Exciting things are happening...

All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God's grace in all its truth. Colossians 1:6

Yesterday I talked with a friend from Canada and I was super encouraged by what God is doing at my old university, Brock University in St Catharines, Ontario. Campus for Christ is in its third year at Brock and has no staff. However, the ministry is doing so well that they won't be getting staff for another three years. Last year three of us went on differnt mission trips. In 2007 my friend Rachel went on Scotland Project, Daniel travelled to East Asia and I felt the Lord call me to Panama. In 2008 Amanda and I decided to intern as staff for a year overseas; she is in East Asia and I am in Panama. Projects are six week mission trips, and are a great way to become familiar with the vision of Campus for Christ and, to get awesome training on evangelism, discipleship; not to mention they are life changing. My friend told me that this year 13 Brock students have applied to go on projects!! And many of these students are in their first year. As I heard this I couldn't help but cry! I was completely overwhelmed by God's goodness and faithfulness. What's also amazing is that the first year of C4C there were only about 20 students who attended the weekly meeting, now 60 is the average of how many students come out.

I've also been touched and encouraged to hear friends of mine have gone out sharing their faith on campus. God is doing great things at Brock and the students there are so passionate about growing in their faith and telling others about Jesus. Please be praying for Brock University and for all the students involved with C4C who have a desire to make a difference on their campus and are being used by God to change the world.

God bless you,

Raquel

Happy New Year!

Hello everyone,

I am finally settling back to my life in Panama. As a team we had about three weeks vacation and are now back to full swing ministry at the university.

I trust that you all had a wonderful New Year. I was blessed to get to spend it with a Panamanian family that has become like a family to our team. The Santanas made sure that Derek, Juan and I would not spend New Years by ourselves and took us to the house of some of their friends. Then on January 2, 2009 I traveled to El Salvador to visit my extended family. It was a blessing to see all my cousins, uncles and grandparents again and to eat all of the yummy Salvadorian food! On January 13th I flew directly from El Salvador to Costa Rica where I was reunited with my team. We spent four days on the beach in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca in Costa Rica, reconnecting as a team and relaxing before heading back to Panama to begin work again.

I had some really good quiet times during my holidays. I was able to reflect on the past five months and am looking forward to the next five months. It's interesting to think that I am at the half way point of STINT. I have mixed feelings about returning to Canada. I will miss my life down here and all the wonderful friends I have made in Panama, but I'm also excited to get to see my family, friends and church in Canada once again.

Please continue to pray for our team as we begin a new semester on campus. Right now it's the summer semester and there are less students on campus, which has actually been nice as the university is not as crowded.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for man... Colossians 3:23

With my friends Andrea and Jose Andres Santana during New Years.

My maternal grandmother and I in El Salvador.

A Volcano in El Salvador.

Some of my team members and I in Costa Rica enjoying a delcious breakfast from "Caribeans Coffee." The owners are Christian missionaries.
www.caribeanscoffee.com