Lay Witness Talk
On the weekend of August 15/16, 2009 lay
witnesses spoke during the homily of every Mass on how answering God’s call
through stewardship of time and talent has changed their lives. Below are
transcripts of their talks.
Mike and Theresa Etcheverry
I’m
Theresa Etcheverry and this is my husband Mike. Everybody out there who knows
me, knows I love people, and I love to talk,,,, but not in front of a crowd. So,
when Mark Smith asked me to talk today, I was very tempted to say no, but, as
you can see, the Holy Spirit had his way with me.
We moved
from California in July of 2004. The first time we came to St Francis, I met
Rose Campos. She is a very special person. We talked briefly, and afterward she
gave me her cell phone number and told me to call if I needed anything. I felt
very welcomed and definitely wanted to come back the next week.
In April
of 2005 we moved from North Dallas to our new home in Frisco. I felt in my
being that I needed some inner healing. Since the Lord is the divine healer, I
believed he needed to do a little work on me. The best way for that to happen
was for me to go to daily Mass and Communion. Daily Mass is truly a “Life
Changing” experience, and the Lord slowly changes your heart.
The first
time I went to daily Mass, I met Victoria Ratchosky. She introduced me to some
people and called me her new friend. WOW, did that make me feel good. We went
into an empty room and talked for over ½ hour. I went home feeling a lot of Joy.
Daily Mass is a small group of wonderful people. When I had my knee joint
replacements last year, I knew I could depend on all of them for prayer and
support. People from the church brought me Communion too. I couldn’t have asked
for more!
Loving
this community of St Francis of Assisi like I do, I wanted to get involved. I
decided to be a sponsor for an RCIA candidate. What a joy, and an incredible
journey, to walk with someone toward full participation in the Catholic Church.
Something
else I really love to do is to take Communion to the homebound, and to people in
the Hospital. People are just waiting to receive Jesus, and to have a nice visit
with you.
I met
Deacon Carl shortly after we came to St Francis. While we were talking, I
mentioned that I had received an Annulment many years ago. He asked me if I
would like to help with Annulments here at the parish, and I accepted. Annulment
can take a long time, but I truly love to be there for people, to offer support
and encouragement. And when an affirmative decision is rendered, it is always a
happy and joyous moment. We can always use help if anyone is interested in this
ministry.
The Lord
put us all on this earth to love and be of service to one another. These
opportunities have given me wonderful ways to reach out in love. I am very
honored and grateful to be a member of St Francis of Assisi. Now my very
special husband would like to say a few words.
Like many
of you, my job brought Theresa and I to Texas. In fact, I received an email from
my boss stating that my job was coming to Dallas, and he hoped that I would come
with it.
Theresa
and I both agree that moving here was one of the best things that has ever
happened to us. Not only have we discovered that “Southern Hospitably” is real,
but it is alive and well in Frisco, and most especially here at Saint Francis. I
do not believe I have even been made to feel so “at home” as I have been, right
here. From the beginning, people offered support, information, and their
friendship.
And what
a wonderful place to be able to give a little back…with over 90 ministries, it
isn’t difficult finding a cause to help out. Sometimes with money, often with
time, and always with prayer. For us, it started with sponsoring engaged
couples. This was something we did in Los Angeles, and is very dear to out
hearts. But here at St Francis, it is much more personal. We get to meet one on
one with the couples, facilitate their communication on subjects they may have
not have thought to share, and in the process, share our experiences and
encourage the couple to keep the lines of communication always open. If you have
been married for 5 years or more, and believe your marriage has continually
grown, we need you.
At our
old parish in California, we had a men’s group called “Catholic Men’s
Fellowship”. It is a Catholic group dedicated to uplifting, supporting, and
expanding the spiritual lives of men. When we came here, I was looking for
something similar when at the urging of some of my new St Francis friends, I
joined the Knights of Columbus. This is by far the premier men’s fellowship
group in the Catholic Church. The Knights were formed to render financial aid to
members and their families. They also support the Church and community in an
impressive list of activities. If you’re a man over 18 and want to offer a
helping hand to this parish, I am asking you to consider the Knights.
Anyone
who knows me knows that if I get on the topic of food, I will talk your ear off.
I love to eat, and I love to cook. I can express my passion with the Knights,
but even more so with the Aids supper club. The first Sunday of every month, we
meet here in the parish’s kitchen, to prepare meals for 3 aids homes. If you
want a good laugh, come on in and help us prepare, cook, or serve the food. Do
you want to help but can’t cook….afraid of knives or spatulas…you can donate
non-perishable food and toiletries.
For
Theresa and me, St Francis is a family we can come home to. It means loving and
caring friends we have not yet met and a place where we can offer our talents.
St Francis is a warm place in our hearts that we carry with us where ever we
travel.
Thank
you.
Ron and Mary Holleman
Ron:
Hello, my name is Ron Holleman
Mary: And
I am Mary Holleman and we are here this morning to talk about stewardship. My
parents taught me at an early age to serve, by their example. When I was a
little girl, we were part of a new parish that didn’t have a sanctuary. The men
of the parish spent many nights and weekends building our sanctuary. Even
though my Dad had five children at home, he served the parish by spending many
nights and weekends helping to build the building we would worship in.
When I
was in seventh grade, my teacher, Sister Matthew Anne, followed me out to the
car after school to ask my mother for help. The children of a poor family had
visited the convent asking for help a number of times and Sister wanted to visit
them. Mom took Sister, along with all of us kids, to the home of this poor
family. This family, a mother with 7 children, lived in a two room rat infested
shack. Mother was not shy, she went right in, surveyed the situation, checked
the refrigerator …it had one item in it, a jar of peanut butter. Mom and Sister
Matthew Anne spearheaded the effort to change the circumstances of this family.
My
parents could have made the excuse that having five kids, they didn’t have time
to serve the church… but they didn’t. They served and taught all of us how to
serve and I have done the same thing. When our kids were young, I accompanied
youth ministry trips to Juarez and Steubenville. Ron and I have been an Engaged
Sponsor Couple for many years and also served the diocese presenting at Engaged
Encounter weekends and training couples all over the diocese to be sponsor
couples.
We serve
here at St. Francis together as an Engaged Sponsor Couple and coordinate the
Monday night Bible Study. I serve as a Lector, Eucharistic Minister, member of
the Parish Council and I am chairman of the Finance Council.
Serving
at church is a family legacy that I joyfully carry on.
Ron: When
I think of stewardship, two things come to mind (1) What does stewardship mean
to me? and (2) why to I do it? First, what does stewardship mean to me?
Stewardship to me is having a servant’s heart. . I remember the first time I
served in the Catholic church. I am a convert and once, before I joined the
church, a priest asked my wife and I if we would teach CCD. My response was
“But I’m not catholic” and he said “that doesn’t bother me if it doesn’t bother
you”. We accepted and that was the beginning of my stewardship in the Catholic
church. Here at St. Francis, I coordinate the Bible Study programs, I
coordinate the Sponsor Couple Program, Mary and I are a Sponsor Couple, I help
stuff bulletins on Friday morning and I help facilitate morning mass. So
stewardship to me is service to you, the church. In Matthew 20:28, Jesus tells
his disciples that ‘The Son of Man who has come, not to be served by others but
to serve’. By being a steward I am trying to be like Jesus. The other question
I asked myself is “Why do I do it?” My answer to that can be found in the book
of John 21:15-17. ‘When they had eaten their meal, Jesus said to Simon Peter,
“Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said,
“you know that I love you.” At which Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” A second
time he put his question, Simon, son of John, do you love me?” “Yes, Lord,”
Peter said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus replied, “Tend my sheep.” A
third time Jesus asked him, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was
hurt because he had asked a third time, “Do you love me?” So he said to him:
“Lord, you know everything. You know well that I love you.” Jesus said to him,
“Feed my sheep.” Many years ago Jesus asked me the same questions and I had the
same answer as Peter did. The reason I serve is that I love Jesus!
David and Geralyn Kaminsky
DAVID: Good morning everyone. I am David Kaminsky and this is my wife, Geralyn.
We have been involved with St Francis for many years now and official
parishioners just over three years. We are humbled and so very grateful to
stand before you this morning – and we are constantly reminded that so much of
our lives are a testament that God works in mysterious ways. I’ll step aside and
let Geralyn do the talking.
GERALYN: In high school I started in an outreach
program volunteering with deaf and disabled children and young adults with
Down’s syndrome, it was incredibly rewarding to help young people in their 20’s
learn their alphabet. This “helping” set a path for me.
Our journey to St Francis started in 1993 when, as a single
person, attended a Catholic church in Plano. I got involved in Outreach there
and with our “mission church”, St Francis in Frisco, helping with Thanksgiving
meals. I started volunteering with the young Hispanic children teaching them
English. Who knew my life NOW would parallel that time in 1993?
Year s later I started attending daily Mass here and went
to the occasional yoga and knitting classes. (I just have to say I LOVE our
morning mass group!) In 2006, we went to the Parish Office and “officially
signed up”, not having time to get involved but would be good to be
parishioners. I think Jim Smiley “sensed” I was going to complete the new
parishioner form and secretly followed me into the office & asked me if I was
interested in joining the Hospital Ministry. “YES! of course I am”, were the
words that came out. And now, several years later, the hospital ministry has
been such a rewarding activity. We GO to share Our Lord with patients but I
COME AWAY with so many blessings. I’ve celebrated new babies, prayed before
surgery, & cried over a diagnosis. At the hospital, Jesus IS there and He steps
in and puts just the right words in my mouth at just the right time.
I then got more involved in the Book Club and other
activities, meeting more loving and accepting people. There was a sense of
belonging and it continued through some big hurdles we faced and then more
recently through my mom’s illness. I really wanted to give back so when David
Utsler asked me to consider working with the Outreach groups, again I said
YES! (DO you see a pattern)?
We truly believe there are no coincidences in
life - just things that God wants us to see and know and he always adds in His
incredible timing. In 2001 I went to Honduras on a mission trip simply because
I could speak Spanish, thinking the practice would do me good, a "vacation" from
work. Well, God knows how the trip changed my life! Gone were the thoughts
that I should work more or make more money. My goals changed and I really
tried to stop micromanaging my life and let God be in charge. I needed to help
others and not just myself. David and I started a nonprofit organization that
would help needy children in Honduras, FOLN. We chose to work with the
malnourished, diseased and dying children of El Progresso Honduras. They needed
us. Our vacations were now spent in the dirt filled streets with no air
conditioning but at least we were with the children. Little did we know that we
would struggle from that point on with infertility. Caring for 30 children in a
permanent children's home became our mission in life.
We were very blessed to travel to Medjugorje in
2007, called by Our Blessed Mother. While there we received a phone call to
help some children in Honduras in a totally different way. We said YES and we
went. And in a bigger leap of faith, just one month later, we moved to Honduras
- the third world - for what was to be a month or two.
We soon fell in love with three wonderful
little children and saw firsthand the Christ-like love of others helping
strangers, except we were the strangers. We battled heat, rain, power outages,
parasites, and even people dead set against our efforts. While here my parents
talked to people at mass -including many we did not know - and relayed messages
of support to us. What a blessing that was and we are eternally grateful.
After nine months in Honduras we received
permission to come back home, with the three children (twins Rosa and Alfonso
were 4 and Wendy, 2). So in July of last year we came home and became a family.
They also immediately experienced the larger family that is St FOA.
Yes, they were welcomed here -
during the on-hold building campaign, the unknown Pastor , a recession, yes –
even with all that– the children were welcomed by both the Hispanic and Anglo
communities – and that is HUGE to us!! This parish IS an extension of our
family –and it should be yours too. And, without the prayers of our fellow
parishioners and the love and support of Our Blessed Mother and her son Jesus
Christ, these children might destined to a life in a children’s home or a life
on the streets. Yes, there still are medical issues, language issues, formerly
“living in a group home” issues– it’s sometimes not easy but the children are
here with us….thanks be to God!
What’s important in our lives now? Connecting with others
–slowing down and visiting. We might not be as put together or well-dressed as
we used to be but we appreciate our friends and family so much more. We’ve
tried to leave that old life of materialism and “gotta haves” behind. Isn’t
that what Jesus called his disciples to do – leave the nets and follow Him? We
NEED to help others and you know sometimes we are the ones that receive help
--that’s how life goes. To give AND receive.
What are we active in here? David is in the music ministry where he plays the
trumpet and he is a member of the Knights of Columbus. We try to attend daily
mass – w/ 3 little ones not always possible – but will be with school starting!
J I am part of the Hospital
Ministry, Book Club and am the Outreach Commissioner for many wonderful
ministries – the newly formed St Vincent De Paul Society, Respect Life Ministry
(by the way, the kids love saying the rosary for the unborn babies at various
clinics), Homebound and Nursing Home Ministry, the AIDS Supper Club, Caregivers
Support Group, the Hospital ministry and all the other phenomenal ministries. I
also serve on the Parish Council representing the Outreach Ministries.
So this weekend and next you’ll hear about Stewardship and
what it means to share Time, Talent and Treasure. David and I have a bit of
Time, a bit of Talent --him more than me-- less Treasure now, especially with
these three little ones. We share what we can and we urge you to do the same.
Jesus said “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was
thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you
clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me……you know the
rest.
Give a bit of yourself and get so much more back; share
your joy and your gratitude.
And next week
end, during stewardship sign-ups, take that step and sign up to be involved in
one of the` 90+ ministries/events we have here at St Francis. Just say YES . .
. .
Thank you and
May our Lord and his Holy Mother continue to bless you and your lives.
Travis Hunt
Good Morning. My name is Travis Hunt. My wife, Melissa, and I have been
parishioners at St. Francis for just over four years. It is an honor to be able
to share with you our personal story about being stewards at St. Francis. Now,
I know what some of you are thinking… Here comes the talk about giving more
money to church, and while I would never encourage you not to give, let me
assure you that this is not the subject of my talk today. So with that
disclaimer out of the way, you can take your hands off your wallets and focus
back in on what I have to say. Stewardship is the giving to God one's time,
talent, and treasure in appreciation for what God has given to you, but what I
have found is that in our giving of our time and talent that we are truly
rewarded. Today, I want to share with you the personal joy that has been
brought to our lives by getting involved in this amazing parish community.
Our journey began as a search. ….. Two years ago, Melissa and I, along with
Nathan Byers and former parishioners Rodney and Angie Alles, approached Father
Tim about the need for a ministry focusing on young adults in the parish. Our
intent was two fold, one we had recently read an article stating that the vast
majority of Catholics who leave the church do so when they are in their
mid-twenties. Second, we were both new to the area and were seeking to make new
friends. Father Tim immediately agreed that this was a great idea. I will
never forget the words that came out of his mouth next. Similar to Donald
Trump on the last episode of the apprentice, he pointed at us and said "You're
hired… Thanks for volunteering…. When can you start?"
If anyone here has ever tried to say no to a priest, then it will come as no
shock to find out that just a few short months later, Melissa and I had become
co-founders of the Young Adults of St. Francis. The Young Adults group is
centered on faith formation and fellowship. Our target audience is parishioners
between 21-35 years of age (and all those who still feel, act, or wish that they
were 21-35). We typically meet twice a month, once a month for social
interaction and once a month for our faith formation series called Theology on
Tap.
While we initially began our search seeking to make new friends, what we
received was so much more. When Melissa and I first joined St. Francis, the
people that sat to our left and to our right were nothing more than familiar
faces that we saw on Sundays. After we got involved with the Young Adults, we
began to associate names and stories to the faces around us. What started as
conversation over coffee has transformed into a complete sharing of our faith.
Scripture tells us that we are all members of one body in Christ, and when one
suffers all suffer, and when one is honored, all rejoice. From the experiences
gained through stewardship with the Young Adults I can confirm this to be true.
I can remember back to one of our earliest Theology on Tap events. Father Tim
looked around the room and said, "It is great that you can all be here in
celebration, but remember to be there for each other when life gets tough." We
have done just that. We have celebrated the births of newborn children and have
leant shoulders to cry on for the loss of the unborn. We have rejoiced over
promotions and helped others who have lost work. I am truly blessed. Not only
do I have a wife that pushes me to become a better person, but through
stewardship at St. Francis, we have found a group of parishioners with whom we
can share the joy of Christ and that drive us to deepen our faith. In a sign of
support, many of those whom we have shared this journey with are in the room
today. A sign of the community that we should all strive to develop with those
that sit in this room . We have laughed, cried and prayed with our fellow
parishioners, all of which is a witness to what it is like to be in true
communion with our brothers and sisters in Christ… something that by our very
nature we all seek.
Six years ago I lost my father to cancer. He was 52 years old. One day, while
visiting him in the hospital, I sat pondering what lied ahead for my dad. He
caught me in thought and said while pointing to his heart, "Son, what are you
searching for? The answer is right here." After his passing, I often think
about those words. What I have come to realize is that what we all are
searching for can be found in this room. It can be found on this alter and with
the breaking of bread together. Through the Eucharist we become one body and
are given the strength that we need for our Christian journey. But the mass
does not end when we walk out of these doors. We must share our Catholic faith
with others.
Next week is Stewardship Sunday. When you leave from Mass there will be members
from the more than 90 Ministries of St. Francis the Narthex waiting for you to
take the call. Here at St. Francis, we are blessed to have all different kinds
of ministries for you to give of your time and talents. We have community
groups, such as the Young Adults and Women of St. Francis, Outreach groups such
as Aids outreach and Homebound Ministry, Faith Formation programs such as our
youth groups, as well as Hispanic and Liturgical Ministries. I encourage you -
from my own personal experience - to seek them out. Don't be afraid to get
involved. The people that lead these programs are volunteers. Volunteers that
have heard God's call, or had a hard time saying no to a priest. Like Melissa
and I, these volunteers know that good things happen when you share of
yourself. They know the deep-resounding joy that comes from being a part of
God's work on earth. The time and talent that the members of this parish give
is what makes the community of St. Francis so great. These ministries and the
people that participate in them are the cornerstone for our church. Can you
give us a little of your time? Do you have a special talent that you could
share with all of us? Are you searching for a deeper connection with the
members of this parish with whom you break bread? Quit searching… The answers
to all our questions can be found right here.
Humberto y Sylvia Urrutia
Buenas Tardes,
Nosotros somos Humberto y Sylvia Urrutia. El dia de hoy queremos comentarles
nuestra experiencia de pertener a un ministerio de la Iglesia. Nosotros
decidimos participar en el MFC, y esperamos contestar a las preguntas que
algunos nos hacemos de como, cuando, donde y porque hacerlo.
Como?
Ustedes pueden elegir de todos los ministerios que hay en la Iglesia el que se
adecue a sus necesidades y expectativas de ayuda de cada quien. Ya sea como
catequista, en el MFC, ujier, ayudandado en los diferentes eventos , visitando a
los enfermos, etc.
Cuando?
Siempre utlizamos de pretexto que no tenemos tiempo, pero cuando realmente
quiere hacer uno algo, buscamos el tiempo que necesitamos y Dios siempre nos
ayuda a encontrarlo. Tambien nos damos cuenta que luego perdemos mucho tiempo
sin hacer algun beneficio a alguien y preferimos ser un poquito egoistas y
nadamas dedicarnos a nosotros.
Donde?
Puede ser dentro de la Iglesia apoyando en la misa o en las diferentes clases
que se ofrecen. Tambien , si usted prefiere organizar, socializar o donar su
tiempo en la preparacion de diferentes actividades donde se necesita creatividad
y manualidad como Festividades Religiosas. A lo mejor le gustaria reunirse con
un grupo de familias y platicar de diferentes temas para crecer tanto como
individuo, en pareja y famila , pues puede participar ya sea en el MFC o en
los Encuentros Matrimoniales, etc. Ahora, si usted es de la personas que
realmente es muy ocupada y prefiere apoyar economicamente, tambien se le
agradecera ya que hay otras personas que no lo pueden hacer de esa manera y
mejor ayudan con tiempo o trabajo.
Porque?
Bueno, nosotros pensamos que siempre estamos pidiendole a Dios que nos ayude en
muchas cosas, pero nosotros no hacemos nada para ayudarlo a El. Somos muy
buenos para pedir cuando tenemos necesidad y a veces prometemos cosas que al
poco tiempo dejamos de cumplir o se nos olvida, como las promesas de cada fin
de ano. (Ejem: Ahora si voy a bajar de peso y en Enero el gimnasio esta lleno
y comforme pasan los meses perdemos el interes de nuestra promesa). Por lo
tanto , creemos que es una buena manera de ayudar a alguien y a Dios
participando en algun Ministerio Religioso.
Nosostros
escogimos el MFC porque Dios asi lo quiso, ya que nunca habiamos participado en
algun ministerio . En breve nuestra historia es que durante un tiempo le
pediamos a Dios cada vez que rezabamos ,que nos ayudara en una situacion dificil
en la que nos encontrabamos. Un dia nos dimos cuenta que siempre pediamos pero
no ofreciamos nada a cambio, entonces empezamos a pedirle a Dios que tambien
nos guiara a encontrar la oportunidad de ayudar a otros como El lo hace. Un dia
a la salida de la misa mi esposo me dijo que habia dado nuestros datos a los del
MFC que se encontraban haciendo promocion para poder participar. (Es el dia que
uno los ve a la salida y le corre ). Yo lo vi y le dije algo molesta, pero si
yo no tengo tiempo (pensando en que soy ama de casa, trabajo y tenemos un hijo
con sus respectivas actividades). Pero le conteste, O.K. vamos a venir el dia
de la junta pero no nos vamos a inscribir en nada. Se llego el dia y la persona
que se encontraba hablando en la junta de repente dijo las mismas palabras que
nosostros utilizabamos cuando le pediamos a Dios que nos diera la oportunidad de
ayudar otros. En ese momento pense, esto es lo que tengo que hacer para cumplir
con mi promesa. Cuando nos preguntaron si ibamos a participar, yo dije SI y mi
esposo me volteo a ver con cara de asombro y despues cuando nos propusieron ser
coordinadores tambien dije SI. Al salir de la junta mi esposo y yo nos
volteamos a ver y nos dijimos: Te fijaste las palabras que dijo la persona.
Humberto me pregunto, fue por eso que te decidiste, verdad??? A lo que conteste
asi es, Dios quiere que ayudemos aqui. Y de verdad, esperamos de todo Corazon
poder estar ayudando a nuestras parejas asi como ellos tambien nos han ensenado
mucho a nosotros.
Muchas gracias
por su tiempo y ojala muchos de ustedes tambien se decidan como nosotros.
Zack Bonzo
Its funny where you’ll be driven in life when you decide to let God
take the wheel. Its funny how I can remember in the summer of 2006 saying to
myself, “Just what kind of crazy person would want to go work in the summer heat
in Mexico? What kind of lunatic would consider becoming a priest? When I’d drive
past a church I’d think, “How could someone go to church every single
Sunday?” These were the kind of questions that floated around in my head until
the day God tapped me on the shoulder and said, “I’ll show you just what kind of
lunatic would do those things.” Then he gave me a good shove towards the church
and in two years handed me a mirror. But honestly, as involved in St. Francis as
I am now, I feel twenty to thirty times more sensible than I did when I used to
sit around at the house and play video games all day.
For me, the key to stewardship is not going out and doing these
great heroic deeds for the church, it’s about doing whatever you can, and
always, at whatever pace, moving closer to God. It started with the high school
lock-in in the winter of 2007. I went there thinking I’d have some fun, meet new
people, maybe make some friends and all of those things did happen, but
something even more marvelous occurred. God opened my eyes to the reality of his
grace. The friends I made on that lock-in I will always remember and they will
always hold a special place in my heart. Its always a moving experience to
spiritually bond so closely and with so many people in one night.
The next thing God called me to do was a program for youth called
Mission Possible. It involves going out into the local community and helping the
less fortunate families with things they may need, everything from mowing lawns
to picking up trash off streets to collecting food cans from better-off houses
to give to the food pantry. That also was, though it was stiflingly hot outside,
an incredible experience. The spiritual, emotional, even physical value of doing
charitable deeds for the poor is drastically underestimated in our society.
Again, through these works, God reached into my life and revealed so much to me.
But it was nothing compared to what He led me to next.
Christ’s mercy always astounds me, and the revelation of its
abundance in my life hit me like a dodge-ball to the face. The Mexico Mission
Trip in the summer of 2007 was such a brilliant combination of sweat, blisters,
sunburns, and spiritual clarity that I don’t think I’ll ever find anything like
it again. It all comes down to God’s greatest commandment; “Love the Lord your
God with all your heart, mind, and soul and love thy neighbor as thyself.”
Building a church in the middle of poverty-central definitely resembles that
commandment. There’s a certain sense of well-being in knowing that you are a
wide open conduit through which God’s grace flows out onto the earth that can
only come from mission trip community service. There’s a certain type of freedom
one obtains through sacrificing themselves so greatly for others less fortunate
that only comes from devoting all your day to making their life better. Needless
to say, that trip changed to course of my life.
In opening my heart to God’s will an endless ocean of possibilities
flooded my mind. The first was the possibility that God might be calling me to
become a priest. This was a huge deal for me, believe it or not. Partly because
my childhood was filled with encouragement to ‘carry on the Bonzo name’ and
becoming a priest would definitely erase that possibility. Partly because just
about one year earlier I was casting mental blobs of disdain on the whole
prospect of a holy life. But mainly because I’ve never considered myself to be
that great of a person and becoming a priest would definitely require some
measure of greatness. And there’s the thing, God has the power to make you
great! God, through his power and glory, can help you be who you truly are if
you’d just listen to Him. I mean, He designed you so He obviously knows you
better than you do yourself. Trust me, listen to Him, He always knows what’s
best.
Since that first fateful Mexico Mission Trip God has permitted me to
sing in His choir, be a member of His youth group, and attend many more events
and mission trips sponsored here at St. Francis. Becoming more active in my
church has allowed me to make so many amazing friends that I can actually trust
to walk with me down the right path. Before my involvement I was rarely a part
of anything other than the counter-terrorist team on an online game of
Counter-Strike. Now I’m a part of God’s community, God’s church, doing the work
he sets before me. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not always easy. As a matter of
fact, It’s almost never easy, but it’s what the Lord our God wants for us all,
to be closer to him and to strive to love him as much as he loves us. |
