LT Missions: Team Europe Sing-a-Long from JDamin Productions on Vimeo.
Once a year, there is a glorious occasion where family members from all over the United States travel for miles to gather around a table, break bread, and share what they are thankful for. We know this day as Thanksgiving! This is a holiday that has always been near and dear to my heart. I was a little bummed to find out that this year, I would be half way around the world away from my family in a country that doesn’t recognize this day as significant. A week before the holiday, our missionary family got together and decided that the best way to celebrate this American tradition was to open our home and invite the our whole parish community to join us.
As we prepared for this feast day, some of us became concerned with how our plan was going to work. Despite this, we trusted that God would provide and take care of everything. It turned out to be a real bonding experience for our mission family because everyone pitched in, adding their own special touch. We divided and conquered the tasks by cooking our favorite dishes, cleaning, decorating, and setting up the tables and chairs. We even cleared out the entire living room to fit three long tables, as we weren’t sure how many people to expect. As the dinner hour arrived, people started to trickle in. There were greetings and introductions being said. I was a little hesitant on my end as I don’t speak that much German. But, as I was getting drinks for people, I prayed for a Holy Boldness. I’ve noticed that this has become a theme for me this mission year, stepping outside of my comfort zone.
All of a sudden, there was a loud clinking noise from the head of the table and the room fell to a hush. Amanda began to explain that we were going to pray over the food in thanksgiving; everyone gathered around the table as she led grace in German. As we ate, it was truly amazing to see God working through each conversation. People were so accommodating and did not let language be a barrier. During conversations, everyone tried to speak the little German and English that they knew so as to try to comprehend one another.
Although I wished my family could have been together for thanksgiving, I couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate and give thanks than with all the laughter, conversations and delicious food that I experienced with my new extended family in Germany. God continues to surprise me every day with the little joys in life and with the graces he bestows upon me.
Thanksgiving – The expression of gratitude, especially to God.
Lately, God has been teaching me to pay more attention to what and where he’s leading me. I like to describe it as tuning into those initial gut reactions that happen before making a decision. I’m finding that the common, everyday decisions are where it counts the most because those are the ones that get easily overlooked.
Yesterday, for our Sabbath Day, Father Roland took us to visit a historical German Castle and its surrounding town. After we came back and celebrated Mass, it was time to eat dinner. Now keep in mind that on our Sabbath days, we are usually responsible for our own meals. Most of the community likes to eat out at this restaurant called Ali Baba Kebap House and some people were planning on that for dinner.
So, once again, that gut feeling arose and it was time to make a decision. I felt as if I wasn’t suppose to eat out just because everyone else was doing it, but that I should save my mission partner’s money for another occasion. Plus, there was enough food to make a light egg sandwich. I didn’t order any food and it turned out great because for one of the first times in making that kind of decision, I felt at peace with the choice I had made.
As the night continued, everyone piled in the living room with individual boxes of pizza and we were just about to watch a movie, when something divine happened. One person in the community noticed that the restaurant had messed up their order and added spicy peppers to their pizza. It was a little too spicy for their taste buds. So, they called up the place and told them about the mishap. It turned out that the restaurant was happy to fix the order and brought the new pizza over within 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, I was sitting at the table with Pam having a delightful conversation, when I was handed a grace. There it was: a delicious, cooked-to-perfection pizza. Praise God. I love spicy peppers! I realized that God was teaching me about dependence and trust. Sometimes, it takes those small decisions in life for us to truly encounter the divine providences God so desires us to have. So be on the lookout for those opportunities, because you never know when you’ll be handed a grace.
Just before the formation month concluded, twenty of the missionaries were sent in two 15-passenger vans to the Woodlands, TX for a Life Teen Basic Training Conference. This was a great experience and opportunity for us to pour out our love and truly be the face of Christ to new youth ministers, core members and priests. It was all about radical hospitality and relational ministry.
One of the more blessed times during the Conference was being able to stay at host homes, provided by the parishioners of the St. Anthony of Padua faith community. Not only did these families open up their homes, but they also invited us into their lives as they shared their hearts. The missionaries and Life Teen staff had very long days and would sometimes get home as late as 10:30 p.m. Despite this, our host family excitedly waited up for us as they greeted us with a smile, little snacks, and the desires to chit-chat about how the Lord was moving in our lives.
Even though I sometimes found myself physically exhausted, I awoke each day giving my all to glorify God. By doing small acts of kindness and spreading the love of Christ, I became more energized during each moment. I learned to never underestimate the Divine Power of God in any situation.
Whenever you are faced with a tough day, ask yourself, what would Jesus do? Brace yourself, and don’t be afraid to ask the Big Man for a little help. Just remember, He’s only a prayer away.
“We can do no great things, only small things with great love.” -Mother Teresa
