This past summer during a college
interview, I was asked, “If your atheist roommate asked you how your religion
has affected you, how would you respond?” I told him that I would share that
being a member of our church has spiritually connected me to something that is
greater than myself and made me feel a part of a community—to think and act
outwardly, to serve others, to be a part of instead of thinking about how I can
stand out.
Had I been asked this a year earlier, I
would have stared at him blankly in silence. I had been involved with the
church as a lector and babysitter, but I didn’t really think about why I went
to church except that it is a family activity. I wasn’t sure that the church
had an effect on my life.That’s where YMO comes in. I joined YMO last fall thinking, “Oh cool I can meet new people and finally go on a mission trip.” I had no idea how much YMO would affect my perception of the world and my beliefs in God.
In the fall, Fr. Chris and Julie took 9 teens on a retreat to Virginia, myself included, and though we often forget, that trip was a huge factor in the coming together of this group. I came out of that retreat with new best friends, and it’s funny because 48 hours before, I could barely remember some of their names.
After the retreat, the group dove right in to planning the mission trip. Fr. Chris told us with full confidence that we were headed to Navajo Nation, New Mexico. There was no doubt in his mind that it was our calling to serve there.
A big part of the planning process involved fundraising. This aspect of the mission trip did more for me than expected. It forced me into the parish to ask for money. By having to ask other parishioners face to face for money, we involved them in the mission trip as well. We were asking them for more than just money, we were also asking for their personal and emotional support. Making these connections with other parishioners made me treasure this mission even more than if my parents had just written a check for my portion.
When it was finally time for the day of the mission, we boarded the bus and it was during this ride where we all—teens and adults--got to know each other.
What I noticed right away when we got to New Mexico was how much space there is, the vast expanse of desert, and there was also space there for us to relax and put away our worries. When we were there it was easy to live in the moment and just focus on each other and our service. I wasn’t thinking about my summer commitments or my college applications. I was focused on re-shingling Ronald Cowboy’s roof and listening to his story.
I went to Navajo Nation hoping I could help people in any way, but I didn’t expect the Navajos to show me where I was poor, where I can be too focused on things in the future instead of being in the now. I gained from them a consciousness to live simply and be happy. We helped them, and they helped us.
I am not the same parishioner I was a year ago. I have awoken, become more aware, and I look forward to affirming my commitment to the community, the church and God.
I look forward to going to church every Sunday and seeing our community grow and strengthen.
I can’t wait to see all of you on the 2014 mission trip.
