#undefeatedexperience

I joined YFL in 2012 but i was never active until last year, 2016. In a year, a lot has happened. I've met such wonderful friends, brothers and sisters in Christ. It wasn't easy at first to go back to the community because I felt isolated and different from the others. But i continued to go to events because I knew it was in God's plan. There was an event called Echo Con which was an echo version of WYC 2016 and it was such an amazing event that left a strong impact. "I want to go WYC 2017!!"... And I told myself I'd only go to WYC 2017 if I participate in YFL activities, events and households. And I did go to those events! So when they announced the registration for WYC 2017, I did so immediately. WYC was held in Laguna in the Philippines, and it was my first WYC experience. The theme was UNDEFEATED. Before going, I was expecting a lot of crying because of emotional stories from last year's WYC. However it was different, it was more on empowerment. Becoming stronger and more confident. To continue to struggle for the Lord. To continue to grow in my spiritual life. Over the past year being in YFL, it was very challenging and life-changing. It was challenging because God has given me tasks and responsibilities that I didn't imagine doing. It started from sharing, caroling, serving in kids camp and now facilitating the Lamma youth for LBS. As a youth, i face struggles in school, with friends, work and even with family. Other than my life struggles, the tasks that God has assigned me with were struggles as well. It was difficult for me because I didn't know God enough. But I always ended up saying YES when I'm asked or assigned to serve.  And with this, it has allowed me to know Him more, to build a deeper relationship. It has allowed me to experience His love and to fall in love with Him everyday. In WYC, there were sharers whom I could relate to because they were also facing struggles like me. Similar struggles that I have, the struggles that were slowly defeating me. 

Three days of WYC is three days I got to experience His love for me like I have never felt before. The entirety of the experience was a personal battle within me. From being released from the shackles of doubt, leading to neglecting God’s support as my strength when things are going downhill in my life to opening up to the possibilities of what His love can, or rather, will offer.

But as I started feeling the atmosphere of the upbeat energy of the delegates around me, these questions and doubt I had left my mind as hymns played and its volume amplified the outburst of emotions I thought I never would show. I felt overwhelmed and realized that He is undefeated. Because he is, I am never alone in the battles I am facing, and the battles I will be facing in the future. #UNDEFEATED, remember the all caps.

Hi I'm Ajel Madrid from the District of Yuen Long. As a first timer in WYC, I can say that this year's WYC made me want to change, to change for the better.  Because this WYC has made me realise how undefeated our God is, it has made me realise that through this battle of evangelising and many other things, I am not alone but with our undefeated God.  I now am motivated to attend more youth events and be more active in prayer so that not only will I learn more about God but, be closer with Him.