Coming Alive

It is complete! We finally have all 4 FOCUS missionaries at MIT. Our teammate Ashley was able to get in Tuesday, August 30 after having to reschedule flights due to Hurricane Irene. Last week was spent in meetings preparing for the Student Leader Retreat and classes to begin. It was great to continue learning more about our team dynamic as we each bring such different strengths to the mission field at MIT. It was also great meeting our chaplain, Father Richard Clancy who is a great man and a wonderful resource for our team and students.

My birthday cake!

Thursday was a very blessed day for me as I turned 22. After a day of working (which included breakfast at The Miracle of Science Bar and Café) my team surprised me with a picnic in the Boston Commons. They were very strategic in their planning as they tried to design the evening around “Levi’s Favorite Things.” Such things consisted of being outside in a park, listening to free music, and eating lots of cheese. The Boston University team also came and baked a cake for me. These are the times in life that do not allow me to believe there isn’t someone, something, an ultimate force that has crafted each and every moment we experience. How can I believe this? Well, I graduated college a year early, left my family to travel over 1,200 miles away to serve students, and here I am being cared for by people I am only just getting to know. I believe that is love, and it must come from God. Before we left to head back to Pearl Street, we listened to a man playing a beautiful song on guitar. The beauty of the night, music and fellowship can only be captured by the most descriptive of words, those of which are beyond my grasp. It was an amazing day and I enjoyed concluding it by opening a package of gifts my mother sent me from Missouri.

The weekend came with full force as it was the first time we could really interact with new students. The Activities Midway took place on Friday and we met many new students and freshmen. Part of being a FOCUS missionary means sharing your life with the students and engaging with them where they are. It is also important for each individual missionary to be taking part in what truly brings them to life. For me, one thing that does the trick is music. Therefore, I found myself signing up for a cappella auditions. No, I have never been in an a cappella group, but have always found it interesting. I also signed up for the Hawaii Club and will be eager to be a part of intramurals with the students. 

Saturday arrived and along with it I had lots of preparation to do for our student leader retreat. I also had two auditions. The Chorallaries and The Cross Products are two very talented a cappella groups at MIT and I enjoyed meeting many students and auditioning. I got called back on Sunday with The Chorallaries but had to respectfully decline because I already had commitments with students. However, The Cross Products (which happens to be the Christian a cappella group) asked me to be a part of their group! God truly knows how to speak to the desires of our hearts in the most fitting ways. I will get to spend time each week learning music and more importantly, getting to know students and share our faith with each other. The cool thing about this group is that they strive to share the Gospel to many different people including MIT students, schools, churches, homeless shelters and more.

MIT Student Leaders in Adoration

On Sunday there was a Tech Catholic Community BBQ for students and Monday our FOCUS team held a day-long retreat with 16 student leaders learning more about prayer, evangelization, Bible studies, and sharing the Gospel. Classes begin tomorrow and I can’t wait to continue meeting more students. Life just got better.