Testimony - Rachel Ortiz

Hello everyone! My name is Rachel and I’d like to start off by sharing how I got started with Capernaum in the first place. This past summer I was really evaluating my life and I felt like the days were just passing by and something was missing. I felt like I wanted to meet new people and just overall do something different. Since I attend SDSU I decided to sign up to do sorority rush. I had reservations because I had heard mixed opinions about the different sororities, but I just decided to sign up and check it out. I was scheduled to meet with my recruitment leader one day at school and I ended up sitting around waiting for her in the Starbucks on campus for about an hour past the time we were supposed to meet without hearing from her at all. Right outside of the Starbucks some students were putting on a performance so I decided I would go outside and watch while I waited for her a little longer. Once I got outside I noticed a tarp across the way that said College Young Life and I saw my friend Ben, who is also a Capernaum leader, sitting at the table under the tarp. So I went over to say hi and he started telling me about College Young life and also Capernaum. It felt like a light bulb went off in my head because I had told my family a few months before then that I felt like one day I would like to work with special needs kids but I wasn’t sure how to go about doing that. I knew God had set the whole thing up and was looking out for me and directing my steps because if I hadn’t signed up for the sorority rush, I wouldn’t have still been at school at that time, and if my recruitment advisor wouldn’t have shown up I would have never seen Ben and went to talk to him.

I started attending College Young life and in my second time attending I met Tobias. Pretty much from there the rest is history. A little less than a week ago was our first club and it was my first time doing any kind of special needs event. I was a little nervous but more excited than anything because I felt like God had been preparing my heart for this all summer long and that I was totally living in accordance to His will for me. I had such a blast and was so blessed every time I saw one of the kids smiling, laughing and every time I was able to have a conversation with one of them. They each had such special and unique personalities. I know we are blessing the kids and their parents but I feel like I’m the one receiving the gift. It amazes me that this is just the beginning and that there is so much potential for growth with Capernaum. It has been such a blessing to be a part of a group of leaders near my own age who share the same morals and passion for special needs ministry as I do and who strive to be selfless. Just these past 2 months of being a part of Capernaum have boosted my confidence in my faith because I know I have the support of my fellow leaders and the whole Capernaum family. I know God has so much in store for Capernaum and we are all so thankful for all of the prayers thus far, so I hope you keep them coming! God Bless

Rachel Ortiz

Volunteer Leader