Sara Mendoza
About Mission Year
Mission Year is a year long urban ministry program focused on Christian service and discipleship. We take teams of young people, place them in an area of need, and help them to serve people and create community. We are committed to the command of Jesus to “love God and love people,” by placing the needs of our neighbors first and developing committed disciples of Christ with a heart for the poor. Learn more about our first year program…
Sara Mendoza's Blog
One Month. / Oct 5, 10:04 PM
It’s been one month. And I can’t believe it. So much has happened, so much is happening and everyday I learn new things.
Maybe someday I will write a book…haha…but for now I will write this little blog :)
Today is Friday and it is our Sabbath, a day to rest and reflect and get ready for the coming week. Currently I am sitting in Borders…drinking a latte…and putting my thoughts here. Just to fill you all in – I live with 5 other women in a house affectionately nicknamed “The Betty.” 5 of us run an afterschool program at Logan Hope, a Christian school a block away, and my 6th housemate works full time at a medical clinic. In the mornings we all work at various non-profits and schools in the area. Our weeks are busy…full of working and meeting neighbors and laughing and going to church. It took me some time to find a rhythm to this life, but I think it’s coming to me slowly – and this makes me excited. Though everything continues to be new and I continue to learn more…one thing has remained constant and given me incredible peace and hope – God. Being here in Philly has pushed me to a new place with God. I see such beauty in the smiles of the kids we hang out with after school. I see beauty in the turning autumn leaves that are beginning to fall. I see beauty in the adults I tutor as they grasp the concepts we’re studying. I see beauty in my housemates as they say good morning or ask me how my day was. There is beauty present in these things because God is present in these things. I am feeling more and more God’s presence all throughout my day – in the hello’s, the conversations, the smiles, the laughter, the quiet. And it’s these moments that give me hope, that encourage me, that fill my heart with peace, that tell me things will be ok…things will be good.
It’s been one month. And as I look to the future I’m filled with all sorts of feelings. How will this year change me? How many challenges will I face? Will I be able to handle everything? Will I freak out? So many questions….but amidst all of the unknown I am here and I am living life – day by day. And God is good.
Thank you for reading this :) I hope to write more soon.
ra
Comment [2]
Transition / Jul 9, 11:06 AM
It’s July 6th, so that means there are 7 weeks until the big move. Yes.
I think I’m starting to feel ready.
Let’s go.
This summer has been so crazy, full of events that I would have never guessed would happen…some wonderful and some not so wonderful. One of those not so wonderful events was losing my job after having it for 2 weeks. I could have been a great berry stand employee…maybe someday I will get the chance! But now as I sit here typing this I can see the ways that God has used these past 2 months to prepare me for the next step. No work has left me with a lot of time. At the beginning I was frustrated and angry, worried that I would be bored with nothing to do here in little Newberg, OR. One night I was voicing these frustrations with a friend and, somewhat sarcastically, I told her that my new job would be learning how to be friendlier to the gas man (in Oregon we can’t pump our own gas, so we have gas attendants who pump it for us. It’s actually really great.). After I said that she looked back at me with a serious look on her face and said “sure, you’re work will now be learning how to love people.” After she said that I realized how right she was. And then decided to not waste this time I have. This summer, this transition time in between college and my time in Philly, has been and will continue to be so valuable in teaching me how to love. God has used the quietness of Newberg, the loss of a job, family issues, beautiful friends, and conversations over good coffee to show me how beautiful this life is. How beautiful He is. I have treasured my times reading on my porch with the sun shinning on my face. I have treasured the long drives in the country admiring all the vibrant colors of the hills while singing lyrics to songs that speak of the faithfulness and goodness of our God. And I have treasured my community that has supported, encouraged, challenged, and loved me.
I am so excited for what Philly will bring…I can’t wait to learn and be stretched and challenged! Everything that Mission Year is about is what makes me feel alive and I can’t wait to be there serving alongside those with similar hearts and passions. But until then, during these next 7 weeks, I will continue to live this lovely life here in Newberg. I will continue to read, journal, take drives, and spend time with friends. And in all of that I will continue to learn how to love people. I will keep smiling at the gas man and wishing him a good day.
here it goes! / May 25, 08:43 PM
“Every moment and every event of every man’s life on earth plants something in his soul.” – Thomas Merton
Oh Mr. Merton, how perfectly your words fit with me right now. My soul is overflowing these days….and I imagine it to look something like a beautiful unkept garden with bright wild flowers and tall grasses. And a few weeds here and
there :) 3 weeks ago I completed my time at George Fox University. College has been a journey for me, a journey that has lead me deeper into the heart of God, and shown me the beauty of vulnerability and trust found in community. I am amazed at how God has created us to be in relationship with each other and given us these hearts that continue to grow, and stretch, and love. I smile as I think of all the people that have come into my life these past 4 years and all of the laughs, tears, crazy adventures, and conversations we have shared. These are the things, the people I love so dearly that have each planted something in my soul. They are the bright wildflowers and tall grasses.
What I love about the journey is that it never ends. Our relationship with Christ continues to deepen, continues to uncover more beauty and truth, and continues to reveal to us the image in which we were created. George Fox was a beautiful part of my journey and has prepared me I think in many ways for the next step, Mission Year. In 3 months I will be traveling across the U.S. and joining the Mission Year team! I am excited, anxious, and nervous, but am so trusting in the ever faithfulness of God. I have nothing but good expectations for the year ahead. I am confident that the year will be filled with challenges, joys, and struggles, but I rest in the provision and sovereignty of God and know that he is present and working in all things.
I hope to be updating this fairly often! So check back soon :)
Love,
ra
Comment [1]
- 1
