Hey guys,
Well yesterday we officially finished training for the mission. We ended up in Stony Point, New York at a Marian Shrine on retreat with about 20 Salesian priests, 23 Lay Missioners and 7 Salesian domestic volunteers. It was a great week to say the least, it was really refreshing to spend time with a bunch of holy people all there for the same reason; to spread God's love to the world.
The week before last we spent in Port Chester, New York working at a camp for youth. It was the best week that we had here for sure. I worked with two different groups, a group of 6 year olds, which were absolutely amazing and a group of 14 & 15 year olds which was more challenging but none-the-less a good experience. It was definitely re-energizing and a good way to remind me why I chose to serve the youth. They give me a lot of hope in their innocence that the world can change and that the future is in our hands.
Now that orientation is over, I can't honestly say that I am any more prepared to leave everything behind and head to Brazil, but I can say that I am more excited and have a better vision and understanding of the importance of this mission, not only for the people that I will be serving, but also for myself. It will be a journey to not only understand the youth of this world, but to better define myself and attempt to discover my purpose and what God's will is for me.
As I leave this place I am leaving with a lot of unanswered questions, anxiety and uncertainty, but I am also leaving full of hope, which is most important. I know that with courage and trust I will be able to overcome all anxiety and trials that lay before me. The people I have gotten to know over the past five weeks have shown me that this world is filled with people who have a true desire to love and to serve and I know that with these people, love will spread. It is contagious after-all...
So Tuesday I am heading back to Washington for 2 weeks before leaving for Brazil. I am fortunate enough that I think all of my visa issues have been resolved and I should have it in my hands before too long. Everything is in order... just need to say my goodbyes.
I am currently in a cafe in Port Chester and have to give the computer back to my friend, so I will conclude with a quote from one of my favorite author's Paulo Coehlo: "The universe always helps us fight for our dreams, no matter how foolish they may be. Our dreams are our own and only we can know the effort required to keep them alive."
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Thursday, July 8, 2010
New York, New York!
Hey,
I'm in New York! Finally! It's been a really great couple of days here. I spent the first two roaming around the city with Marie and Josh (another SLM from Washington) and we got to do all sorts of cool things. We walked around times square, strolled through Central Park, saw the fireworks on the 4th (correction: we caught glimpses of fireworks from behind trees and through the masses of people), and we went to daily mass at St. Patrick's in downtown NY. Now, some of you may know that at one point in my life i had the dream of moving to NY. WHOA, what was I thinking. ALthough it is a really cool city, trying to manuever through the masses of people of the 4th of July turned me off of the idea of EVER wanted to move there. It was so crowded that at many points in time I didn't get to choose which way I wanted to walk and was just forced to move with the crowd and police men were everywhere shouting at us to keep moving, not to stop. Anyways it was just kind of crazy.
Well, I've made it to orientation. Crazy, right? It's weird to finally be here, it has been something that I have been looking forward to for the past couple months and I am finally here... sitting in the computer lounge at way too early in the morning writing a blog. lol. So bascially it has been a really chill couple of days, we are just in the phase of getting to know everybody and where everybody is going and taking care of some administrative business like how to get a visa, what to expect in the foreign country, what to do about money, registering with the embassy, etc. There are a total of 23 of us going abroad with the Salesians come August. Out of the 23, I am the ONLY one going to Brazil. :-) In a way I'm glad, because if I hadn't answered God's call to go there, they wouldn't be getting any help this coming year from their program, but it is also kind of nerve-racking because EVERYONE ELSE has a missionary partner. But, I trust that God has some crazy plan for me and it is time to trust blindly in Him... soo here it goes.
Many of you may have heard that I have been having visa issues. Well, fear no more. I think it is all going to work out. I am just waiting on some documents from Father Chicao in Brazil (he has already put in them in the mail, and they are on their way to New York as I type) so it'll be just a matter of time before I get them and can send my passport off for the visa.
The group of people are absolutely amazing here. They all seem to have a strong devotion to the work that I am passionate about, which makes it really easy to get along with all of them. Today is the first day that we will be working together with the Maryknoll lay missioners (another missionary group) and we will be with them for the next two weeks.
Well, morning prayer is in 15 minutes and I gotta brush my teeth.
Jon
"Christ has no body on earth now but yours."
I'm in New York! Finally! It's been a really great couple of days here. I spent the first two roaming around the city with Marie and Josh (another SLM from Washington) and we got to do all sorts of cool things. We walked around times square, strolled through Central Park, saw the fireworks on the 4th (correction: we caught glimpses of fireworks from behind trees and through the masses of people), and we went to daily mass at St. Patrick's in downtown NY. Now, some of you may know that at one point in my life i had the dream of moving to NY. WHOA, what was I thinking. ALthough it is a really cool city, trying to manuever through the masses of people of the 4th of July turned me off of the idea of EVER wanted to move there. It was so crowded that at many points in time I didn't get to choose which way I wanted to walk and was just forced to move with the crowd and police men were everywhere shouting at us to keep moving, not to stop. Anyways it was just kind of crazy.
Well, I've made it to orientation. Crazy, right? It's weird to finally be here, it has been something that I have been looking forward to for the past couple months and I am finally here... sitting in the computer lounge at way too early in the morning writing a blog. lol. So bascially it has been a really chill couple of days, we are just in the phase of getting to know everybody and where everybody is going and taking care of some administrative business like how to get a visa, what to expect in the foreign country, what to do about money, registering with the embassy, etc. There are a total of 23 of us going abroad with the Salesians come August. Out of the 23, I am the ONLY one going to Brazil. :-) In a way I'm glad, because if I hadn't answered God's call to go there, they wouldn't be getting any help this coming year from their program, but it is also kind of nerve-racking because EVERYONE ELSE has a missionary partner. But, I trust that God has some crazy plan for me and it is time to trust blindly in Him... soo here it goes.
Many of you may have heard that I have been having visa issues. Well, fear no more. I think it is all going to work out. I am just waiting on some documents from Father Chicao in Brazil (he has already put in them in the mail, and they are on their way to New York as I type) so it'll be just a matter of time before I get them and can send my passport off for the visa.
The group of people are absolutely amazing here. They all seem to have a strong devotion to the work that I am passionate about, which makes it really easy to get along with all of them. Today is the first day that we will be working together with the Maryknoll lay missioners (another missionary group) and we will be with them for the next two weeks.
Well, morning prayer is in 15 minutes and I gotta brush my teeth.
Jon
"Christ has no body on earth now but yours."
Friday, June 18, 2010
First Blog Ever!
Hey everybody,
This is my attempt at setting up a blog for my mission coming up in August. Most of you who are reading this already know, but for the few who don't, I will be a missionary for the Catholic Church in Porto Velho, Brazil. I will be working with the Salesians, which is an Order that focuses mainly on youth and education in the third world. I am leaving July 4th for New York to go through training and leave on August 25th for Brazil!
Today is my last day in Bellingham and for all of you who are in Bellingham, and all those who have been such a big part of my life in Bellingham, I want to thank you and let you know that these have truly been the best four years of my life and I would not trade them for anything. They have taught me so much about myself, about life, friendship, faith and have given me the strength and hope needed to move on to be a missionary and search out my vocation.
I don't have much to write now, but I hope to be able to keep this updated as I travel to Brazil and experience missionary life.
Deus te abençoe,
Jon (João)
This is my attempt at setting up a blog for my mission coming up in August. Most of you who are reading this already know, but for the few who don't, I will be a missionary for the Catholic Church in Porto Velho, Brazil. I will be working with the Salesians, which is an Order that focuses mainly on youth and education in the third world. I am leaving July 4th for New York to go through training and leave on August 25th for Brazil!
Today is my last day in Bellingham and for all of you who are in Bellingham, and all those who have been such a big part of my life in Bellingham, I want to thank you and let you know that these have truly been the best four years of my life and I would not trade them for anything. They have taught me so much about myself, about life, friendship, faith and have given me the strength and hope needed to move on to be a missionary and search out my vocation.
I don't have much to write now, but I hope to be able to keep this updated as I travel to Brazil and experience missionary life.
Deus te abençoe,
Jon (João)
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