A new adventure!
Hello everyone! This is Mila, your favorite missionary kid. For those who haven't heard, I started college last Fall. This is my first newsletter, so l apologize in advance if it comes off a little unconventional. I'm still getting into the rhythm of doing these kinds of things on my own as an adult.
I'll start off with an introduction. My name is actually Milagros, but everyone calls me Mila. I'm 18 years old, I have two younger siblings, and my favorite color is purple. My family has been doing missionary work ever since I can remember. Growing up constantly on the move had it's rough moments, but all-in-all it was an amazing experience. It really instilled in me a desire to do God's will even when it is difficult, and a love of adventure. When I was younger I wasn't sure what I wanted to do, but I was thoroughly convinced that I would never do anything boring (like go to college…) God has a sense of humor though, doesn't He? In September I started a brand new and extremely exciting chapter of my life, college.
Now, to be fair, this isn't a normal college, so younger me wouldn't be completely appalled by my choice. I joined Chazak Rescue, a Christian international first responder training and deployment organization. They train specialized teams and send them into disaster zones and warzones to bring humanitarian aid, leadership, hope, and the love of Christ into areas of darkness. They specialize in working on the front lines where other missionaries and aid workers are unqualified to reach. Their specialized and intense training opens unique opportunities to their cadets and graduates to reach people in extreme crisis situations and be the presence of Jesus.
I started in September with eight other cadets, and now we are known as “class/team three.” Chazak values becoming a good team player, so unlike traditional college where you typically don't get to know the majority of your classmates, Chazak puts its cadets in small teams who become your “band of brothers." They are with you through thick and thin and we study, train and deploy together. From day one, my team hit it off really well. Even though it has only been three months, my teammates are already some of my best friends.
So, what have I been doing for the past four months in Chazak? I'm glad you asked!
Starting September 1, 2023, I began the first section of my training: 1.1 (Wilderness survival). It was filled with early mornings, wilderness survival skills, team building, and intense physical exertion.
October brought me to section 1.2 (Cadet deployment). My team was split into two groups (Five guys in one group, two girls/two guys in the other). The first group went to Greece and worked at a refugee camp. My group deployed to Sierra Leone with the intention of helping to build a school in a village. While there, not only did we help to build the school, we also taught school, showed the Jesus film in the local language, and taught adults who had never gone to school basic reading and math skills. It was amazing! Unfortunately, partway through deployment I developed an infection in my leg and was sent back to the States early.
After deployment came 1.3 (Alpha training) which consisted of learning the fundamentals of Chazak as an organization as well as those related to being in this line of work. It was brutal, at least for me, because it was almost exclusively classroom time and the days were LONG! We learned how to be healthy Christ-like first-responders through physical stress, emotional exhaustion and the spiritual darkness associated with disaster zones. It was very intense but really good. Then it was Christmas time and I got a couple of weeks off to enjoy the holiday season with my family. Unfortunately, the break flew by way too fast and I'm back with my nose to the grindstone.
January 1st I started 1.4 (Core training). During 1.4 I will be spending considerable time at home because a majority of the classes are online. This section is all about learning and practicing skills you will need as an international first responder and preparing for 1.5 (Alpha Challenge).
1.5 is all about putting everything we’ve learned to the test. It is designed to push you to your limits physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually, forcing growth in each area. Whether or not you graduate your first year and proceed to second year training depends on you passing section 1.5 testing. I am nervous about this part, but that just means I am motivated to work harder.
And now you are mostly caught up! I will be trying to send out newsletter updates on a monthly basis. I will end this one with a few prayer requests as we start the new year.
1) Please pray that l will not get overwhelmed by the homework load and fall behind academically.
2) Pray that God sends me people who will partner with me financially. The complete four-year program cost a total of $55 thousand. It covers all travel, room, board, certifications, textbooks, etc. and I will graduate with many rescue related certifications and a Masters Degree in Organizational Leadership and a minor in International Relations. In addition, Chazak requires cadets to raise $1,000 of monthly support. Upon completion of the program, I will be able to join one of Chazak's professional deployment teams which is a paid position, which is nice because then I won't have to depend on fundraising like most missionaries do. In the meantime, however, my ability to pay for the training is dependent on financial partners, because the sheer volume of subjects covered in a very short timeframe makes it impossible for me to work enough hours to cover the costs. If you are interested in helping me pay for Chazak, or becoming a monthly financial partner, please check the end of this newsletter for instructions on how to do so.
3) And lastly, please pray that I will stay motivated and persevere physically. The program is very demanding and past cadets have failed to pass the fitness section of 1.5 testing. I am pushing through an intense workout routine, but it is tough!
That's all I've got for now. Thank you all so much and I am truly honored to be sharing this adventure with you. I appreciate all of the prayer, love and support you have given my family and I throughout the years. I pray you are doing well and am excited to see what this new year holds for us all. Goodbye for now and God bless!
See attachments for a few of my pictures.
If you are interested in making a one time donation towards my training expenses, or becoming a financial partner through monthly giving, I would greatly appreciate it. You can send funds directly to me via PayPal by following this link: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/ermyandmila (in case you were wondering, Ermy is my dog :-)
Or you can make a tax-deductible donation at Borderlands International by following this link: https://give.cornerstone.cc/lovestrainingground Be sure to note “Mila Sanchez" when given the option to add a note.
Also, if you are interested in checking out Chazak Rescue, here is the link to their website: https://www.chazakrescue.org/
