Bear Facts September 20, 2009

First and foremost, I apologize that our updates have been so severly outdated!  It has surely been a busy summer.  For your reference, this was our summer:

June 10th-13th – Denver for RJ’s cousin’s wedding (congrats Richard and Sara!!)

June 13th-July 3rd – San Marcos, CA for the Marriage, Sex, Dating, and the Gospel Summer Training Program

The rest of July – Bear Facts (freshman orientation) recruiting on campus

July 26th-August 6th – Eugene, OR for funding and family visits

August 14th-16th – Youth Group retreat in Rochester, NY

August 16th-August 23rd – mini-vacation and funding trip in Rochester

We were so blessed to have been a part of Bear Facts, which is UCR’s freshman orientation.  Each freshman is required to attend, and stays overnight.  Part of the Bear Facts orientation is the club expo around the library, where approved registered clubs and organizations on campus get to set up shop at a table and recruit freshmen to their group.

RJ, Brandon, and Mayra recruiting at Bear Facts 2009!

One reason this is such a huge blessing for us to participate is that it puts us about 10 steps ahead of where we were last year at the beginning of the school year.  Not only do we have a solid 8 students involved in our ministry, but we have names and contact information of over 100 freshmen who are interested in growing in their walks with Jesus in their time at UCR.  Last year, we recruited by walking around during Welcome Week and doing spiritual surveys with a chance to win movie tickets as incentive to participate.  After more than a hundred calls every week, I think only one student came out of it, who we love and are so thankful for.  The difference this year is that instead of being approached by us, these 123 people initiated with us and voluntarily gave us their information to be contacted.

As a staff team, we are excited for what God will do with all the names He gave us at Bear Facts.  Will you pray that God will lead the right people to our ministry at UCR? Men and women who are interested in knowing God wholeheartedly, whether they know Him now or not.  Will you also pray that God will increase our capacity for the potential growth of our ministry by raising up and training our student leaders? We are excited to walk hand in hand with the students we have now and show them how to live for Jesus in the world. We are thankful to God for the place we are at in our ministry right now.

Exciting things are on the horizon for UCR Navigators.  Keep us in prayer as we figure things out!

***Next up, our trip to NY!***

Marriage, Sex, Dating, and the Gospel July 23, 2009

It’s been a while since we’ve updated, sorry about that!  June was a pretty busy month for us.  Many of you know that RJ and I were team leaders at a Summer Training Program at CalState San Marcos.  The subject of the three weeks was “Marriage, Sex, Dating, and the Gospel.”

As a group, we first looked at the gospel and our personal relationships with Jesus, how life-changing it is if we allow transformation to occur, even carrying into how we view relationships and relate to others.  That topic served as an undercurrent through all the rest of the discussions.  We gradually moved into how to relate to other people, of the same gender and of the opposite gender, in a gospel friendship fashion, according to the Bible.  A two-part definition I really liked for “gospel friendship” was:

1. Friendship is about having a vision for the greatness of your friend (John 1:40-42)
2. Friendship is about living sacrificially to bring about that greatness.  (John 15: 9-17)

So what are we doing to bring about this greatness in our friends?  And if we can’t even begin to think sacrificially for our friends, what makes us think that we will be able to do so in a marriage relationship?

We moved into a study on God’s design for marriage, His intention for it, and how it’s supposed to be a sanctification process, sharpening us more into the image of Jesus.  We then moved into a discussion on sex, and God’s original purpose for it.  It’s hard these days to view sex as something sacred and holy when it’s so flippant and casual all over the media.  For me personally, it was hard for a long time to view sex as something God-given and holy, and even as an illustration for the gospel!  I felt the students were lucky to hear the real deal, more than just a slap on the wrist and a warning to “Don’t do it.”

Lastly, we moved into a more nebulous discussion on dating.  The Bible gives good and solid guidelines for friendship, marriage, and sex, but what about dating?  It’s a gray area.  So based on what we learned about the previous topics, what can we deduce about dating?  The students had some real good insight based on what they learned, they’re way ahead of where I was when I was their age!

Some highlights:

1.  RJ and I were blessed with an AMAZING team!!

Ernest's 21st birthday!

They were just so fun and willing to go along with whatever whims RJ and I had as leaders, like a game of Follow the Leader on campus!

Follow the Leader on campus!

RJ and I learned a lot from them, in our team discussions.  We were blessed with a mature group!

Our last meal together, with two adopted kids, the babysitters! =)

2.  We were blessed to be around so many solid Navigators staff from the region for such a prolonged period of time.  I think this will be the only STP ever where there’s a 1:1 staff to student ratio!  The students are WAY lucky!  We learned so much from them and their marriages, and it was neat to glean tips for the different stages of marriage.  Each team leader couple were counseled for the three weeks by an older couple, and we were blessed to be connected with Ken and Cheri Chi.  We learned so much from them!

3.  The accommodations.  SERIOUSLY, they were bomb.  Not that I don’t like Pine Valley, but living in huge apartments with a living area between two rooms with a kitchen, fridge, A/C and everything??  Not to mention the zillions of game consoles, games (video and board games!) and movies.  Oh yeah, and the surf boards and kayaks.  God definitely hooked us up!

Marsha and Jackson getting ready to kayak. It was a LOT harder than they thought!

4.  Work load.   The students were blessed with a pretty light work load, to pay for their boarding at San Marcos.  They worked 4 hours in the morning after quiet times painting the fences around the dorms.

Happy campers, whistling while they work!

5.  We were just so excited and happy that two students from UCR came!  We represented pretty well!

6.  We were 20 minutes from the beach, and got to spend our days off soaking up the sun!

7.  Mandatory dates for the team leaders.  Hey, if they insist!  =)

Old Spaghetti Factory!

8.  RJ and I both agree that we’re SO blessed to be exposed to all this material so early on in our marriage.  We were able to talk through a lot of the discussions and God revealed things in each of us in our time there that will help us build a stronger marriage.  It’d be a shame to waste decades in relating the wrong way with one another and end up digging deeper wounds.

9.  When I married RJ, I don’t think I knew the extent of how great a man I married.  But everyday, as I peel back the layers of who he is, I discover something else that I absolutely love about him, and greater depths of God’s character in his own.  He’s like one of those dolls where there’s a smaller doll on the inside, except there’s a BIGGER one inside every time I open one up!  =)  If that makes sense.

10.  It was neat to see the visible transformation in the demeanor of some students there in the span of three weeks, just from discovering who they really are as fully pleasing in God’s sight and being in an environment of safety and grace.  And it was neat to see how their perceptions of relationships and God evolved over the three weeks.  One student summed it up like this:  “Before, my goal in marriage was just to survive and not get divorced.  Now, I’m actually looking forward to getting married, because of all I’ve learned God created it to be.”

I’m sure I have some more thoughts, which will probably come in a later post.  But here’s a little something for you all to nibble on for the time being!  =)

To The C! April 14, 2009

One of the things we have been consistently praying for over UC Riverside as we walk around campus every Tuesday and Friday is that God would raise up men and women who would make a home of Riverside over the weekends.  Who would invest in and build roots in their time here.  Gatherers of people who would make it worth it to stay the weekend, that people who go home would feel they missed something worthwhile.

God has been answering our prayers!  We’ve been having an amazing time with the womens’ Bible study here.  The weekend of first week spring quarter, we decided to have a sleepover on Friday night, watch movies, and play games, and then the next morning we would attempt the hike to the C, a landmark on Box Springs Mountain.

No boys allowed!

We watched Apocalypto. As you can see, there were some parts I could not handle.

The neat thing is seeing how the gospel and Jesus draws many different people together in fellowship, that people who might not necessarily spend time together under normal circumstances do in the name of Christ.

A random C in the middle of a mountain. Not that easy of a hike!

Making our own way to the top.

Taking a little breaksypoo...it was a hard hike!

The girls who made it to the top. Unfortunately, I was left somewhere in the middle on a big rock. =)

We were able to begin this quarter’s Bible study with a study of “You,” a testimony of each woman’s life.  We’re really starting to see the beginnings of true fellowship, sharing hardships, weaknesses, triumphs, etc…and it is a beautiful thing.  We will be continuing with an in depth study on the book of John for the rest of the quarter, as are the men.  Please pray that God would open all of our eyes to who Jesus is, and what that means for us, that He would continue to foster fellowship at UCR, and that He would raise up strong men of the Word among our ministry.

*******

In other news, I just found out today that I’ve been accepted to the Graduate School at Cal State University San Bernardino!  I will be taking a few prerequisite classes post-baccalaureate, and then applying, Lord-willing, next year to the Masters program for Clinical Counseling. Praise God!

Also, we plan to begin our house hunt next month.  Yay!!  =)

Magic 8 Ball, Tell Us Our Future! March 5, 2009

I thought it appropriate to let you all in on what RJ and I are praying for regarding the next 3-ish years. It is all up in the air, but this is what we hope to see happen.

First of all, if we continue at UC Riverside for the next 3 years or more, we would like to buy a condo here by August, when our lease ends.  Prices are amazing right now, and why throw money away on rent when it could be put towards something we own?  Then when we leave, we can either rent our condo out to students or sell it and use what we had put towards the condo for a down payment on a next house.  We are asking God for a downpayment and are on our way there!  If any of you have any advice, let us know!  We are newbies in this real estate biz!  =)

Secondly, God has put it on my heart to go back to school for a counseling degree.  Since we want to have kids in 2-3 years (the third thing we hope to see happen) RJ has brought it to my attention that the perfect time may be in a year, as he completes the rest of his Navigators training that I have already completed.  I have been looking into different counseling programs in the area, and there are a few close by.

Honestly, we are quite excited to see what happens in the next few years.  We’ll let you in on everything as doors open and close.  =)

Remembering February 25, 2009

faWe are back, safe and sound from the 2009 Remember Conference!  In the end, we had three students join us, Scooter*, Courtney*, and Persimmon*.

RJ and Scooter*

Persimmon*, me, and Courtney*

We had a sweet time of fellowship on the way down, and relationships were solidified.  Here are some exciting things that came from the Remember conference.

1.  God has placed it on Courtney’s* heart to do the Middle East summer trip with the Navigators.  She has been learning Arabic on her own, and feels this is God’s timing in leading her to the conference where the opportunity was first presented before her.

2.  Persimmon’s* eyes have been opened to God’s view of healthy male/female relationships through one of the workshops she attended.  She also has recognized that true joy that radiates from within comes from spending time with God.

3.  I was able to have a quiet time with Persimmon*, as we’re unsure where she’s at.  We read through Psalm 139.  At the time, I wasn’t sure what she thought of it, but when asked later how time alone with God went by someone else, she replied, “AWESOME!”  Please pray that God would continue to work in her heart, as He already is doing, and that she would make more decisions for Christ.

Courtney* and Persimmon* getting time with God.

4.  It was neat to go to the conference with a group of students, as the entire region has been praying for UCR’s ministry the past couple years.  There is fruit from our labor!  =)

Navs at UCR!

5.  We were blessed by amazing teaching, and reminded of how important it is for Christ to be the center of our lives.

Can you find us?

Thanks for praying with us and joining us in this mission!  We feel incredibly blessed to be a part of God’s work here at UCR!

Remember Conference February 21, 2009

We are off to Pine Valley Conference Center for the weekend for our annual Sunland regional conference!!  Once a year, schools from all over CA, AZ, and HI retreat for a weekend to hear some great messages from amazing speakers.  This year’s theme is “Remember,” where students will be challenged to remember God’s goodness, faithfulness, and His great works in the Bible and in their own lives.

We will be making the drive down to Pine Valley with FOUR students from UC Riverside!  (That’s a 400% increase from last year!  WHOO!!!  )  We are just so excited that God’s moved in these students’ hearts to sacrifice a weekend for the Lord.

Please pray:

1.  For safe and expedient travel down to Pine Valley and sweet fellowship along the way (it’s a two hour drive!).

2.  That God would speak into the hearts of each person who is there, and decisions would be made to follow and walk with Jesus more closely.

3.  That one of our students would accept Jesus as her Lord and Savior.

Thanks for praying and partnering with us!  We are excited!

The Beginning January 9, 2009

It is amazing to see what God has done in the past quarter.  Last quarter, we attempted a dinner with students on a Friday night, and we ended up with a nice staff dinner with the one student we began with (not that it’s a bad thing, but after weeks of tabling and networking, it can be discouraging.)

Last night, we attempted another dinner with the students who are involved with us in some way, and we had five new students show up!

Brandon and Kristin came up with the idea of having a weekly dinner last quarter, which could transition easily into a weekly Nav meeting.  These students seem committed to the weekly dinner, and faithful to the group.  I get so excited at what God has done in one quarter, and hopeful for what God can do with these men and women at UCR!  These students who you see in this picture could be the next generation of leaders and laborers for the kingdom of God in a few years!

Will you pray with us for unity in our group, and good fellowship?  And would you pray that each would be strengthened in their faith and encouraged to walk more closely with Jesus?

Yesterday afternoon, I was able to catch up with a good friend, someone I discipled a couple years ago, my sweet buttercup.  It was SO wonderfully refreshing to hear from her and to catch up, and as we talked, a prayer popped into my head: that these women who I invest in these next couple of years would grow in Jesus and would become a lifelong friend and encourager in the faith, just like Valerie is to me.  That is my prayer.

Exciting beginnings!  Thanks for joining with us in this.  =)

What Are You Made Of? January 7, 2009

As Brandon, RJ, and I sat at the table on campus, along comes M*, one of the students I meet with to study the Bible, with her daughter, A*, who’s 5.  They stop and chat, and we offer to watch her daughter while she goes to class.  One of the first questions A* asks me when her mother leaves is:  “What are you made of?”

Me:  “What do you mean, A*?”

A*:  “My brother says his eyeballs are made of playdough.  <Smiles impishly>  I know what I’m made of!”

Me:  “You do!  Well, how do you know?”

A*:  “God told me.”

Me:  “Well, what are you made out of?”

A*:  “Gold.  God told me when He was making me that He made me out of gold.”

How precious is that.  Then, I shared with her one of my favorite verses in Isaiah 43, about how she is precious and honored and God loves her.  Her parents are doing something good with her.  =)

Happy New Year! January 1, 2009

Thank you for your prayers and love for us!

Much blessings for the new year!

Mount Woodsen

Love,

RJ and Alice Matagora

An Interesting Turn of Events November 26, 2008

It has been hard getting the womens ministry at UC Riverside going.  I don’t know what it is.  Many girls have expressed interest, but in the end, flaked out on meetings, avoided phone calls, or flat out rejected me.  I’m definitely learning that I can’t rely on my own people skills to get a ministry going.  It’s all God’s work.

FINALLY, 6th week of classes, I was able to find three women who were interested in reading the Bible with me.  YES!!  I was so excited to finally have girls to meet with!  And when RJ saw them, he was so happy for me.  Here is a snippet of my time with the girls:

Me:  “So, how do you all know each other?”

Girl 1:  “Well, those two <points at other girls> are classmates, and us two <points at self and Girl 2> are fiancees.”

Me:  <laughs>  “By fiancees, do you mean roommates or something?”

<Girl 1 and Girl 2 exchange a look and a smile>

Girl 1:  “No, we’re engaged.”

SO, it turns out, the first few women I was able to read the Bible with were lesbians!  God was definitely doing something different this year, and He definitely has a sense of humor!  It turned out to be a pretty interesting Bible discussion on the word, lots of tangents and attacks on the Bible, almost like they were challenging me to condemn them.  They asked a lot of questions of what I thought about divorce, birth control, etc.  At the end, they seemed interested in reading and studying different characters of the Bible together again.

Unfortunately, with the passing of Proposition 8, they stopped meeting with me to read, because the Bible symbolized to them a weapon used by Christians and bigots to discriminate against homosexuals.  I wrote back to them, assuring them that the God of the Bible loves them just as much as He loves me, and that if they ever wanted to talk about the Bible or God or had any questions or frustrations they want to vent, they could contact me.

What I hope for is that their encounter in reading the Bible with me would be a positive one, and that their experience with God was a positive one.  One of the girls seemed truly interested in seeking out God and the Word, and I pray that eventually she will find Him.