Mission in Haiti

Last week I went to Haiti.

the streets of Port-au-Prince

In fact, my whole team came with me, as well as our chaplain, 5 Columbia students, and 6 students from other universities, including my brother.

our group at the airport

We spent the week working with an order of Italian priests called the Scalibrinis.  They have established a complex about 7 miles east of Port-au-Prince that contains a seminary for about 300 young men, a school for hundreds of kids, a bread factory run by Haitians who can then sell the bread in the city, a site where houses are being constructed for displaced people to live in (the Haitians have also been employed to build these), a medical clinic, and a physical therapy clinic.  We got to help out with all of those.

helping out with one of the construction projects

getting to pray in the archbishop's private chapel

 The Archbishop of Port-au-Prince was also temporarily living on the premises, since his residence was destroyed in the quake.  The former archbishop actually died in his home and is buried there at the Scalibrini's, along with his former secretary, who was at the Cathedral when it collapsed on him.  One of the priests told us an amazing story about him: he remained alive for seven days after the quake, stuck in the rubble, speaking with those who were trying to get him out.  When they finally reached him a week later, though, he had passed away.  When they uncovered him, he was found clasping a rosary in one hand, and the Eucharist in the other.  Wow.  What an incredible testament of faith, huh?

One of the coolest parts of the trip was the opportunities God gave us to interact with the local people.  Even though most of them did not speak English, we were still able to communicate.  I even got to use some French!

hanging out with some kids after playing soccer

One of the days, we had the privilege of being invited to visit the Papal Nuncio (the ambassador to the Vatican).

Justin with the Nuncio (he is a Bishop originally from the Philippines)

 He lives on a hill that overlooks the city.  From his home we could see the massive amount of destruction and poverty.  Parts of the city that had nothing in them before the earthquake are now filled with tents or small houses made of cardboard.

We also drove around and saw the Cathedral that collapsed, as well as the President's palace and some of the tent cities that have since been set up to house people.

The President's Palace

a tent city

The Cathedral

The last day we were there, we got to work with the Missionaries of Charity in a clinic they run for malnourished children.  It was a terribly heart-breaking experience, as all we could do was hold these teeny children and pray for them.

Overall, the Lord challenged me to search for Him in every moment of every day, in the mundane and in the incredible, in the poor and in the privileged.  He challenged me to trust Him and demonstrated that He is always working.  He always does more for me than I expect from Him and surprises me every day with His love.

It was a beautiful trip, and I am thankful for all the work the Lord did in the hearts of my team and our students.  Please pray for a continual conversion of heart for each of the students, and that we may continue to learn from the experience!

my team is awesome, and I am so thankful for them

The paradoxes of Christianity

Christianity is kind of crazy.

Don't believe me?  Just read the Beatitudes.  The meek shall inherit the earth.  Huh?  The meek?  Yeah, them.

Jesus tells us:
Become a slave to find freedom.
Die to be born anew.
Suffer to find deeper joy.
Give yourself away to be full.
Find joy in persecution.

Weird.

But really, it's not weird.  It's just greater than me and you and greater than human instinct and desire and wisdom.  It's beautiful, really, what the Lord does:

For since in the wisdom of God the world did not come to know God through wisdom, it was the will of God through the foolishness of the proclamation to save those who have faith. (1 Corinthians 1:21)

He makes worldly wisdom worthless, so that man should not boast.  He makes His wisdom (the cross) seem foolish so that faith is necessary to believe.

And St. Paul gets it.  He says, For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with the wisdom of human eloquence, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its meaning (1 Corinthians 1:17).  The Cross of Christ speaks for itself.  No need for fancy rhetoric or eloquent wording.  It's quite easy to get caught up in that stuff, though, especially here in the Ivy Leagues.  Blah.


For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified (1 Corinthians 2: 2)

Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.  Nothing else matters if not for Him.  And because of Him, we can find joy in suffering, we can find freedom in conforming (to His will), we can find new life in death to ourselves.

Thank you, Jesus!

Happy Lent!

Why happy Lent?  Because, as St. Paul says: now is the day of salvation.  Woohoo!

So many Catholics come to Ash Wednesday Mass!  It's wonderful!  It's even more than usually come to Sunday Mass.  I'm not quite sure why it's that way.  But it's an amazing opportunity for us as missionaries to reach out to those who may not be practicing regularly.  Father Dan gave a killer homily in which he invited people to restore and rekindle their relationship with God.  He echoed the words of St. Paul in the second reading: We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

Ash Wednesday is not even a Holy Day of Obligation, yet it seems like the chapel is overflowing with people.  And it's the only time of the year that, for the rest of day, you're walking around with a very obvious mark on your forehead.  You're basically waving a sign around that says, "I'm Catholic".

Ergo, we decided to take advantage of this opportunity.  The team, my disciple Rosie, and I made it a point to meet every ash-marked student on Columbia's campus we could find.  We got to introduce ourselves in a pretty natural way, let them know we are available to them as support, and even invite a few people to Bible study!  It was fun.

I pray that you really dive into this Lenten season and accept the forgiveness the Lord offers all those who call upon Him!

New Teammate!

Get excited, people.  I would like to introduce you all to my new teammate... *drum roll please*

Michael!  Ta daaaa.  Last semester, Michael worked in Denver at FOCUS headquarters in the International Missions department working on advertising stuff.  He was doing an internship to finish up his degree in advertising at South Dakota State University.  Now, I know what you're thinking- "Two people on the same team in NYC from South Dakota?  What!  Two?  I didn't even think there were people in South Dakota!"  It's okay and totally understandable, because I thought the same thing.

Michael has really been good for our team, bringing much joy and a renewed zeal.  He is hilarious and a very good and holy brother in Christ.  Please pray for him, as it is hard to start as an on-campus missionary mid-semester.

A bientot!

Semester in Review

Well, I have finished my first semester as a missionary!  Phew!  I have learned an awful lot about myself, about God, about people, about life...  Here are just a few things (15 to be exact) that I can think of while I sit here, procrastinating doing some MPD (Mission Partner Development - aka fund-raising):

1.  Missionaries are needed!  I mean, really needed!  Especially in New York, where the world views and the mindsets are so far from God it's incredible.  But nothing is impossible for God.

2.  I like cities.  It's fun to live in NYC.  I like all the people around all the time.  I like the walking and Subway riding.  But there are definitely moments where I miss my mountains and stars!

3.  I am so so so blessed to have been shown the love God has for me.  Where would I be if He had not summoned me?


4.  I stink at communicating my feelings, and I hate confronting issues.  That's not good when you're on a very small team.

5.  God's plan is greater than my plan.  His ideas are better, more creative, more successful, and bring about more good than mine ever could.

6.  I can be outgoing if I try.

7.  The devil is real.  And he doesn't like missionaries.  He's a sneaky little coward, too.

8.  If I get rejected, it means I'm doing something right.

9.  The answer is always, always love.  Love God.  Love you neighbor.  Love God by loving your neighbor.  Love at any cost to yourself, including your pride and your comfort.  But first and foremost, you must be loved by Love, Himself.

10.  Without community and support, we become weak.  Without prayer, we have no fuel.

11.  I still don't really know what I'm doing.

12.  God answers prayers.  He has done so in such concrete ways for me this semester.

13.  I have been coming to a better understanding of how deep and penetrating God's love is.  He has shown me so much more of Himself, and I am so thankful.

14.  I have learned just how weak my faith really is.  I still do not trust Him with everything.  I still won't give Him all.  I have learned how much I need Him.

15.  Lastly, everything is a reflection of God's mercy.  A dear friend has been sharing a lot about his experience with Mercy, and he passed this little nugget from Curtis Martin (FOCUS founder) on to me.  At first I didn't understand, but the more I pray, the more true and real it becomes. God is always trying to draw us closer to Him, through every little thing that happens in our lives.  He wants us so much, that in every moment - be it one of pain or struggle or joy - He is revealing His love for us.  How little we notice.  He showers me with gifts every moment of every day, and I don't even think twice.  I deserve none of it, yet in His mercy He pursues me.  I know Love because He is merciful.  Everything is a reflection of that mercy.

Thank you for the prayers!  I wouldn't be here without them!

Oh, and one more thing I learned - I stink at blogging!  Sorry!

Article

Hi!  Happy Advent!  Team Columbia was recently featured in Catholic NYC, the city-wide Catholic newspaper.  To see the article, click here.

Birthdays, Booths, and Bible study

Today is my teammate, Justin's, birthday.  In celebration, my team woke up at 5:30am and walked around Columbia in the dark while we prayed all 20 decades of the rosary (as we do every Wednesday).  Then we ate breakfast.  He had a cupcake.

This is what happened when I tried to take a picture of him and his cupcake.

Justin is a great teammate and brother.  Sometimes he gets a little too excited about being the "annoying little brother", and so I have to remind him that I already have one of those (sorry, Daniel!).  Anyway, I am very thankful for Justin and what he brings to our team.

In other news, I recently went to Washington, D.C. to represent FOCUS at a long-term service fair at Catholic University.

Keegan, a Regional Director, and Dan, a missionary at George Washington University, talking with a CUA student

It was a great trip because I got to talk about my awesome job, AND I got to see some family.

My wonderful cousin, Lauren, and my loving Uncle Mark

And did I mention Frannie Boyle?

Frannie Boyle. 'Nuf said.

Then I came back and made autumn wreaths out of ribbon and styrofoam with my Bible Study girls.  Ashley decided hers looked more like a lion's mane than a wreath.

Isn't she cute?

Thank you for your prayers!  Please pray for my new Bible Study that I'm starting with some upperclassmen women.  To Him be the glory!