True North Missionaries Journal

My prayer everyday is “Lord, I want what you want for me.” In striving to surrender all aspects of my life, not just in service and prayer life, I have to learn not to want for myself. So, if the Lord asks me to wait, I’ll wait even if I’m impatient. If the Lord allows certain people in my life, I will be open. If the Lord allows certain circumstances to happen, I have to learn to trust the process. When I know and I remember who I belong to, it becomes possible to exchange my wants with His Holy will. As Catholics, I hope that when we look at the cross and the Eucharist, we will always remember who we belong to: God👆🏻.

I am yours and you are mine.

Alodia

“I have Chosen you from the world to go and bear fruit that will last.” (John 15:16, 19)

Love is a very sincere and meaningful [calling] to a person. Witnessing the community showing their love for the poor was a great experience. Simple joy I experienced in the walk today and seeing the simple joy in the faces of the participants is like looking in the face of God. So blessed to be a part of this event and seeing the next generation being part of the ANCOP Walk. I’m grateful to have walked with the future advocates of this great work for the Lord.

Credit photo: Jonathan Rosales

I love stories. I love sharing them and writing them, but more than that I love listening to them. A good story takes its audience on a journey, with the setting, the emotion, and the characters, it transports the listener into another world. An even better story, however, leaves the listener with something to learn from it. This is the reason Jesus often spoke in parables, they’re usually simple and easy to understand, and the characters are memorable so we always remember the story and the lesson that goes with it (the prodigal son, the good Samaritan, the lost sheep, just to name a few). In a similar way my goal with this these blog posts is to share interesting (or not so interesting) stories, from my own journey as a missionary, and personal life that can serve as reminders of who God is and how marvelously He is working.

Awkward moments are the worst. Silence, uneasiness, and tension so thick you could cut it, all add up to an uncomfortable situation. This was the setting of birthday dinner I recently attended. What began as a small gathering of close friends, soon became a night filled with unease when a friend whom we don’t know too well decided to join us for dinner uninvited. The friend was unaware of the context that this was a small group gathering and just decided to tag along because they heard we were grabbing dinner. Now exclusivity is never a good idea, especially in a social situation, so naturally, we didn’t want to turn them down. This meant, however, was trying to include our spontaneous guest in the conversation, which was a challenge because they didn’t even know the host! As we struggled to make small talk and find common interests it became clear that this was going to a long dinner, so we just decided to embrace the awkward, and make the most of it. Finally, in spite of a night filled with side glances, silent moments, and awkwardness, it ended up being pretty enjoyable and even more so served as a reminder that sometimes we’re called to be uncomfortable. Awkward and uncomfortable situations will always be a part of our lives, but it these moments that often shape us. In choosing to embrace the weird, and unnatural we are able to grow, to learn, and to open ourselves to trust the Lord. Trust isn’t always about the big situations in our lives, but also the smalls ones, the day to day, from handing in assignments, getting to work on time, or knowing that a birthday dinner will turn out just fine. It’s not always easy to be able to surrender everything to the Lord, but I pray through trusting him in these small moments I can learn to trust him in the big ones. Anyways that’s all for now.

Keegan

 

“Clouds are a hiding place for Him, so that He cannot see; And He walks on the vault of heaven” Job 22:14

I love taking pictures of cloud formations. I took this picture back in 2015 at New Brunswick when I went on a mission trip with CFC. This photo always reminds me of how great God is. On how he paints a picture of his wondrous love through clouds.

This photo is a glimpse of heaven for me. I imagined the gates of heaven opening up for the souls who will enter heaven. This brings me hope that whenever prayers are lifted for the souls, heaven opens up for them.

Our catholic faith is so mysterious and it is hard sometimes for us to believe on the things we cannot see. Simple things on earth like the clouds should be a reminder for us that we should see God everywhere we look. God created everything and all of it has its purpose, whether it is to remind us that heaven is real or just simply showing us the beauty of nature.

 

In the past, I would feel anxious when I feel uncertain where my life is going. I’m not much of a planner but when I set a goal or a plan in motion, I feel the need to follow through and if it’s not how I imagined it, I start to question myself and my decisions.

On some of my bleakest days, I asked a friend why it’s been so hard to see how the rest of my life is supposed to be like. Why do I feel so lost? Why do I feel like no matter how hard I try, nothing is working out the way I want? Why do I feel like I’m running in circles? Why do I feel so tired from trying but not gaining ground? What am I doing? I felt like I was in the dark.

She told me, “the Lord doesn’t give us enough light to see the whole path but He gives us enough light to see the next step. And as we move forward and take the next step, He gives us enough light to see the step after that, then the step after that.”

That’s trust. When I think about trust, I think about that light; just enough so I see where to place my foot, to avoid possible pitfalls but not too much that I start to rely only on my own abilities, neglecting to lean on God’s divinity. What does trusting in God’s providence mean to my discernment? Trust is the backbone that keeps me upright during this whole process. Trust allows courage to take root. Trust means there’s also faith. In that faith, there’s love and love has no room for fear and doubts. This reminds me of this bible verse, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105). The “word” is both Jesus Christ, our Saviour, our role model and the sacred scriptures that teach us what God is like; what He wants for us – a love letter in a series of books.

My discernment journey is consistently challenged. The same unwanted thoughts make their rounds when I let them: doubts on my abilities, my own courage, my own heart, my family’s well-being, fear of the unknown and fear of being alone. But I always go back to my intimate moments with the Lord, so deep in love with Him, excitedly, I say, “I can’t wait to see what we can do together. I can’t have it any other way. I can only be me when I’m with You. I can only do what You set out for me to do, with You, in You and for You.”

So, I’ve learned to walk with just enough light to see the next step. Walk, run, jump, crawl, whatever it is we must do to get to Him, the Lord will give enough light to see us through. And for the rest of the path that’s hidden in the dark? We must learn to follow Him even there, believing, trusting and “know(ing) that the Master will use you not only for the good of the Kingdom, but also for your own good. There is absolutely nothing to fear in His service. When you abandon all to Him, you receive all from Him” (George Muller).

with You, in You and for You,

Alodia

Tears were wanting to come out while I was listening to one of the sharing during a young adult ministry event. I thought I had let go of the pain. I thought I would not care anymore. But I knew deep within me I was crying. A part of me was sympathizing on what the sharer went through but mostly was me hurting and silently responding to the sharer’s question, saying: “I can. I could have. I will and am still willing to accept, love and fight.”

I bravely hold my tears, calmly persevered and listened, humbly swallowed my pride and set aside my selfish intentions.

Then came the very presence of our Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament: the Lord in His humblest form of an unleavened bread yet radiantly shining in His heavenly glory.

There came the Lord saying: “My son, I know how you feel. I am here, I have always been here. Say it all to me and I will listen. Bring unto me your darkness and I will shed you light. Offer me your heartache and I will give you comfort. Surrender your brokenness and I will restore you. Rejoice in your weakness, for through them I have made you strong. Hold on my Son. Have faith. I love you.”

I knew in that very moment that no one could understand me except the Lord.

In that moment I surrendered. I knelt before His presence and cried my most honest cry. I was like a child who ran to his father to be consoled. I let go of my tears. I offered to the Lord all the hurts. I asked for forgiveness. I thanked Him for all the blessings He has given me. I thanked Him for the struggles and challenges too. Then I set my eyes on Him. I basked in His presence.

His light outshined the darkness I was in. I felt His embrace. There is peace.

There were things I wished could have happened the way I wanted them to be. But the very presence of our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament has enlightened me that His ways are better than my ways. He has the best plan for me, for all of us. The Blessed Sacrament has reminded me of God’s faithfulness. After all, He never left us. He is ever-present with us through the Most Blessed Sacrament. In fact, He has always been waiting for us.

That aspect of my life I am letting go and surrendering to the Lord along with the other important things I value and hold on to. For I know the Lord has already taken care of everything for me.

“O salutaris Hostia,
Quae caeli pandis ostium:
Bella premunt hostilia,
Da robur, fer auxilium.
Uni trinoque Domino
Sit sempiterna gloria,
Qui vitam sine termino
Nobis donet in patria.”

Amen.

Couples weeks ago I watched two super hero’s movies in the theatre. I was thinking how amazing they do and contribute their super power for the safer for the community. How they sacrifice their desire in life. Sacrifice the love with the person just to make sure the humanity saves from the evil one.

In our self we do have a super power. Probably not like the power of super hero we have. Reflecting about what power I have I can share in the Community.

Lately I notice how we treat one another, it got me realize when I encounter the bus driver and passenger in the bus lately. A guy just jumps in the bus and right away asked the driver the question about the place he want to go with the rude manner. After the guy gets he want he just walk away and he not even not bother to say thank you. I was behind of the man, and the driver react and say good morning to that person who walk away after he respond the man asking.

I realize something we encounter God’s moment in every person, and I sometime when I on board a bus I just look to the phone without saying hi or anything to a person who welcoming me in the bus.

Just like we do evangelization, I should evangelize in every moment I encounter in every person even saying hi to the person I encounter. We should not the miss the opportunity for God’s moment.