affect us is some form or another and this is a time where we all need to be together and help others. The Hope for Haiti telethon, hosted by George Clooney, helped raise more than $70 million dollars in a short period of time. The charity had famous celebrities from Stevie Wonder and Madonna to Taylor Swift and Shakira help raise money for the poor country. Having these famous celebrities work with the Hope for Haiti really gets people motivated to help as well, people admire celebrities so when you see them do a good deed it makes you want to do something good as well. But celebrities or no celebrities you should give back and help the families that lost loved ones, the children that are now orphans, the people that lost their homes. We all can make a difference, even if its by the simpliest thing, anything can make a difference in someone’s life. Mother Teresa once said, "We ourselves feel that we are doing is just a drop in the ocena. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop." Yes we might just be giving our spare change or the clothes. We never wear to a charity helping Haiti, but all these little things that we don't see as making a hufe really in fact does.

Bright Lights, Big City

I woke up thinking, "Am I really going to be by myself today?". It was New Year's Eve, my mom and cousin was going to spend it with my family in the Bay Area. But when waking up that morning I got a burst of doubt, " Should I really stay here and hangout with my friends tonight or should I go up north and be bored?" Hmm… for some reason it was a tough decision. But I know my friends, and while I was still in bed, the "flakiness" began. I was getting text messages off the roof saying that everyone was going to do there own thing for New Years. So the light bulb turned on in my head and I remember that today was my sister's birthday. It was a given that my decision was to go up to San Francisco and spend it with my sister. I called Nichole and woke her up by saying, " Change of plans lets go to San Francisco!" So in two hours we had our bags packed, posted my farewell tweet, got comfy in our seats, and couldn't forget the dog of course for this long eight hour drive. During the trip, we were at the edge of our seats while watching Carrie Bradshaw's love triangle with Mr. Big and Aidan. As Carrie Bradshaw tearfully pleaded for forgiveness of her shameful love affair, the worst possible thing could happen; the screen went black, yes that’s right my laptop died.

We finally arrived to my aunt’s house, it was 8pm and we were down to the wire, this is what felt to be the beginning of a great adventure. Nichole and I got ready in 30 minutes and were on our way to the Bart station, where the final destination would be San Francisco. We had our duffle bags with us and were finishing getting all dolled up while we were sitting in Bart squished together like sardines as everyone was heading to the big city. Nichole and I finally arrived in San Francisco were it felt like we were gallivanting our way through the city.

Ten minutes left and finally my sister, Nami and her husband pick us up we went to her friends studio apartment. We got there just in time to celebrate the New Year on top of the roof viewing the life and the city lights that was in front of us. The view was impeccable, it has always been a dream of mine to live in this beautiful city and just being there with my sister, I felt that my dreams would come true. I believe I made the best decision spending New Years with my sister and my roommate; the trip was unforgettable and made the best memories. Without a doubt it was the best way to start of the New Year, can’t wait to see what 2010 has in store.