True North Missionaries Journal

The weekend was nearing it’s end, and it was almost time to leave our mission trip visiting Saskatoon’s (and Saskatchewan’s) first ever Discovery Camp. We knew that we had to get back on the road soon, so that we would be able to attend mass as soon as we got back to Winnipeg. So of course, to wrap up our trip, we needed to have a group picture with Saskatoon and Regina. I started to count down yelling: “Three, Two, One….” *SNAP* and as soon as the picture had taken, a brother from Saskatoon yelled out “Hey! You can talk!” and everyone burst out in laughter. I giggled myself, because I thought it was pretty funny.

While trying to process what I had learned from the mission trip, that one line stuck out like a sore thumb. It was a very simple message, but I guess you could say it truly spoke to me. Haha.

For those of you who know me, I’m not a very talkative person. I’m extremely quiet, and very shy. It has always stuck to me wherever I went. Whether it was during school, or at my work, or just wherever I am, I’m usually a very quiet person. I would only talk if I really needed to. A lot of the times, it would surprise people when I do start talking.

I can remember even at school when I had to do a presentation in front of my class, afterwards, my classmates would be surprised that I can talk like that considering my quiet nature. The same would happen during talks I give, when I tell people that I’m a really shy and quiet person. Especially when talking in front of a lot of people who don’t know me, they probably wouldn’t be able to guess that I’m a quiet person by how I present myself when I speak.

So thinking about that one message “Hey! You can talk!” I thought to myself…. “Hey… I CAN Talk!” And what a huge blessing that is. I started to realize that it’s such a blessing to be able to speak. Especially as youth today, we want to be in constant communication with those around us. Everyone in some way wants to be heard.

I began to see the many opportunities that I miss because I chose not to talk. I realized that my ability to talk to others is a gift that I haven’t used enough. There are people out there that don’t even have the ability to speak. God continues to give us these messages, and these experiences not so we can keep it to ourselves. We are called to share His blessings with one another.

“… And how can they hear if the message is not proclaimed?” -Romans 10:14

This is my favourite bible verse and it really speaks volumes. Short, Sweet, and Simple.

I know that it will be tough for me to exercise my gift of talking, but I also know that the Lord has blessed me with so much, that I can’t keep it to myself. I really hope that we can all continue to share about the blessings that we have received with one another, and to not forget about the simple blessings that He has given to us.

Thank you to Saskatoon and Regina! You guys are doing amazing things, and your hospitality was greatly appreciated! You have all inspired us to keep the fire burning in our hearts. I am so happy and blessed to have been able to take part in your Discovery Camp!

And with that, may God be praised!

 

I am currently on the way home from a mission trip to Lloydminster for their BCCT and a fellowship for the youth. Sitting in the car with everyone mostly asleep is making really reflect on what happen today.

It all started this morning around 2 am when I woke up from falling asleep because I was feeling well for the last two day. It’s crazy how we did so much in one day with little sleep but some how so much energy to really being Christ to the youth and the CCs in Lloydminster. This really shows me why I applied to the program is because of seeing new area to be start and being able to help them grow into their own identity as a area.

Praise God for Llyod because they are the reason why I am so revived and the revival is happen in me. Who knew that they would do so much for me and I only knew them for about 2 weeks.

 

Praise God for CFC youth and CFC Llyodminster 🙂 love you guys <3

 

 

 

 

Monday was a blessing.

I was intending to go to confession and as I walked into the parish there was this really long line. Since I was intending for confession I just went and knelt down in one of the pews close to the confessional.

The past few days I was reflecting a lot about love and how to share love.

When I was at the parish I could not help but notice that the parish was doing a living rosary in honour of our Mama Mary. A living rosary is where there is a group of people and each person says one bead of the rosary. After each person said their prayer, they presented a rose to a statue of Mama Mary and by the end there was a beautiful bouquet of flowers.

I could not help but feel the love of the Lord and while I was examining my conscience all I could think about was our Mama Mary.

To be forgiven in confession is also a call to forgive others when they hurt us. After confession I could not help but feel loved. Just as much as we build a relationship with our Lord, let us not forget the first disciple who loves the people of God.

Next time you pray, don’t forget to say to the Lord that you love him.

Dear Lord, I love you.

And with that may God be forever praised!

It is amazing how people who used to be strangers to us become our best buddy, our companion, our counterpart, our best friend and even a lifetime partner (GG or God’s Gift, as what we call it in CFC Community). I love to meet new people and start a new friendship. It is always exciting. But the hardest part in any relationship is when you reached (well, not “The End”) just the parting time. I don’t want to say “the end” because why do we have to put an end to something beautiful.

People are gifts. People in our lives were put there for a reason. That is a concept almost all of us already know. But remember that the same concept applies when God has to take people away from our lives. He HAS A REASON. Perhaps you are too focused on that person and God wants you to focus on something else… perhaps God wants to bless you with something/someone which you’re able to receive only when those people are  not in the picture… or perhaps simply because the role of that person in our lives is over, or our role in their lives is over. Yes, different people in our lives play different roles – to ease our pain, to wake us up into a reality, to make us grow in faith, to get us into our job, and sometimes, to lead us into someone special in our lives. Basically, to fulfill God’s purpose in us.

What we have to realize too, is that when God takes away some people from our lives, sometimes it is just temporary… especially when God only wants to tell us something, when He wants us to do something, or preparing us for something great. And when His purpose is fulfilled, HE brings those people back into our lives – again, when we’re ready.

I once said “Letting go is an art no one has ever mastered”, because really it is hard. I don’t know how many times I cried over people. I got hurt, I was left out, I was betrayed, I was rejected, I was denied. But man… looking back in all those times, I can only thank and love God for making all those things happen. And I could personally tell, God knows what He’s doing.

Jeremiah 29:11 says, ^“’ For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” What other question could we have?

Friends, embrace the people who are in your lives right now. Their role in you might be over soon. But then again, don’t be afraid to let go. Trust God’s plans. Believe in God’s love. 🙂

“This does not mean that he who has found Mary by true devotion will be exempt from crosses and sufferings. Far from it; he is more besieged by them than others are, because Mary, the Mother of the living, gives to all her children portions of the Tree of Life, which is the Cross of Jesus.” – St. Louis Marie de Montfort

Give me courage to allow the Tree of Life grow in me. Gate of Heaven pray for us.

Totus tuus

Matthew 14:13-21

The feeding of five thousand is a story of compassion. Jesus was moved with pity, he did not dismissed them instead he fed them with the words of life and at the same time fed their hungry stomach. He saw in their eyes deep longing for something different from the circumstances they are in. Jesus just did Random Act of Kindness (RAK).

What makes this people follow him even to a deserted place? There was a sense of joy and feeling of being heard and cared for when Jesus talk to them. He talks with the reality of their lives, genuinely care for them and has no pretensions. There lives had been like a deserted place, full of emptiness and here comes Jesus filling them up with words of love and compassion. Is it not comforting that from our deserted place comes love and compassion?

Let us do Random Act of Kindness to a stranger today.