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October 25, 2020
By Michal Sequeira
STUDENT GLORY STORY
This semester, I have had the opportunity to meet some amazing students. One in particular is a girl in my bible study. Her name is Sydney and she is a senior on the Cross Country team. She has been a great natural leader within the bible study. The girls all love the advice she gives and she is always so welcoming to the new girls in the study. She has also been working very hard juggling her last season being canceled, senior classes, and an internship. I am very grateful for her coming to bible study and being a great friend to the girls in the bible study.
VARSITY CATHOLIC MIXER
What is Varsity Catholic? Varsity Catholic or VC is the athlete outreach program through FOCUS. Usually we are able to put together a little mixer at the Catholic Center where students can meet and get to know other athletes.
This semester we got creative and planned a fun Zoom night where the athletes could meet! We got both of our athlete bible studies together and played games and created some fellowship. Our hope is to do a combined study once a month just create a bigger community.Below is a picture of our outdoor mass at the Caruso Catholic Center. It has been a joy to be able to celebrate mass with students and staff from USC. We have been able to meet students this way and continue to keep the Catholic community thriving at USC.
FALL OUTREACHMatthew 28:19 "Go therefore, and make disciples..."
In August we began our Fall Semester outreach things looked a little different because itwas all virtural. Each of us had around 150-200 names to contact. I started my athlete bible study in August. I had 3 girls committed to coming and by September had 4 more girls added to study. I have two girls from the cross country team, 1 from track, 1 from waterpolo, 1 from beach volleyball, 1 soccer player, and 1 tennis player. I am also excited to start my second bible study as more girls join! They all have been really missing community and I am so excited to provide a place from them to make friends as well as grow in faith and fellowship with one another. It has been a joyful challenge to find unique ways to foster friendship from an online platform.
Pictured above is a group of our missionary disciples in the Upper Room. All of these students have said "Yes" to the gospel and to our commission to bring more souls to Christ. Upper Room is a place for us to gather as a community, be formed in the faith, and a place for the students to share their experienes with one anoer.
Below is a picture of our outdoor mass at the Caruso Catholic Center. It has been a joy to be able to celebrate mass with students and staff from USC. We have been able to meet students this way and continue to keep the Catholic community thriving at USC.
Relationships in the city of angels"With such affection for you, we were determined to share not only the Gospel, but our very selves" 1 Thessealonians 2:8
The first part of the semester has been all about creating relationships with our students and starting the building blocks of formation. We have had to get pretty creative with how we meet with students because of the nature of online mission. With the current pandemic, meeting face to face has made some connections hard. Having classes online, as well as almost all of our meetings online has caused a lot of screen fatigue not only for the students but for us as well. My favorite way to connect is through outside coffee dates or lunch. Some of my students were not able to return so weekly facetimes are a great way to stay in contact. With the girls that are here, we try and change things up by going to fun places in LA and create some more authentic experiences that we have been missing since being quaratine. For example, after mass we have dinner on the grass. In September, Nora, Fran, and I went to Joshua Tree National Park for a little escape from the city. It was a great experience for all of us and some much needed girl time.
Dinner on the lawn with students
A fun LA night with Fran, Katt, and students Lexi and Claire
Prayer Requests
Thank you all for keeping me in your prayers, know that you are in mine! I would love to share some of my prayers requests with you. Please pray for my continued monthly fundraising efforts as I work toward beoming fully funded. If you could pray also for the female athletes as they grapple with their seasons being cancled as well the struggle of being separated from their team. Lastly, for the ministry team here at USC especially for my teammates as we all strive to reach souls and bring others to heaven!
