Thank you & Goodbye

Thank you & Goodbye

by Laxmi Gurung

I don’t know where to start or how to thank Mission Adelante for everything they have given me over the last four years. I have been so blessed and loved by every staff member here. They all are very kind people and the best supporters I have ever known in my life. They have become my second family, and I will always be grateful to them for their love and support no matter where I go in life.

I really believe that these last four years of working here have helped me to become a better person and fully who I am today. Now looking back to those days where I had just graduated from high school and I did not know what I was going to do next, Mission Adelante opened the door of opportunity for me where I got to learn so much about life, ministry, and relationships with people. It helped me to grow as an individual leader and strengthened my faith in God. 

First I started as a Ministry Apprentice helping in the Refugee Kids Club and developing my own refugee youth program. During those times, I got to meet a lot of amazing people who were so inspiring and helpful in leading the programs. Volunteers also developed friendships with youth and kids outside the programs. Some relationships got so close that they started to hang out and have lunch together. We did lots of fun activities like having picnics at the park, community service, and activities for kids in the community. Just last month, one of the volunteers invited me and Kanchan to her lake house and we spent the night there. We got to ride a jet ski and learn to play pool for the first time! It was so fun. I'm so glad that I got to meet these awesome people and was able to experience all these different things through Mission Adelante.

Mission Adelante has not only helped me but so many other young people in the community. I will always be grateful to them for having this space where all youth can come together to learn about God and build a friendship with people from different backgrounds. It allows the youth to be themselves and get support for who they are, especially at this age where they are always looked down on and are easily influenced by bad things around them. Having this space here helps them to get away from those kinds of environments and to get the courage to be free. Volunteers play a big role here because they get to walk with them and show them the love of God and also teach them that no matter what they are going through in life they are always loved and God is with them. 

I am very sad to leave these amazing people but at the same time, I am excited because I know that God has a purpose for all of us in life. I will be happy wherever he takes me. I’m also super excited to leave the program in the hands of the new leaders, Patrique and Ranjna, who are amazing people and have big hearts for the youth and the community. I got to lead the summer internship with them together and I can already see the impact they are making in the lives of the youth. They are very thoughtful and caring toward others. Before I was very nervous to leave the program and the youth that I have loved so much but now I'm happy to go knowing that they are in good hands. 

One of the highlights of my last months here was leading the summer internship program. This year we had 5 interns. They are from Uganda, Thailand, Mexico, and the US. They all were unique and talented in their own ways. They stole my heart and made my job easy to lead everything. We got to spend a lot of time together playing games, leading activities, and having lunch together. I will never forget their beautiful smiles and the positive attitude that they have shown throughout the summer. It was an amazing journey to see them grow and lead activities on their own. Some of them want to work here which reminds me of my internship year. I had no idea that I would be working here and now seeing them gives me a glimpse of the future that these guys will be in my place soon. I can see that they will be awesome leaders who are the hearts of the community and know the needs. I’m so glad that I was able to spend this last time with them. They have made me feel so loved and valued which I will never forget. 

Thank you Mission Adelante for giving me all these opportunities where I got to meet new people and learn many valuable life lessons. Even though it was my first job, I never felt like it was a job. I always loved being here and surrounded by these amazing people. No matter where my path leads me in life, Mission Adelante will always be in my heart.