By: Tessa Valadez These last two weeks my go-to has been, “See ya around.” And then I smile and something like an 8-pound bowling ball suddenly appears in my stomach and strikes against my ten-pin rib cage. It’s the strangest thing. That bowling ball has also shown up when I look ahead – when I look forward to the future. This bowling ball is Apprehension. ap·pre·hen·sion noun anxiety or fear that something bad or unpleasant will happen understanding; grasp a bowling alley stuck in the pit of one’s stomach Okay. The third definition came from The Scholarly Academic Definitions of the … [Read more...]

Mitzy is one of Ciudad Nueva's high school students.  She took some time to describe one of the mentors that impacted her life and her faith.  Here's her story: Ciudad Nueva, the place where I found myself and figured out who my friends were. The first day I attended Launch Pad (one of Ciudad Nueva's Programs) I have to admit, I was frightened by the idea that I would be surrounded by adults I didn't know. Even though I didn't know any adults there it was the best thing of my life. I met many people but, in particular, I met this one person. A follower of God, my leader, my mentor, my … [Read more...]

By: Lindsay GoodrichShe made me feel welcome as soon as I met her. It seemed like she encouraged me every time I saw her. She is mature and wise beyond her years. She is laid back and willing to go with the flow while at the same time, eager to bring new ideas to high school program to make it the very best it can be. She has made the transition from program participant to Ciudad Nueva staff this year and it has been beautiful to watch. Allow me to introduce Vero Aldabe.It’s amazing to see Vero giving back to Ciudad Nueva in her work on staff, as youth program assistant. She is a living … [Read more...]

By: Tessa Valadez Audrey Hepburn is my favorite.  Hands down.  She has such an incredible presence in films and brings with her a genuine delight to her roles.  I've watched so many of her films, but one that seemed evasive over the past couple of years was Funny Face.  Don't gasp or say, "You love Audrey Hepburn, but you've never seen Funny Face?"  No.  But I have now, so all is right with the world again.  Before I begin, please allow me to draw you into a memorable scene that caught my attention.  Not only do I love the blocking and lighting, but the conversation is what got the cogs … [Read more...]

A key component of Christian Community Development By: Sami DiPasquale Recently I have been sharing about the key components of a lifestyle dedicated to Christian Community Development (CCD), a holistic framework that we strive to pursue in our Ciudad Nueva community. In the last few months I have written about relocation and reconciliation, and today I’d like to delve into the third component of CCD: the sharing of resources. Here is an abbreviated overview of resource sharing by seasoned practitioners in the field: When men and women in the body of Christ are visibly present and living … [Read more...]