My name is Jeremiah Rojas. I am a 22 year old Arizona Native, where I was born and raised! Yes, I have had to put up with many hot summers here and hope to move somewhere with "cool" weather sometime in the near future. I am a very active and athletic individual! I have played baseball since I was 10 years old, following through high school and part of my collegiate career. Today, I enjoy running, hiking, lifting weights, and anything alike. I have grown tremendously in my faith, over the last two year. If you would like hear my story, please read on...
I was brought up by a Roman Catholic Family where going to Catholic Grade School, as well as High School was part of life. I didn't know any better so I just went along with the flow. I have always believed in God and a sense of Love, Compassion, and High Spirit was always part of my life. When I graduated High School, I started to steer in the wrong direction with my faith. I never went to church, I never prayed, I was wrapped up in working, going to school, playing college baseball, meeting girls, buying nice things... Well soon, that caught up to me. I knew that I was being called to something much bigger in my life. I knew that I felt something missing, so I was constantly looking for a materialistic item to put that feeling to rest.
I bounced around with colleges for a bit, trying to find a good place to play baseball. I even went as far as going to San Diego. I couldn't afford to be out there, I sustained a knee injury that involved surgery, and I missed my family. So, I decided to move back to good 'ol Phoenix, AZ. I heard, through the grapevine, that a local university was having an open tryout so I decided to go. I soon found out that it was Christian... I didn't know what to think... So many questions ran through my head... Will I fit in? Will I be judged for not being a Christian?... All of these questions built up into me running with the wind and taking a chance. Upon meeting the coach and the players on the team, I knew that I fit right in. Everyone was so cool... they all talked to me like they had known me for 10 years. I found out that I had a lot in common with everyone! Now more questions ran through my head... Where the heck am I? Why is everyone so nice? Who are these dudes trying to impress?... Little did I know that this was the beginning of an experience of a lifetime for me.
Once we all hung out, we were able to sit in our first meeting with our baseball coach. We sat there and listened to him talk about how his mother had passed away on his birthday a few years back, among other baseball related material. While he was telling us his story, he noted that his birthday was a few days away; tears soon broke out of him. This was our first impression of our coach... someone who played major league baseball, someone who gives so much to everyone, someone who can cry in front of a bunch of young hard headed athletes who think crying is for girls. After that meeting, we all were dumbfounded. We knew that maybe it really does take a man to cry, maybe it really does take a man to show his emotions and not worry about what others think.
Throughout our experience as a team, we attended multiple meetings with our coach... meetings that inspired us to be the best that we can no matter what situation that we are in. This was a powerful person. He impacted every single one of us. Did I mention that there were almost 40 of us? One person to every 40... think about that for a second. He didn't even talk about God until we really had the opportunity to know him and trust in what he is saying. Ya we prayed, but there was never any deep conversation about who God is and how we can get to know him. It was all in his action and the way he carried himself. I finally understood that there is truly something deeper than just our life, here on earth. We all have the opportunity to spread the act of goodness to the entire world.
A few months prior to attending the Christian School, I was working out at a gym by my house. I was at the smoothie bar and saw a business card for a local church that was built down the street from my house. It was a good looking business card, let me tell you. It was very modern and attractive to the eye. I kept it in my wallet for a few months and came across it while I was in class. Things opened up for me, right at that very moment. Chills ran down my spine and I didn't really know what to do. I went to a Sunday service at the church, and really had my first deep connection with The Holy Spirit. I kept going and just recently, I decided to join The Church, gain ministry training, and seek others who can benefit from the same things that I have experienced. God is Love and Love is patient, kind, and understanding. This is all I need to say about who I am and who I want to be for the rest of my life. Other men on our team have very similar stories and testimonies to share... some much deeper and heartwarming than mine.
The truth is that every person on this earth can impact someone, somehow. No matter if it's one random act of kindness or a journey that requires a lot of work. We all were meant for something deeper than ourselves. If you are a non-believer... ask yourself this: If you are wrong about there being no God, what are you going to do when you are sitting before him when you die? What are you going to do when the book, that is most read in the ENTIRE WORLD, is the road you could have traveled down when you had the choice?
You see, I'm not one to talk. I have made my mistakes, trust me. I have also created bad habits that I am still trying to get rid of, to this very day. But, we all have the chance to learn good. God is good. Simple as that. Our pain and suffering can be taken from us, put on his son who died for us. Thus, giving us a new life and new rules to follow: A second chance.
With all of this being said, my point is that one person can have an impact on a tremendous amount of people. If you let God into your heart and learn the ways of Christianity, life can be good. It can be really good.
To sum it up, I am going to Costa Rica to live out everything that I have shared with you. To teach kids about opportunity. I am going to Costa Rica to show how God has worked in my life and how He can work in theirs. Again, God is Love and Love is patient, kind and understanding. Do you think that if there was more of this in our world, we would be in the situation we are in? We live the same life, we all are the same species, we all have a currency, we all have the ability to gain knowledge... Then why do we think so differently and want to hurt one another? Why is our economy so bad? These are simple questions to ask ourselves.
I hope that this introduction has given you some insight on who I am and what I want to do for others. If you have any questions, please feel free to send me an e-mail at jacomission@gmail.com. I look forward to hearing your thoughts and answering any questions that you may have!
