Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Warrior Princess

Sometimes God uses trials to refine us. This past year he used a trial to turn my life upside down and make me take a good hard look at my soul. I grew a lot. I tackled some hard issues that I was trying to ignore. I wrote a story in commemoration of that battle.

She always thought a knight in shining armor would save her from the mess of life to which she found herself a victim. Then, came that terrifying day when all her greatest fears mounted on a large beast of failure and misguided decisions and hurtled toward her. She had nowhere to run. The monster was between here everything she loved and cared about. She tried to attack the monster with little twigs of advice gathered from friends. Needless to say, that failed. She threw up her hands and bolted. Risking a friendship, she flung into the arms of a man she hoped would save her. Perhaps, he would be her knight in shining armor. The impact of her body stunned him and he dropped her. She tumbled out of his arms on to the cold hard ground.

She lay there stunned and confused. She was broken and bruised. She looked up to see the monster still plowing towards her. Steam poured from its nostrils and fire raged from its mouth. She could she its teeth glistening in the moonlight. Suddenly, someone grabbed her by the scruff of her neck and jerked her to her feet. He shoved a giant sword in to her trembling hands. He guided her hands to give the giant creature a mortal wound. She gasped in relief. Then the mysterious warrior grasped her firmly yet gently by the neck again and whisked her away from the moaning monster.
“I will teach you how to fight,” he whispered hoarsely in her ear.

The training regime was difficult. Blood and sweat pour from her tiny frame as she learns the most ferocious battle moves. She fights tears as she falls. Her mistakes cost her dearly. However, she finds that she is a fighter and she gets back up again. Her trainer is gentle, but he is fierce. He drives her to limits that that she never knew she had. She screams out in pain begging him for mercy. He is deaf to her cries because he knows she has just a little bit more in her. The drills bring out the nastiest parts of her soul; yet, they purge her like a bitter elixir.

Finally, it’s over. She lies broken and bloody on the cold hard ground her chest heaving in exhaustion. Tears flow freely from her scared face. The Warrior Trainer lies beside her a calming presence that gives her hope. He doesn’t push her anymore because she is fully spent. He lets her rest. Then, he gets up and gently bandages her wounds. He gathers her into his arms and wraps he white robes around her. He lets her rest against his broad chest. She finds peace in its gentle heaving.

Once she has caught her breath, he pulls her to her feet.

“Come, we must go back to the battle,” he says.

As she wields the giant sword and feels her muscles ripple gently beneath her skin, she sighs with happiness. Never again would she pine to be saved by a knight. No she is ready to be won by the fiercest of warriors. She will not stay in a castle greeting her knight when he returned from battle. No. She would fight alongside her warrior for she was a Warrior Princess.

Thursday, January 1, 2015

This Year 2014



I think like this little challenge. I think it’s my little new year’s reflection tradition. It’s always interesting to look back on the years and see how God has lead.

Challenge 1:



  1. Took my first exams without Spanish to English translation
  2. First date? It wasn’t quite what I intended, but I guess that’s what it was. I don’t know if I recommend going out with someone you are not at all attracted to, but it’s very informative to say the least. I learned a lot about myself. Love and relationships are very complicated.
  3. I completed my freshman year of college
  4. I went Canvassing in Michigan (2,023 miles away from home in Puerto Rico) for two months. That was my longest period away from home. Surprisingly, I never got homesick!
  5. Learned how to make arepas!
  6. I did clinical labs in the hospital and gave massages to real patients.
  7. Went bareback horseriding. That was definitely on my bucket list.
  8. Piercing victims with IV and IM needles. IV was certainly a little nerve wracking --all that blood... 
  9. Read/listened through the Di Jamiekan Nyuu Testiment. Yaass. Nothing like the Bible in my own dialect.
  10. Inter-university Camp! What a blast…

Challenge 2:

IMG_0188.JPG
Mi familia preciosa // My precious family

IMG_20141023_171631.jpg
All the awesome people from summer

photo-1.JPG
The gentle giant

IMG_20140828_110616.jpg
Ismelis! La loca cubana mia//My crazy cuban

P7230236.JPG
Horse + Friends

Bonus Pic:
Campamento Inter-Universitario//Inter-University Camp




The first time I did this I didn’t have enough pictures this year I have to many! There were so many good memories and so many good people.

Challenge 3:



We are heading to the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventist.


Visit family and friends


Conquer the unknown


Get involved in ministry


Summer school?


Spend more time with Jesus

Challenge 4:


Dear A,

I’m always surprised at who stays in my life and who kinda falls by the wayside. Hope you had a good year.

Love, J.
Challenge 5:

IMG_20140217_120853.jpg

Challenge 6:


Become fluent in Spanish

Be more confident

Exercise the power of positive thinking by God’s grace

Pace myself so I finish the semesters strong

Challenge 7:


April M., Emil, Randy, Ismelis, and Jo

Challenge 8:


I resolve to me more consistent in my walk with Jesus.