http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQLs7QMXbcg&feature=player_embedded
Check this out.
Be inspired.
BE FEARLESS!
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Was Jesus Gluten Free?
My first blog post from lifeteen.com!
Praying for you
Just four days before I began my mission year, I found out that I had a gluten and dairy intolerance. I knew the world wasn’t going to end: a lot of people have this and it is very manageable, but I still became extremely anxious. I was worried that I wouldn’t know what types of food I could eat, or that I wouldn’t even have food to eat. Gluten-free things are very expensive and receiving a stipend that is just enough doesn’t really lend room for a lot of expensive items. I tried to offer my worries and anxieties to the Lord, but as the leave date for the start of the mission year got closer, I continued to be anxious.
As soon as I arrived at Covecrest, I knew that I would be taken care of. One of the moms in our community was on a gluten-free diet, and another was on a dairy-free diet. Throughout these past few weeks, different members of my community have made sure that I was taken care of during meal time. There is even gluten-free bread on fasting days and gluten-free brownies on feast days.
Now you must be asking yourself, what does any of this have to do with being a missionary?
This past weekend, while a retreat was visiting from just outside of Atlanta, I met a great woman who has been gluten-free for the past four years. She also has a few different health issues and had such a positive outlook on the entire situation. After having a quick conversation, sharing recipes, brands, and things to look out, for she gave me a bag of ginger snap cookies. I saw her the next morning at breakfast and she gave me a quick hug goodbye and told me she was leaving gluten free food in the pantry for me to use this week. PRAISE THE LORD! I knew at that moment that this was all going to be taken care of and I didn’t have to worry anymore.
A few days later in morning prayer, two beautiful things happened. Chris, our mission director, handed me a grocery bag and said “It’s from Michelle.” After holy hour was over, I looked in the bag and there was gluten free cereal and gluten free chocolate chip cookie mix. This may sound like a minor thing, but I was filled with complete JOY. Michelle had thought of me, and I would be able to finally eat chocolate chip cookies! By the time I finished shuffling through the bag, we began morning prayer. We began to read our “Rule of Life,” and here’s what it said:
“Do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear.” – Matthew 6:25
My heart was filled with peace.
In these few simple glory moments, I have been reminded of God’s love for me through the actions of others in my community, and also simply through this line in the Gospel of Matthew. How is God showing you His love today?
Saturday, September 29, 2012
3 Weeks later!
It's been three weeks since I began my life as a Full Time Life Teen Missionary. God is doing amazing and beautiful things.
Here are just a few highlights:
This is the Joy House! I live here with nine other women, and my roommate is from Germany!
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Here are some teens doing a low ropes element while at Covecrest on retreat.
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Right in our backyard!
PRAY FOR US!
Monday, September 3, 2012
How Did This Happen?
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
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
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!
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