Theme of Thankfulness

The girls I meet with have been giving me a hard time this week because I've used "thankfulness" as a cop out for everything - conversation starters, small group discussions, this blog title.... So here I am to share with you a few things I've been thankful for in life and ministry over the last couple of months. The picture above is a few of the young women who are part of Collin FOCUS - both returning and new - at a Fall Festival a few weeks ago! The church that hosts us for our Thursday Night Fellowship threw this festival for us and served us dinner which was a huge treat for us. I appreciate our partnership with them and their hospitality that blesses us above and beyond week after week.

                   

This is my coworker, the apprentice I supervise, and my dear friend, Katherine! She painted a pumpkin on my face at the fall festival which I now realize is very hard to see in the photo. And she hosted a cookie decorating event on campus a few days before that where I decorated the little ghost cookie on the left! I ADORE her creativity and her desire to inspire others with it. I've known her for a few years now, but now that I get to work closely with her I get to develop a deeper relationship with her and I'm learning a lot from it!

This last month we had FALL CAMP! I always love fall camp because it is a full 24 hours our community gets to spend with one another. For many new students, camp is their first time really feeling like part of the larger FOCUS community at Collin.

This is mine and Renee's core at camp! I was so proud of our girls for showing up even though it's intimidating. 24 hours with a group of girls you met 2 months prior or less is terrifying to some, but they showed up and were sweet, loving friends to one another and we had a great time!

Here is another picture of some of the girls in our core at Chuy's after we met one week. Renee reeeeeally wanted us to try the Tres Leches cake (good choice Renee) AND she really wanted me to be in the picture I took. I've loved getting to spend every Wednesday with all of the girls from the last couple photos and I've been encouraged by their eagerness to hang out beyond our regular meeting times.

Keep FOCUS Growing!!

Every year, we put together this Keep FOCUS Growing Campaign to raise money for the following year of ministry. I want to ask you to consider joining us in our campaign to Keep FOCUS Growing! Each one of the missionaries on our team raises support, but it takes a lot more than that for us to do ministry! Outreach activities/materials, administrative support, planting new campuses, health/retirement benefits, etc. This is about being around for the long haul and expanding our reach.

If you'd like to hear more about it (specifically from me out loud!) here is a link to our kick off video: 

Watch KFG Video

Some of our generous donors have banded together and agreed to match up to $54,000 in total donations during this campaign. So if we receive $54,000 in total contributions, they will kick in a SECOND $54,000! Your first chance to give will be on November 29th! You can give at anyfocus.churchcenter.com and select the "Keep FOCUS Growing" fund.

No matter how big or small or even if it is a commitment to prayer for our KFG campaign - everything means so much to me and our entire team! We absolutely could not do this without faithful ministry partners like each one of you.

With that, I always owe a huge thank you to each and every one of you. I love getting to do what I do and I wouldn't be able to without your support.

  With love,

Jacy Garcia