“... We will not be defeated because he is our undefeated God.”
I joined YFL in 2012 but i was never active until last year, 2016. In a year, a lot has happened. I've met such wonderful friends, brothers and sisters in Christ. It wasn't easy at first to go back to the community because I felt isolated and different from the others. But i continued to go to events because I knew it was in God's plan. There was an event called Echo Con which was an echo version of WYC 2016 and it was such an amazing event that left a strong impact. "I want to go WYC 2017!!"... And I told myself I'd only go to WYC 2017 if I participate in YFL activities, events and households. And I did go to those events! So when they announced the registration for WYC 2017, I did so immediately. WYC was held in Laguna in the Philippines, and it was my first WYC experience. The theme was UNDEFEATED. Before going, I was expecting a lot of crying because of emotional stories from last year's WYC. However it was different, it was more on empowerment. Becoming stronger and more confident. To continue to struggle for the Lord. To continue to grow in my spiritual life. Over the past year being in YFL, it was very challenging and life-changing. It was challenging because God has given me tasks and responsibilities that I didn't imagine doing. It started from sharing, caroling, serving in kids camp and now facilitating the Lamma youth for LBS. As a youth, i face struggles in school, with friends, work and even with family. Other than my life struggles, the tasks that God has assigned me with were struggles as well. It was difficult for me because I didn't know God enough. But I always ended up saying YES when I'm asked or assigned to serve. And with this, it has allowed me to know Him more, to build a deeper relationship. It has allowed me to experience His love and to fall in love with Him everyday. In WYC, there were sharers whom I could relate to because they were also facing struggles like me. Similar struggles that I have, the struggles that were slowly defeating me.
However, in WYC and with the entire YFL community, it has helped me to surrender this defeated life I have to our UNDEFEATED GOD. It taught me to take risks and surrender all my struggles, my doubts and pains. To surrender everything up to the Lord. Also, I love how YFLs are so vocal about their love for God and seeing so many youth praising and worshiping our Lord made me feel so full. So full of Love. And how great is our God that He has blessed me with people who makes me feel loved and appreciated. That I am, that we are so blessed to have this community. That God loves us so much that He has given us this community to fight our struggles with, to fight against this battle that challenges us. And He will always remind us that we are not alone, that we will not be defeated because HE IS OUR UNDEFEATED GOD. Janelle Fernandez