"I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
A vapor in the wind
Still You hear me when I'm calling
Lord, You catch me when I'm falling
And You've told me who I am
I am Yours". -Casting Crowns
This basically sums up who I am. I am His. I am a daughter of The Most High God. Amazing right?! I know 
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On a more humbler note,
My name is Raquel Pinto. I am 23 years old and I'm from Rockaway Beach, New York (Born and raised). I am Ecuadorian, Puerto Rican, and Mexican but speak very little spanish…that's sad (Hopefully I can learn more when we go to the Spanish countries). I am an assistant teacher in an early head start program. I work with toddlers between the ages of 18 months – 36 months. I love children so much. I am also a part time student at Brooklyn College striving to get a bachelors' degree in early childhood education.
About 2 years ago I went to a young adult’s service in a church I visited. During the service a young lady spoke to the church about how she was going on a mission’s trip and needed prayer and support. After service I approached her and asked her about what she was doing. She gave me the website to the organization she was going with. I began to pray to see if this was something that I could do in the future. However, after a while I forgot about it. Just a few months ago a passion to serve stirred up inside of me and I felt like this is what God wants me to do. So right away, God reminded me of the website and I have been praying intently, seeking guidance from Him. And I believe that God is now calling me to serve others through the world race.
I grew up in a Christian home with my dad, Jovany, and my mom, Maria. I also have an older sister, Cristina, a brother-in-law, Rodneik, and two younger siblings, Giovanni and Elena.
My older sister and my brother in-law have been blessed with the greatest gift anyone could ever ask for…..my nephew. Rodneik Jr, mostly know as Ari (and now known as Batman lol) is 3 years old. I thank God everyday for him being in our lives. I have a very close and special relationship with him. I also have a nephew/neice on the way, which I am very excited about.
I also have 3 amazing people in my life…cousins/best friends/sisters…JoJo, Keisha, & Jo! I love these girls so much! 
I am a member of Full Gospel Tabernacle in Far Rockaway, New York which is a non-denominational church. My parents went to this church in their young adult years and I have grown up in this church. I love my church family! My pastors, Pastors Jorge Vega & Eva Vega are wonderful shepards of this house. And I am currently in the audio/visual ministry, which I love, as well as the young adults group.
Sorry for the lengthiness. Those were some of the people I had to give a shout-out to. But really all I want to say is that I am so grateful for this opportunity that God has given me and I am so excited to see how God will move in my life and in the lives of others in the coming year. Let Your will be done, Lord! Let everything that I do on this journey glorify You. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and let Your love overflow out of me and be poured out to all those I will encounter. Amen!
