Superheroes - Part 1

                                                                    Andrea's before pic

Meet Andrea Avendano. A daughter, sister, mother and missionary. These are all roles Andrea plays daily, whole heartedly. She's a voice for countless women being sex-trafficked around the world. She's on a mission not only to create awareness on the topic but also to develop change! That being said, how many of us know that when you have all of this going on, the person that tends to get neglected the most is yourself? 

In September of 2016 after years of excuses, procrastination, and failed attempts at losing weight, Andrea decided she was tired of the temporary fixes and needed a lifestyle change. She was going to invest in her physical fitness and not in pharmaceutical companies. Andrea was ready to live a healthier lifestyle and was going to make it a priority.  She joined Orangetheory Fitness and signed up for a weight loss challenge. Joining the challenge gave her added motivation, taught her how to balance exercise and nutrition, and the coaches served as accountability partners.

Fast forward 5 months, Andrea's lost 27 pounds of fat while gaining solid muscle on her legs, glutes, and arms. Her pant size went from a 14/12 to an 8/10. Her cholesterol dropped by 50 points without taking cholesterol meds. She has more energy, is more confident, and feels happier! Andrea chose to celebrate her victory by chopping off her hair to a pixie cut! :)  I hope Andrea's story inspires you to focus on your health and overall well being. 

                                                                   Andrea's after pic

~ 1 Corinthians 6:19-20... Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been purchased at a price. Therefore, glorify God in your body.

Love,

Jeanette, An Athlete On A Mission 

God Dreams

Is there a dream God has placed in your heart?

Sometimes you have to silence the voice inside your head that says "You can't" and replace it with what God says. God says "You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you." He also says " For I know the plans I have for you; plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." We must stand firm on God's promises for our life. In Him we find strength, and because of Him we have purpose.

The dream God has placed in my heart has been to incorporate my passion for fitness into my ministry. A few things have blossomed as a result of that dream. One has been establishing "fitness & fellowship" days with my sister. Her and I began a journey last year where we would get together on Fridays to do a little bit of Zumba followed by a time of fellowship. We called it "fitness & fellowship fridays." It was a time for us to enjoy what we love to do together.. Dance & Fitness. It also gave us an opportunity to spend quality time together. Now we're taking our "fitness & fellowship" concept outside of her home.

On Saturday, April 23rd we will be participating in the 3rd Annual Glory Run. It's a 5k Run/Walk that benefits FCA - Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Then, on Saturday April 30th we will be hosting a Zumbathon fundraising event to help fight sex trafficking in Cambodia by teaching families how to become self sustainable and educating children.




We also have been teaching Zumba fitness classes to staff members of various preschools. Our goal is to encourage the teachers & students to live a healthy lifestyle by doing a form of exercise they enjoy. Fitness should be fun... And that's what we bring to the table! :)

So once again I ask you... What dream has God placed in your heart? Don't let that dream die. God created you in His image to build an incredible future and live life to the fullest.

 **If you'd like to participate in any of the events above, we'd love to have you! :-) 

Here are the links...

http://miamifca.org/5k-glory-run

http://zumbathon2016.eventbrite.com

Follow us on FB & IG - Fit Sisters Miami


Romans 8:28 ~ And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Love,

Jeanette, An Athlete On A Mission

Who Inspires You?

In January 2013 I attended my first girlfriends conference at Trinity Church. That's where I "unofficially" met Linda Freeman. Little did I know, 1 year later she would become my pastor, my mentor and my friend! 

Have you ever met someone that you just knew you had to befriend? Well, Pastor Linda was that someone for me. :-) When I heard her speak about Peacemakers Family Center, the social work that they do for the community, and her book, I knew this was the type of woman I needed to be around. Her words and actions inspired me! 



Fast Forward 1 year, I became her intern. As her intern, one of the assignments I was given was to assist with a missions project in Cambodia. Our main assignment was to create a biogas digester at Teen Challenge Cambodia (a rehabilitation center). This biogas digester would provide methane gas for cooking and electricity for the facility. The use of the methane gas would eliminate the need of using firewood. Our project was a success and this center now has a functioning kitchen. 

Now we have partnered with Cambodian Care Ministries and our vision is to establish 200 schools where underprivileged children will have the opportunity to learn how to read and write. In addition to providing an education for these children, we will be establishing medical clinics and supplying the children with proper shoes in order for them to walk to school and prevent injuries. 

Have you ever met someone that has inspired YOU to do great things? :) 

If you'd like to be a part of our mission and vision to inspire change, feel free to click on the link below. Our goal is to provide 600 pairs of shoes to the children in Cambodia. Each shoe is only $15 and will last up to 5 years. 

https://fundraise.theshoethatgrows.org/checkout/donation?fcid=534792/

We are also selling Pastor Linda's book "Inspired For Greater Things" which is a quick MUST READ and is only $15 as well. :-) All of the proceeds will go towards our mission projects in Cambodia (you can purchase the book on Amazon or directly through me). 

Thank you in advance for your support. :) 

Proverbs 28:27 ~ Those who gives to the poor will lack nothing...

Love,

Jeanette, An Athlete On A Mission 

 

Building A Future

I am a paralegal. I am an athlete. And I am a missionary. All of these things embody who I am today.I do not live an ordinary life. I live an extraordinary life! In the words of my Pastor Linda Freeman, "when I chose to follow Jesus, I chose a life of adventure!"

I thank my parents for imparting in me as a child, the foundations of faith and the importance of having an education. I strongly believe I am who I am today as a result of those things.

This past August I traveled to Cambodia with a missions team. We have partnered with an organization by the name of Cambodian Care. This organization has a vision of establishing 200 schools. These schools will give children an opportunity to learn how to read and write, and more importantly, to learn about their creator Jesus Christ. There is no greater gift than the gift of an education. Every child deserves the opportunity to learn. Education is power! Having an education and faith in Jesus Christ opens doors to the impossible.

We were all placed on this earth for a reason. God doesn't make mistakes. If he made you, you have a purpose. Part of your journey in this life is discovering that purpose. Life is not meant to be a sprint, it's a marathon. Enjoy every step along the way.

Love,

Jeanette, An Athlete On A Mission

Jeremiah 29:11 ~ for I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

My Strength Lies Within

One of the reasons why I enjoy CrossFit so much is because it's a strength and conditioning exercise program that builds you from the inside out. Our relationship with God should be the same way. God wants to do something in us in order to do something through us. Developing a personal relationship with God begins with an internal transformation. He is more concerned about the condition of our heart than our performance. When we surrender to him and humble ourselves, we can truly appreciate his love, mercy, and grace. God doesn't expect a flawless performance. He loves when we come from our broken state because it is there where his mercy is reflected. Man looks at the outward appearance but God looks inside. 

How amazing is it that although God owns the world all he wants is our heart! 

Love,

Jeanette, An Athlete On A Mission

Psalm 73:26 ~ My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Your Circle of Influence

One of the greatest gifts God has given us is the gift of "Free Will." With free will we are able to make our own choices, but those choices dictate the circumstances we face tomorrow. While on my mission trip to Cuba last month, it was clear to me that not everyone can exercise this gift freely. So free will is not something we should take lightly. 

                                                           Cuba Mission Trip 2015

Each day we must make conscious decisions. Choosing your friends and those people you allow into your inner circle is one of those important decisions. This choice, as simple as it may sound, can have a great impact on your life. The people you allow into your inner circle can make you or break you. The right people can have a positive impact on your life whereas the opposite can prevent you from becoming the person God created you to be. 

I've learned that less sometimes is actually more, and what surrounds you creates your world! So take a look around....... How are you exercising your gift of Free Will?

Love,

Jeanette, An Athlete On A Mission

Matthew 7:17 (KJV) ~ Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

Plan, Prepare and Expect

When was the last time you prepared a vision board? Have you ever prepared one? If you haven't, I encourage you to do so.

I went into 2015 with intention and expectation. Knowing that I had a lot I wanted to accomplish this year prompted me to create a vision board. We've heard it said time and time again... "Those who plan, prosper." So why don't we plan? I believe that oftentimes we do plan, we just lack execution. We get "busy" and next thing you know another year has past. I refuse to allow that to happen to me this year! My vision board serves not only as a reminder of my goals, but it's also a form of motivation. Half of my board is full of affirmations and Bible verses, while the other half paints a clear picture of what I want to accomplish. 

One of the goals I set myself this year was to improve my weightlifting skills and my overall performance as an athlete. I've been doing CrossFit for almost 4 years now. In January I took an Olympic Weightlifting Certification Seminar.  At this seminar I met Jim Krebs who is now my weightlifting coach and nutrition counselor. Jim has only been training me for about a month but I can already see major improvements in my technique, form, and my overall athletic performance. He clearly was an answer to one of my prayers. I look forward to continuing this journey with him. He's an amazing coach! 

                                                                        Jim Krebs a/k/a KrebStrong

 

I share this because I want you to plan, prepare, and prosper this year! :) Figure out what your priorities are. If you don't know what you're working towards, other things become priority. Stay focused and determined and don't let life get in the way! 

                                                                          My 2015 Vision Board

Love,

Jeanette, An Athlete On A Mission 

Psalms 20:4 ~ May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.