Visiting a Rape Rehab Center

Here in the Philippines, I had the opportunity to visit a Rape Rehabilitation Center for young girls and I never thought today was going to be so special. A few months ago,

I had told God that I wanted to give my BELIEVE bracelet to someone special - someone who needed it more than I did. Little did I know that that day was today.

Before leaving, we were told that there would be girls from as young as 2 to 18 years old there & when I walked in and immediately saw the girls, my heart dropped & I'll admit it took a lot to hold it together. & During a moment of prayer, I noticed a young girl, not much older than 13, beginning to weap uncontrollably because of what she had been through and instantly I felt the Father's heart for her as I cried with her & hugged her ever so tightly. I instantly heard Jesus tell me to give my bracelet to her & I whispered in her ear that she was beautiful & whenever she felt alone or that she couldn't make it any more, to look at what was on her wrist and to keep going and to never give up because God loved her & she was going to go far in life. Afterwards, she held on to me & never left my side even when we split into groups. & before we left she smiled & hugged me & looked at me with the prettiest eyes & told me that she loved me & would miss me so so much😭💔💔💔.

I later found out that she had been at the center for over a year & nobody had come to visit her since then. I don't know what it is, but the strength that these girls have and the love that they were able to show us despite what happened to them was so beyond me. I'm even more so thankful for the opportunity to come today & meet & cry with this beautiful, sweet girl. The sad part is I may never see her again, but I'll never forget this because the smile on her face was absolutely priceless.❤️

#Loveisallyoueverneed #Philippines2k17

Graduation

It's crazy how yesterday was my last day of class at SFSU & how today, I literally waited 2 hours in line for this baby. Looking back, my time in college has been a waiting period - a series of setbacks & miscommunications, mixed with once in a lifetime opportunities that only forced me to grow.

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And as graduation day has been slowly creeping up, I've been continuously challenging myself to think bigger and larger - to not limit my goals to what I know, but to reach what I don't know. Yet, one thing is for sure:

I'm not afraid of what the future holds - whatever risks & obstacles lie ahead.

My focus is on the here, the now, & making the most of every day. Because that's what really matters at the end of the day - knowing that you've enjoyed the journey and faced matters head-on giving 110% of yourself, each and every time.

A New Season

There was a time in my life where for 2+ years, my distrust of the people in my own "home" affected the trust I had with the people around me. I was silent a majority of the time and I would be afraid to look people dead in the eye, perhaps, because I didn't want them to really know me. I was so tired of letting people into my life to get close only to have them WALK right back out again as they freely took what they wanted from me. I was left burnt out to the point where I just let myself go & started focusing on the problem more than the solution. Yet, everyday, I was left barely scraping by with the constant thought that, "maybe one day, I'll make it out of here alive & live to see the light". • At the time, I didn't know why I was going through it, and it was the hardest battle I’d ever encountered in all my 20-something years. There was nothing but mad TENSION, ARGUING, ACCUSATIONS, & DIRTY LOOKS being served on the daily, left & right. I won't put the blame on anybody, but I fought long and hard just to make it through those difficult nights & to not let those types of people takeover my emotions and change my character. & It took EVERYTHING (& I mean EVERYTHING) within me to walk away from it without holding onto any bitterness towards those people & that situation. • Yet, I was at the point where I was still DESPERATE for answers. "Why did it seem like I could never escape it? Why could I never seem to find my way out? Why am I going through this when at a pivotal time when I should be enjoying my life like most of the young people around me? WHY?" But now, it's clear as day & I see how that time helped mold me into the person I am today - one who isn't afraid to stick up for herself & the people she loves no matter what circumstance she finds herself in. • Looking back, I'm thankful that I'm no longer in that season in my life. My joy is even 10-fold what it was before because now, I have the opportunity to be grateful that I can live & enjoy life again. I wake up everyday with an indescribable FIRE🔥 that's been lit up in my bones by the Father himself, & it's been growing steadily-faster, wider, larger, & DEEPER- ever since. All the insecurity, the doubts, the fears I had growing up are OVERRIDEN because of this burning FLAME within me.

• I don't share this with you to overdramatize anything or make you pity me or feel bad for what I had to go through. But it's because of this experience that motivates me even MORE to focus harder, to keep going, & to keep pushing myself forward to help other people realize that they, too, have the same strength. You just have to #Believe .🔥💯