What it must feel like to be a rock star

Yesterday we visited Holy Redeemer and Queen of Angels Schools (their eighth graders came up for the Mission Possible Retreats) for a follow-up visit. As we unloaded the van with all of our sound equiptment for the program that we had planned and saw the faces of the kids pressed up against their classroom windows, we all looked at each other surprised- we hadn't realized how excited they would be to see us. At Queen of Angels, we walked out to greet the kids during their recess, and as soon as they saw us, the girls started to scream and everyone began to run towards us. Suddenly we were in the midst of a swarm of eighth graders (especially Reggie, but that's beside the point).


It had been about two months since we had seen these kids, but they remembered each one of us and were thrilled that we remembered them. It was really great to see the kids again. So often when we are involved with retreat groups here we spend a few days with them and pour ourselves into the relationship, and then they leave and we don't see them again. We have to trust that what we are doing, is meaningful and important without the reenforcement of seeing the fruits of our labors. But having the opportunity to follow-up with these two eighth grade groups was a huge blessing for me.



My small groups made a big impression on me over the course of their time here. The way that they entered into adoration and stations of the cross was amazing to see. The faith that they have at their age, the goals that they are striving for, give me hope for this world, and strengthened my own faith. So I was looking forward to seeing them again and seeing how they were doing post-retreat. As expected, the retreat high had worn off, but they still maintained the trust and openness of the small group they became over the course of the week they were here at Covecrest. I wasnt sure how they would be with each other, whether we would have to start over. It had taken us awhile to break down the barriers and get past the "school" answers and have real discussions. In our small group discussion time this week though, they were honest and vulnerable with each other about where they had failed and succeeded after the retreat. I loved getting to see them and talk to them again!

It was also good for us, the people who had led them through the retreat, to get to be there when the high wore off, to let them know that its normal to lose the feelings, to tell them that faith is about more than a feeling. I think that it was good for them to know that we've all been there too, and to show them that you have to keep praying and attending mass even when you don't like the music or don't understand the priest. What they are learning now is what we're all learning- that faith is about a relationship with God; it's about getting to know the persons of Jesus, of the Spirit, of the Father, and that that relationship is even more important when their lives are busy and stressful. What they are learning is what I'm still learning, that God the person trumps all else, and that I want to pray and go to mass and adoration, simply because I want to spend time with Him, want to know Him better. And the more time I spend with God, the more time I want to, and the more I understand just how much He wants to spend that time with me in return.

My day with Reggie

Mondays are the mssionaries' day off, and this past Monday Reggie and I drove down to Atlanta to drop Elaine off at the airport (not a fun moment, I wanted to keep driving and hold her hostage here). But afterwards, I took Reggie to Emory to see the campus and tell him more about the school, as he's thinking about college for next year. It was really wonderful to get to share Emory, a place that has been so important in my life and my faith, with someone from Covecrest.
It was also really great to spend some time with another one of the missionaries not working. We spend so much time together here, but much of that time we're working on projects around the camp, that we forget a lot of time that community is about more than simply working together. Spending time with one another outside of work has become a priority for all of us lately
But back to my day with Reggie . . . We toured Emory's beautiful campus and had a smoothie at Cox Hall (I really miss those smoothies), and then I was able to introduce him to my friend Tracy, who is a chemistry professor at Emory. I hadn't seen Tracy in a couple of months, and it was great to hear how good she's been doing, and let her know how things have been here.
Reggie and I also got the chance to spend some time, and more importantly some prayer time with Linda at the Catholic Center, which was wonderful.
I think that the best part of the day was not going the smoothie, or the tour, or the lunch at Doc Chey's, or the chance to see my Catholic Center again, but rather simply spending time with someone that I see all day and everyday and instead of having to focus on what needs to be done, focusing on the other person and the friendship. Getting to know Reggie and the other missionaries has been a great blessing, and I'm really looking forward to the next ten months of building friendships based on Christ and centered on Him.

Surprise!!

Elaine, my very very very close friend and prayer partner from Emory surprised me this weekend by showing up with the Spirit and Life college retreat. She lives in Florida now and I haven't seen her since last April. What an amazing and wonderful surprise! And not just Elaine but several other people who have been important in my faith formation came- Michael Tigue, campus minister extraordinare, Fr. Tim Hepburn, my good friends Paola and Keon-Young, and Linda, my go-to woman. I've loved having both my Emory community and my Covecrest community in one place. Its been wonderful to show everyone my new life and at the same time enjoy the comfort level that comes from years of friendship. I know that I'm not going to want to drive Elaine to the airport on Monday, but even though I'll hate having her leave, it has been a huge blessing to have her here for even a little while. God is so very good to me!