The simple answer to that question is God.
But that wouldn't make for a very interesting blog post.
I guess the really answer to that goes a little bit like this....
I decided to go to Saint Leo University for a few reasons. It was Catholic, had more months of warm weather than cold weather, and it felt like home the moment I stepped on campus. After months of denying that I wanted to rush, I finally signed up and did it. That week of Spring recruitment was incredible. I learned a lot about myself and I learned a lot about Alpha Sigma Tau, the organization I later was asked to be a part of. I had the blessing of getting a big in February, who had been an advocate of me joining the sorority in the first place. Our friendship and sisterhood continued to grow and she encouraged me to dive deeper in my faith. She kept talking about Life Teen and this summer camp. I thought she was crazy, and didn't understand why she kept talking about this place. Then I was blessed to go to Camp Covecrest for an overnight retreat and experience a bit about this beautiful place. As I continued to pray God asked me to apply for Summer Staff in 2010. So I applied, and hoped for the best.
While I was on Summer Staff in 2010 at Covecrest, God literally took my crusty heart, and smashed it around and made it nice. I like to refer to it as my "playdough" heart. God was now molding and sculpting this heart to be what he wanted it to be. Prior to that summer, I was just making plans and not consulting with him first. I felt a call that summer to be a Life Teen Missionary. But it wasn't God's timing, it was just what I had wanted. My junior year was full of unexpected adventures. I was the Student Government Union President, held positions in my sorority, and my great grandmother passed away. But God was still pulling at my heart and I kept answering.
I served on Service Crew at Covecrest in 2011 and it was made pretty clear at that point that the Lord was calling me deeper into his plan, and deeper into his heart. I continued to pray and discern what that meant, and I applied to be a Life Teen Missionary in January. From that day forward God continued to mold my heart. Through the months of discernment after the application was placed in the mail, God continued to reveal himself. I continued to be the SGU President, held a huge position in my sorority, was a first year RA, and faced my own trials and tribulations throughout the year. But during this time God held me tight, and comforted me. Each time I spoke to one of the Missionaries my heart became content knowing that this is what God had in store for me.
When Lizzie called me in late April to extend an invitation to be a full time missionary my heart exploded with joy. After I hung up with her I literally leapt for joy. I skipped all around the office, and hugged people I didn't even know (sorry kid who always does his homework at the table in the SAB). It was an outward sign of this inward feeling I was containing for months, even years.
This past summer I served at Camp Tepeyac as the camp photographer and through that God continued to stretch and mold my heart. I was asked to love in ways that were difficult and serve in ways that challenged me. I was asked to perform tasks that were new, exciting and different. I was blessed with the privilege to lead a Women's session, and live in a small community. I learned a lot about myself, and the joys and trials of true discernment.
Each of these major events were stepping stones on the journey of discernment. There were also a lot of little events that led me closer to finding out what God was calling me to do. A conversation with a teen while taking pictures at the Art Barn. The simple joy I got out of throwing Kitchen Crew leftovers at squealing teenage girls. The change of heart I saw in my Executive Board as I was able to share with them what God was doing with me. The way my sorority sisters embraced my constant need to pray about things. The openness to this missionary lifestyle my family has, and the generosity of my mission partners.
I could go on and on about the glory stories that God performed in my heart and the hearts of each of the people I have come in contact. Don't even get me started on the amount of faithful witnesses I've been blessed to meet.
A beautiful thing happens when you open your heart to the Lord. Sometimes its scary, nerve racking, frustrating, difficult. But at all times its blessed.
Thank you for being a part of this journey. I can't wait to see what God has in store for me,and I'm so blessed that this happened.
"She is clothed with strength and dignity and laughs at the days to come" Proverbs 31:25
Monday, September 3, 2012
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Mission Partners
Hey Guys!
Just wanted to give you a quick update on the Mission!
We have begun the process of online donations. Here is the link for that as well as a short music video that I made to get you excited about the mission!
I ask you to continue to pray about the ways you can join in this mission. When we are stretched beyond our own comforts that is when God steps in and does beautiful things. I ask you to give until it hurts and then give some more. If it's really hard for you to get up and go to morning mass, offer it up for the Life Teen Missionaries. You will notice quickly the ways God works in your life. If you are praying about a financial donation, give more than you think you can. God will bless you abundantly.
I leave in just under a months time. I ask for your prayers as God continues to mold my heart in preparation for this mission. I ask you to pray for the other Life Teen first year missionaries who have said YES. Narquita, Nina, Margaretha, Emily, Jen, Kiera, Nate, Woody, Chris. Please also pray for the men of God that are still discerning the call that God has placed in their hearts.
I will be praying for you!
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Wrap Up
Woa! These past five weeks have certainly flown by. Sorry I haven't been able to post about the daily happening at Life Teen Camp Tepeyac.
If you want to see what actually happens at summer camp check this out: http://lifeteen.com/media/video/camp-tepeyac-2012-week-10-edge/
I took all the photos and video and put it all together.
What has God done in my heart over the past five weeks?
That's a loaded question. He hasn't stopped asking me to dive deeper into his love. God is moving mountains in my heart. He's asking me to do big and wonderful things to follow him.
I had the opportunity to come before the Lord every morning and often multiple times a day to praise and adore him. During that time I was praying about two verses in particular. The first from Mark chapter 8 verses 34 and 35. " Whoever wished to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel will save it" There were many things I was denying myself of this summer by coming to camp. Air conditioner, cable TV, fast internet service, my own bed..just to name a few material things. But God kept placing this verse on my heart when I began to prepare my heart for the mission he has me on next year. I know that next year is going to be challenging but I don't know exactly how. Other missionaries tell me it's a year of denying my own wants for the betterment of the community. Keeping this verse in mind, God is beginning to prepare my heart for that.
This also became a part of my prayer when God placed Haiti on my heart. Life Teen Missions is opening a base in Haiti. Anyone that knows me knows how deep my desire to go to Haiti is. It started back when the Earthquake hit, and I was trying every possible way to get to Haiti. Multiple things weren't working out and I wasn't able to go each time a trip was going. But God still had this desire on my heart. When I found out about Life Teen opening a base I thought maybe, just maybe I could serve there. I must go through a year of formation first and then continue to pray if that is where God is calling me in the future. Denying that desire of my heart or rather, putting it on hold and trusting the Lord has been a huge part of my prayer.
The other verse that I continued to pray through this summer was Proverbs 31:25. "She is clothed with strength and dignity and she laughs at the days to come". Being honest I'm nervous about next year. There is a lot of unknown things that are about to happen. A lot of questions yet to be answered. Like, how am I supposed to raise $5500? Or, can I really share a room with another person? And, will I really be able to be silent for eight entire days? Oh and, what happens next year? But this verse began to calm my heart when it got crazy. I don't need to answer those questions because God already has the answers..DUH. But I also used this verse in the Women's Session that I was blessed to lead. That experience was so beautiful!
Clearly a lot has happened in the past five weeks, and I can't wait to see what God continues to do with me. I know that he knows the depths of my heart, and that each of those desires will be answered when he sees fit. But for now I will continue to live out the life he is calling me to.
Praying for you.
<3 Amanda
If you want to see what actually happens at summer camp check this out: http://lifeteen.com/media/video/camp-tepeyac-2012-week-10-edge/
I took all the photos and video and put it all together.
What has God done in my heart over the past five weeks?
That's a loaded question. He hasn't stopped asking me to dive deeper into his love. God is moving mountains in my heart. He's asking me to do big and wonderful things to follow him.
I had the opportunity to come before the Lord every morning and often multiple times a day to praise and adore him. During that time I was praying about two verses in particular. The first from Mark chapter 8 verses 34 and 35. " Whoever wished to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel will save it" There were many things I was denying myself of this summer by coming to camp. Air conditioner, cable TV, fast internet service, my own bed..just to name a few material things. But God kept placing this verse on my heart when I began to prepare my heart for the mission he has me on next year. I know that next year is going to be challenging but I don't know exactly how. Other missionaries tell me it's a year of denying my own wants for the betterment of the community. Keeping this verse in mind, God is beginning to prepare my heart for that.
This also became a part of my prayer when God placed Haiti on my heart. Life Teen Missions is opening a base in Haiti. Anyone that knows me knows how deep my desire to go to Haiti is. It started back when the Earthquake hit, and I was trying every possible way to get to Haiti. Multiple things weren't working out and I wasn't able to go each time a trip was going. But God still had this desire on my heart. When I found out about Life Teen opening a base I thought maybe, just maybe I could serve there. I must go through a year of formation first and then continue to pray if that is where God is calling me in the future. Denying that desire of my heart or rather, putting it on hold and trusting the Lord has been a huge part of my prayer.
The other verse that I continued to pray through this summer was Proverbs 31:25. "She is clothed with strength and dignity and she laughs at the days to come". Being honest I'm nervous about next year. There is a lot of unknown things that are about to happen. A lot of questions yet to be answered. Like, how am I supposed to raise $5500? Or, can I really share a room with another person? And, will I really be able to be silent for eight entire days? Oh and, what happens next year? But this verse began to calm my heart when it got crazy. I don't need to answer those questions because God already has the answers..DUH. But I also used this verse in the Women's Session that I was blessed to lead. That experience was so beautiful!
Clearly a lot has happened in the past five weeks, and I can't wait to see what God continues to do with me. I know that he knows the depths of my heart, and that each of those desires will be answered when he sees fit. But for now I will continue to live out the life he is calling me to.
Praying for you.
<3 Amanda
Monday, July 2, 2012
Tepeyac Week 1
Week one of the mission is already over and God is moving mountains in my heart as well as in the hearts of the other Summer Missionaries. We have finished different work projects in preparation for the campers to come. We worked on the water slide, an Art Barn, preparing the Paintball field, low ropes course and cleaning cabins. It has been a physically intensive week, but all of our work has begun and ended in prayer. Each morning we gather in front of the blessed sacrament and beg the Lord to fill us, and give us what we need to get through the day. We also begin the day and end the day doing the Liturgy of the Hours together as a community. Even though our days begin early, and end late God is filling our hearts to the brim and letting HIS love flow through us.
I ask you to continue to pray for all things summer camp. For the priests, hosts, musicians, Youth Ministers, Core Members, Teens and especially the Summer Missionaries as we get ready for the official start of summer camp.
Thank you for your YES!
Monday, June 18, 2012
Thankful.
Last Sunday I posted Adam Bitter's song "Overwhelm Me". (See June 10th post if you haven't yet)
This weekend I was completely overwhelmed in the best way possible.
I was given the opportunity to speak at all the masses at my parish to invite parishioners on mission with me. The generosity of the men and women of the parish was amazing. Not only did they donate money to the mission, they have committed to praying for the Life Teen Missionaries for the next year. The prayer is really what is going to get us through the next year ahead of us.
This morning I was stopped on my way to mass by a woman who has been praying for me while on God's mission since 2010 when I was first called to be a Summer Missionary. She has known my family since we first came to the parish and is a faith filled woman of God. She handed me an envelope, gave me a hug and said "GO, do God's work". I chose my seat at mass and began to simply thank God for her yes.
As the countdown to summer camp dwindles down to single digit numbers, and I begin to pack my bags I'm reminded of how sometimes its hard to say yes. Yes Lord, I'll leave my family for a month. Yes Lord, I'll go across the country where I don't know anyone. Yes Lord, I know this is going to be hard but your plan is always better than mine. Yes Lord, I will follow you.
I continue to pray for your YES in whatever God is calling you to do. I know it can be scary but God has a plan, and it's OK to be scared. I promise you he will hold you close whenever you are scared. There hasn't been a single thing that God has placed in my path that I have regretted. Joy comes from the Lord. Ask HIM for that joy and you will not be disappointed.
Thank you so much to all of Life Teen's Missions partners. Your YES is appreciated.
Summer Camp Countdown: 6 days
This weekend I was completely overwhelmed in the best way possible.
I was given the opportunity to speak at all the masses at my parish to invite parishioners on mission with me. The generosity of the men and women of the parish was amazing. Not only did they donate money to the mission, they have committed to praying for the Life Teen Missionaries for the next year. The prayer is really what is going to get us through the next year ahead of us.
This morning I was stopped on my way to mass by a woman who has been praying for me while on God's mission since 2010 when I was first called to be a Summer Missionary. She has known my family since we first came to the parish and is a faith filled woman of God. She handed me an envelope, gave me a hug and said "GO, do God's work". I chose my seat at mass and began to simply thank God for her yes.
As the countdown to summer camp dwindles down to single digit numbers, and I begin to pack my bags I'm reminded of how sometimes its hard to say yes. Yes Lord, I'll leave my family for a month. Yes Lord, I'll go across the country where I don't know anyone. Yes Lord, I know this is going to be hard but your plan is always better than mine. Yes Lord, I will follow you.
I continue to pray for your YES in whatever God is calling you to do. I know it can be scary but God has a plan, and it's OK to be scared. I promise you he will hold you close whenever you are scared. There hasn't been a single thing that God has placed in my path that I have regretted. Joy comes from the Lord. Ask HIM for that joy and you will not be disappointed.
Thank you so much to all of Life Teen's Missions partners. Your YES is appreciated.
Summer Camp Countdown: 6 days
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Overwhelm Me
Adam Bitter is an awesome worship leader from Incarnate Word parish in Missouri. I was able to experience a week of summer camp with him last year at Covecrest and the spirit was so alive. I remember walking out of the Lodge and hearing the Men's session going on in the Art Barn and that place was ROCKING!
As I begin to get closer to the start of summer camp (14 days) and the start of the mission year I am flooded with so many emotions. The words in the this song speak to my heart. I just wanted to share this with you on this day The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Ready...Set..GO
I'm defiantly a do-er.
I feel the need to be doing multiple things at the same time. Like right now, I'm writing this blog, answering a text message and listening to music. If I'm watching TV, I'm also on the computer. It's the horrible cycle of doing too many things at one time and not really giving my full attention to one specific thing. I'm working on it. I'm trying to be more intentional with my time. When I have a conversation with one person I try to focus on them, and not answer the three emails that just buzzed in on my phone, and the "urgent" text message I received.
Keeping all these things in mind let me set the scene for you. I spent the weekend in Boston with a few of my sorority sisters "doing" a lot of stuff. We went to mass at this beautiful church. This Sunday was the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity and boy do I love the Trinity. It's just really cool and I spent a lot of time this past semester learning about the growth of theological ideas throughout the history of Christianity. I was listening to the readings hoping and praying for a word or a line to strike a cord in my heart. First Reading..nothing. Responsorial Psalm..nothing. Second Reading..nothing. Gospel...BOOM "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations". There it was. A two letter word that I had been waiting for all of mass "GO". I can do something with that word. It's not just an idea or concept that I learned about in class. But the Word of God is telling me. You. US! To GO and make disciples of all nations. He even tells us how "teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you".
I feel the need to be doing multiple things at the same time. Like right now, I'm writing this blog, answering a text message and listening to music. If I'm watching TV, I'm also on the computer. It's the horrible cycle of doing too many things at one time and not really giving my full attention to one specific thing. I'm working on it. I'm trying to be more intentional with my time. When I have a conversation with one person I try to focus on them, and not answer the three emails that just buzzed in on my phone, and the "urgent" text message I received.
Keeping all these things in mind let me set the scene for you. I spent the weekend in Boston with a few of my sorority sisters "doing" a lot of stuff. We went to mass at this beautiful church. This Sunday was the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity and boy do I love the Trinity. It's just really cool and I spent a lot of time this past semester learning about the growth of theological ideas throughout the history of Christianity. I was listening to the readings hoping and praying for a word or a line to strike a cord in my heart. First Reading..nothing. Responsorial Psalm..nothing. Second Reading..nothing. Gospel...BOOM "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations". There it was. A two letter word that I had been waiting for all of mass "GO". I can do something with that word. It's not just an idea or concept that I learned about in class. But the Word of God is telling me. You. US! To GO and make disciples of all nations. He even tells us how "teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you".
Like I said earlier "I'm a do-er" but I also like instructions sometimes. God is calling each of us to GO and spread the word of God. It's simple. Treat others as you want to be treated. Love, whole hearted each and every person you meet. But most importantly let all your actions be centered around Christ. Allow him to fill you, each and every day, each and every second. Great and amazing miracles will come from that.
17 Days till Tepeyac
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