Author: Melanie

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” -Joshua 1:9

They say all good things come to an end. For me, going on mission to Trinidad was one last hurrah.   I was prepared to serve with joy, love those I would encounter and once again leave my comfort zone.

 

As my tenure as an MV is coming to a close, I wanted to give this mission trip my all. Truth is, the Lord is not done with me yet. The joy I find in mission is undeniable and I will continue to serve and give my time to the Lord when He calls.

The joy I find in mission is undeniable and I will continue to serve and give my time to the Lord when He calls.

Being immersed for close to three weeks, not only allowed me to witness Christ to others, but draw the parallels and similarities from our perspective areas. We all share a common bond whether we are SFCs from the same area, region, country or international. We were all ready to serve, give our best and share our experiences.

 

If I had to pick one moment, it was attending 11pm first Friday Eucharistic adoration with local SFCS at the downtown Cathedral. I realized although we are countries apart, we share the same struggles and concerns as community leaders but also the same devotions and joy in mission.

 

I am truly grateful for the mission volunteer program that has helped me grow spiritually, emotionally and in my service. To be given the opportunity to expand my borders further than I ever dreamed and has truly led me to meeting Christ in others.

#iamSFC #MissionVolunteers #CaribbeanMissions #TrinidadandTobago #JoyinMission #teamKFC

Twenty-nine different journeys in life crossing paths. Twenty-nine encounters with Christ.

Twenty-nine individuals from across North America. Twenty nine beautiful souls. Twenty-nine different journeys in life crossing paths. Twenty-nine encounters with Christ.

In the past, the Lord never failed to inspire me and refresh my heart through nature.   I’ve always sought Him in my travels through forests, beaches, mountains and even deserts. Needless to say, I was excited to experience God’s creation in a 3-day camping pseudo retreat. I looked forward to being out the city and spend time in the Rockies.

Truth be told, socializing on a 3-day camping trip was at the bottom of my expectations. Ambivert by nature, I predicted that I would ‘do my own thing’ and wander off to explore the ins and outs of Banff. Bears and all.

As always, the same lesson was repeated: Trust the Lord and let Him surprise you. Although I was able to fulfill my dreams of hiking in Banff, God had other plans to tug at my heart. It wasn’t through nature but each personal connection I made along the way.

Whether it was a shared laugh or out pouring of life’s desires, the Lord revealed Himself to me through others. Sometimes I get caught up the busyness of service and tasks that I forget to take the time just enjoy the moment and present company.

I will be forever grateful for this experience. Even reflecting three weeks later, the smiles, struggles, sweat, tears and even puns still tickle my heart. Although I expected to find Christ through a physical mountaintop experience, it was instead the joy of finding Christ in others.

*Special shoutouts to the Pre-TNCers if you’re reading this.

#PRETNC2017 #TEAMCLINGY

“We have to be A1”

About a year and a half ago I was posed the question “Why do you want to be a mission volunteer?”  The question I’m now being asked is “Do you still to be a missionary?” In recent weeks I’ve been asked the latter in several ways. “Do you still want it?”, or “What is your conviction in the mission”, and “Do you still see yourself doing this full time?”

There is no doubt that every individual is called to be a missionary and evangelize Christ to others but in different capacities. I’ve spent many hours in prayer and reflection in discerning these questions. While praying in church, I posed the question back to God “Lord, do you still want me to be in this mission volunteer program?” The response was simple and clear: “Keep trying”.

In a recent talk I heard, the speaker emphasize excellence saying “We have to be A1.” He equated A1 steak sauce to excellence.  This is applicable whether we are studying, building a career or serving in a mission. Through our love for God, we instil meaning by marinating excellence to every nook and cranny of ourselves.  Even at different stages in life, we must approach our lives with care, deliberate action and passion daily.   I realized that if I were to keep trying as God was asking, then it would have to be done in excellence. To continue building genuine relationships, having love and patience with others and serving faithfully as a mission volunteer.

In truth, if we want to invest our time with someone we love then we make it happen.

Similar to our relationships with family, friends and significant others, to love someone is a choice.  If you love someone, you will want to spend time with them and converse with them. It’s a choice you continually make.

Likewise, if we love God then we need to choose Him. Not just once, but repeatedly.  We need to choose to love Him and to know Him daily.  In truth, if we want to invest our time with someone we love then we make it happen.  To love Him enough to sacrifice an extra hour of sleep, give up a Netflix show or time spent on social media is a definitive action.

Recently I made the commitment to attend daily mass.  In the past, various friends and family suggested I should if I was truly serious about improving my prayer life and seeking Him fully.  I made various excuses from needing more naptime, busy with service or was focusing on my studies.  Yesterday marked the end of 3 weeks straight.  I can firmly say that the last 21 days have been the best in my life.  I have been graced each day in receiving Jesus.  This in turn has grounded me and has reminded me to put my trust in Him always.  In showing my love for Him and choosing to love Him in this way daily, He has granted me countless blessings in return.

Through prayer we speak with Him.

Through service we show our love to Him.

Through evangelization we share our love of Him to others.

Through the sacraments we spend quality time with and commune with Him.

For if we can no longer be a witness in Christ, then we are dead in our mission.

I arrived early at mass today planning on reciting my rosary and spiritual reading. When I sat down, a fellow parishioner handed me a paper for the novena to St. Anthony. During the prayer you are asked to offer up your intentions. I paused for a moment and reflected that St. Anthony is known as the patron saint of lost items. I prayed that he would help me always to find my joy in Christ daily.

In recent months I’ve found it difficult to remain joyful when life was sour – I could no longer make lemonade out of lemons – and the monotony of daily life took it’s toll.  However, it was the reminder of a good friend that put me back on track. In order to be an effective missionary, one must be able to find joy in Christ each day. A missionary needs to reflect and find what inspires them. They must be ready to share and be a witness at a moments notice.  For if we can no longer be a witness in Christ, then we are dead in our mission.

Since that conversation, I’ve tried my best to be find joy in the small moments of each day and find Christ where least expected. To find humour when things are disastrous and ultimately entrust God after I’ve put in my best.

A small sacrifice in comparison to the offering of His death so that we might live.

At the end of a 10 day work stretch, I found myself exhausted, snappy and hangry.  The thought of attending Holy Thursday mass paled in comparison to the call of my comfy bed.

I knew I’d regret not going and found myself 30 minutes early while waiting on a friend.  Sitting there I started to reflect back on the previous Holy Thursday services I could remember attending through the last few years.  The good, the bad and the ugly.  Various churches, the various people and the various emotional states I was in.  I was not there just to fill an obligation, but to spend time preparing my heart for Good Friday.

The further I reflected, the weariness gradually faded and was replaced with anticipation to receive Jesus and spend time with Him in adoration.  Hours later I found myself kneeling in prayer again, meditating on another rosary.  I was saddened reflecting on how Jesus felt that night he was both abandoned and betrayed by his friends.  As he was preparing to die, he was alone.  HOW COULD THEY LEAVE HIM?!?  “You would leave me too?” was all I could hear in my heart.

I felt called to abandon all my worries, anxieties and hurts. I just needed to be with Him.  That is all He really asks of us sometimes. A small sacrifice in comparison to the offering of His death so that we might live.  When you can abandon yourself to that truth, all other things fade.

How far would be go to speak the truth of the gospel?  How much do we weigh what we are willing to give up for our faith?

Recently I was fortunate enough to travel to Ireland.  Among Ireland’s rich culture, good food and friendly people is a dark history.  In a Dublin exhibit, I was able to see the ‘Book of Kells’ which contain the four gospels written by monks around 800AD.  Among other artifacts were other early Christian writings, mission gospels and even mission satchels.  I was amazed to physically see early missionary tools that were used centuries ago around Europe, Asia and Africa.  I was in awe to learn how early missionaries risked their lives and what they had to endure in order to spread the good news around the world.  The mission gospels were considered precious possessions, and the ‘Book of Kells’ themselves were and still are a national treasure.   They were highly sought after to be destroyed during the Viking raids and reformation, where Christians died trying to preserve these gospels.

Along learning about the preservation of these gospels, I was introduced into the bloody history of Catholicism in the country.  During the reform, Catholics were forced to be second class citizens and follow the Penal laws such as giving up their rights to vote, own land or openly practice their Catholic faith. The country is rich with martyrs and saints that gave up their lives to preserve their faith and spread the gospels to others.

I now reflect on how easy it is to connect and share your faith in these times.  Email and social media are at the click of mouse or tap of a screen. Here in the True North, we are able to openly share our faith and have the right to our beliefs.  Missionaries of the past have laid the groundwork for us, and perhaps the hardships are not as extreme as before.  However, the call is the same:  To serve God with a willing heart, and spread the good news of the word.