January Update on Tallulah
Tallulah Reyes has stepped out in faith to serve God as His ambassadors in the world. West Side is privileged and excited to support her through our prayers, encouragement and financial support.
April 2024
Hello West Side!
There are lot’s of updates and praises to be said. This past month in March I along with my co-leader Caitlyn lead a trip of 7 students to the University of Texas Dallas. We partnered with FOCUS ministries to help with their Spring Outreach Week. The theme for our students was Sowing Seeds, inspired from Matthew 13 and 1 Corinthians 3:7. It was a stretching and exciting time for us.
There are lot’s of updates and praises to be said. This past month in March I along with my co-leader Caitlyn lead a trip of 7 students to the University of Texas Dallas. We partnered with FOCUS ministries to help with their Spring Outreach Week. The theme for our students was Sowing Seeds, inspired from Matthew 13 and 1 Corinthians 3:7. It was a stretching and exciting time for us.
One activity we did was to wash UTD students’ shoes. Inspiration was taken from Jesus washing his disciples feet. In talking about evangelism Caitlyn and I had told our students that it is best to get on the same level as the person you are talking to, if they are sitting sit, if they are standing stand. However, when you clean someone’s shoes you are kneeling before them. One male student on the trip shared about what a humbling experience it was. To talk about Jesus and then to be physically modeling what Jesus did was a powerful moment for him. In this students’ words it was “so so cool!” UTD students were deeply impacted by it, and oftentimes were confused as to why we were willingly cleaning their shoes. However, this provided more opportunity for us to explain our faith, how we have a God that models for us a deep heart of service, John 13:14-17 says, “if I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.”
Western Students also had “Evangelunches” where they went out two-by-two just like Jesus modeled and ate lunch with a Texas student. It was amazing to see them ready and willing to share the Gospel. To be unafraid to talk to strangers and share something vulnerable. One student ended up getting connected to FOCUS ministries, and some conversations lasted for longer than an hour. It was a time of building connections and providing UTD students more ways to connect with Christians, and with Jesus.
Western Students also had “Evangelunches” where they went out two-by-two just like Jesus modeled and ate lunch with a Texas student. It was amazing to see them ready and willing to share the Gospel. To be unafraid to talk to strangers and share something vulnerable. One student ended up getting connected to FOCUS ministries, and some conversations lasted for longer than an hour. It was a time of building connections and providing UTD students more ways to connect with Christians, and with Jesus.
One activity we did was to wash UTD students’ shoes. Inspiration was taken from Jesus washing his disciples feet. In talking about evangelism Caitlyn and I had told our students that it is best to get on the same level as the person you are talking to, if they are sitting sit, if they are standing stand. However, when you clean someone’s shoes you are kneeling before them. One male student on the trip shared about what a humbling experience it was. To talk about Jesus and then to be physically modeling what Jesus did was a powerful moment for him. In this students’ words it was “so so cool!” UTD students were deeply impacted by it, and oftentimes were confused as to why we were willingly cleaning their shoes. However, this provided more opportunity for us to explain our faith, how we have a God that models for us a deep heart of service, John 13:14-17 says, “if I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.”
Western Students also had “Evangelunches” where they went out two-by-two just like Jesus modeled and ate lunch with a Texas student. It was amazing to see them ready and willing to share the Gospel. To be unafraid to talk to strangers and share something vulnerable. One student ended up getting connected to FOCUS ministries, and some conversations lasted for longer than an hour. It was a time of building connections and providing UTD students more ways to connect with Christians, and with Jesus.
Western Students also had “Evangelunches” where they went out two-by-two just like Jesus modeled and ate lunch with a Texas student. It was amazing to see them ready and willing to share the Gospel. To be unafraid to talk to strangers and share something vulnerable. One student ended up getting connected to FOCUS ministries, and some conversations lasted for longer than an hour. It was a time of building connections and providing UTD students more ways to connect with Christians, and with Jesus.
Two students from Western clean two UTD student’s shoes.
Two Western students and one FOCUS student advertising “Free Shoe Cleaning!”
We were there during Holy Week … the lead up to Jesus’ death and resurrection on the cross. FOCUS ministries do a wonderful job of showcasing Jesus’ journey and sacrifice on the cross. They were unapologetically sharing the Gospel of Christ. I believe that our students were inspired by such an outward showcase of faith. One female student on the trip said that witnessing how the Texas FOCUS students were so excited to talk about Jesus inspired her to be more confident. By the end of the week, she was talking to strangers, and sharing her faith in a way that she hadn’t when she was at Western. The trip was so impactful for her in this way that now she says she feels as if she can do outreach on Western’s campus and be less concerned with how people perceive her faith.
Mission Trips like these bring up lots of questions and thoughts like these for students:
At the end of the week at our First Friday Night Worship back at Western, 5 students from the Texas mission trip shared about their experience and how God met them on the trip and how they are changed since they went. Even if some parts of Texas for me as a leader may have been stressful or anxiety inducing the students were being impacted, God was actively moving in my life as well as theirs, and He needs to be praised!
Mission Trips like these bring up lots of questions and thoughts like these for students:
- How do I follow Jesus on a campus where being a Christian is not “cool”?
- How do I share my faith in my classes? How do I share my faith with professors?
- What do I do when I am no longer in a consistent Christian community once I graduate?
- How do the skills we learned in Texas transfer back to Western?
At the end of the week at our First Friday Night Worship back at Western, 5 students from the Texas mission trip shared about their experience and how God met them on the trip and how they are changed since they went. Even if some parts of Texas for me as a leader may have been stressful or anxiety inducing the students were being impacted, God was actively moving in my life as well as theirs, and He needs to be praised!
Small Group Updates and Prayers
I have two girls who are heavily considering leadership next year. Praise Jesus! They were so excited and one girl said “If you told me in the beginning of the year that I would be here I wouldn't have believed you! It is crazy how much God has influenced me this year”. Jesus is actively molding and shaping each of these girls lives and it is a privilege to be able to witness their growth. One of my girls shared about how even though she didn’t go on a mission trip over spring break like her friends, she got to talk to her family more about Jesus in a way she never had before, and even took her brother to church!
Here are some prayer requests for this next month:
Blessings,
Tallulah Reyes
I have two girls who are heavily considering leadership next year. Praise Jesus! They were so excited and one girl said “If you told me in the beginning of the year that I would be here I wouldn't have believed you! It is crazy how much God has influenced me this year”. Jesus is actively molding and shaping each of these girls lives and it is a privilege to be able to witness their growth. One of my girls shared about how even though she didn’t go on a mission trip over spring break like her friends, she got to talk to her family more about Jesus in a way she never had before, and even took her brother to church!
Here are some prayer requests for this next month:
- For my two girls considering official leadership - that they know that in all things balance is needed in our academics, and in our social lives. Jesus cares about us as students! That they feel Jesus with them as they learn new ways of relating to their peers.
- My co-leader and I will be leading a testimony night for our small group next week. The question is “When has there been a moment in your life where you had seen God move?” Please pray for the girls’ nerves about sharing, and that they know that whatever they say, their bravery in speaking and being vulnerable with their friends is pleasing to the Lord.
- I am walking through the Gospels with one of my girls who is exploring Christianity, right now we are in the book of Matthew. Pray for guidance and wisdom as we wrestle through her questions. And that God’s word becomes live to her.
Blessings,
Tallulah Reyes
January 2024
Hey West Side!
I just wanted to give you an update from Western Washington University!
On a personal note, I am doing well! I am learning a lot right now about administration, and what goes on behind the scenes to make sure that events run smoothly. We are doing a Rev. Dr. MLK celebration for students on Friday.
Please keep praying for students in winter quarter - it’s the darkest (weather wise), and most academically challenging quarter so it can be really hard to navigate.
Please keep praying for me in learning how to be present with Jesus in my “right now” space!
There are lots of future events coming up like leading mission trips and it’s so easy to be distracted on planning those and can sometimes not focus on the present.
Blessings,
Tallulah
I just wanted to give you an update from Western Washington University!
On a personal note, I am doing well! I am learning a lot right now about administration, and what goes on behind the scenes to make sure that events run smoothly. We are doing a Rev. Dr. MLK celebration for students on Friday.
Please keep praying for students in winter quarter - it’s the darkest (weather wise), and most academically challenging quarter so it can be really hard to navigate.
Please keep praying for me in learning how to be present with Jesus in my “right now” space!
There are lots of future events coming up like leading mission trips and it’s so easy to be distracted on planning those and can sometimes not focus on the present.
Blessings,
Tallulah
Hey West Side!
I just wanted to give you an update from Western Washington University!
On a personal note, I am doing well! I am learning a lot right now about administration, and what goes on behind the scenes to make sure that events run smoothly. We are doing a Rev. Dr. MLK celebration for students on Friday.
Please keep praying for students in winter quarter - it’s the darkest (weather wise), and most academically challenging quarter so it can be really hard to navigate.
Please keep praying for me in learning how to be present with Jesus in my “right now” space!
There are lots of future events coming up like leading mission trips and it’s so easy to be distracted on planning those and can sometimes not focus on the present.
Blessings,
Tallulah
I just wanted to give you an update from Western Washington University!
On a personal note, I am doing well! I am learning a lot right now about administration, and what goes on behind the scenes to make sure that events run smoothly. We are doing a Rev. Dr. MLK celebration for students on Friday.
Please keep praying for students in winter quarter - it’s the darkest (weather wise), and most academically challenging quarter so it can be really hard to navigate.
Please keep praying for me in learning how to be present with Jesus in my “right now” space!
There are lots of future events coming up like leading mission trips and it’s so easy to be distracted on planning those and can sometimes not focus on the present.
Blessings,
Tallulah