Merry Christmas! Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me. It's a beautiful time of year, and there is much to celebrate and be grateful for. As I take this time to prepare my heart for the coming of Jesus as a little baby, I am also thanking God for the amazing works He has performed throughout the year through the mission of NET Ministries. It feels wonderful to be home and celebrating the victories of peace, hope, joy, and love living in the hearts of people across the world while looking forward to the great mission that still remains. In my last post I reflected on transformation; the transformation I experienced in my life and the transformation I witnessed in the lives of many others. I'd like to take an opportunity to share in more detail the transformations I witnessed God making in the hearts of Rockhampton, Australia. In the past ten months, I have witnessed hope, joy, healing, peace, love, Faith, friendship, and compassion grow in the lives of many people, more than I may ever know. What can happen when we truly surrender to the Lord and let Him use us daily and guide our decisions? Below are some testimonies of the incredible transformation stories that have happened in just ten months. Below are comments collected from people in the community as my team and I were saying farewell: Year 8, female Student: "I feel like I'm not myself anymore because I know how to be so much happier. There is new joy in my life now." Year 12, female Student: "You all have changed my life. I have learned that I have a long way to go, but at least now I know which way I am going. You've helped me see that, and I know I can get there because of what you have shown me." Young Adult, age 32 Male: "I just moved to the community a few months ago, and I've been praying to meet people like you and to be a part of the community. Then I met you and you just welcomed me in straight away. God answered my prayers through you." Student's Mother: "She loves coming to youth group, she missed the school dance so she could be here. It just means so much to her, and I don't think you'll ever realize the impact you've had on my daughter. She'd been struggling in a really low place this year, and you've helped pull her out of that. She's doing so much better, it's like she's been restored with new life." Year 10, male Student: I hope I can be like you one day. I want to do what you're doing because you inspire me with your great faith and kind deeds. You are so kind to everyone and welcome anyone you meet in such a loving way. I wish you could stay forever." Retired Male Parishioner: "You're all so kind and thoughtful, and that means a lot to people. One day you're going to be in heaven meeting people when you meet someone who tells you that you're the reason they are in heaven. The way you share kindness and love really changes people's lives and could lead them to heaven one day." Young Adult, Age 20 Female: " You are very beautiful people and full of the Holy Spirit. I have seen the Holy Spirit grow in you throughout the year." Year 12, female Student: "You all have really made a difference in my life and in the lives of many other kids. Really, you are always just so kind to everyone you meet and you welcome anybody. You've been so nice and shown love to us in so many ways. Youth group has been a place where we all love to come and get to know one another more in this community. You mean a lot to us and you are going to really be missed." Young Adult, age 18 Female: "I've been looking for a community to be a part of, but have been struggling to find one until I got to meet you. I am very grateful for your kind encouragement through my Uni courses, for your constant presence throughout the year, and for the opportunities you've given me to encounter Jesus. Thank you for always including me." Young Adult, age 24 Male: "You all will be missed. I hope I can step up and help out in the community to keep our youth-focused events going. You have inspired me to do that. You've really helped bring things to life by laying a solid foundation for ministry in the community." Family of Five: "You have brought such a great joy to our entire family. You have presented many great opportunities for our kids to get involved and served as an authentic witnesses of what it means to be young and still living your Faith." Year 10, male student: "You are so welcoming to everyone. You invite people to lots of different things and create opportunities for everyone because you don't want anyone to miss out. You've invited me to a lot of things, and it's made me feel very loved, like you always want me to be around." Young Adult, Age 22 Female: "You are such an amazing friend. I feel like I can always come to you with any questions and I can count on you to happily help. You've shown so much love in my life, and I'm very grateful for the light you share daily. Year 10, female Student: "I didn't know if you would accept me for who I was, but you did. And that told me a lot about who you were, I knew I could trust you." Director of Religious Education: The students LOVED having you here with them each week. You've brought a special life and energy to the students that has really made a difference for the teachers in the classrooms. The students really needed you this year, they need to see young people like yourselves who they can relate to. Retired Male Parishioner: "When I first heard of the NET Team coming to serve in the community, I didn't really know what that meant. After having you here for a year, I now see the impact you have made on so many people from primary students to young adults to my very own family members and myself. I've seen you change the community and impact my daughter in such an inspirational way. I truly am grateful for the ways you have served." Young Adult, Age 18 Male: "I used to think of Jesus as a hippie who encouraged other people to drink, and I didn't really believed that God exists. But you welcomed me and taught me a lot about religion and Jesus. I got to hear about the perspectives of other people and it made me think differently. I made a lot of new friends and found a place where I will always be welcome. I now think differently about Faith, and I like going to church because it makes me feel closer to God." Young Adult, age 19 Male: "You invite me to a lot of events and you've shown me authentic friendship. I've learned a lot about the Church and Faith, and I just want to keep learning. You're insight and different perspectives have brought a lot of hope into my life." Year 7, female Student: "I originally wanted to hang out with you all because you listened to me and I liked talking to you, and I only wanted to go to Ignite to get a cool t-shirt. But you showed me so much more about life and taught me a lot. The NET Team is the best thing that has happened to me!" Year 12, male Student: "This is a really amazing place to be and you all do such good work. I've really grown and hope I can find something like this next year when I go to University." Year 10, male Student: "You may not realize it, but you've really impacted me this year. You've shown me how I can live my life, and I am very grateful for all you've taught me. Year 10, male Student: "I used to think you were the weird, religious team at school and I tried to avoid you. But then I got to know you and I realized that you're actually just like me, and you're not that weird. When you led ACTS camp I learned so much and had heaps of fun. You're pretty cool. I learned a lot at ACTS Camp and I really want to go again next year." Family of Four: "You've provided something that our whole family looks forward to. You've really made a difference and we are so grateful. We hope you can see the great things God has done through you." Year 11, female Student: "You've helped me learn more about my faith and how I can live it out. You've inspired me to grow in love and kindness like Jesus." Year 12, female Student: "Thank you so much for everything. Don't tell anyone, but you're my favorite. I am really grateful for all that you have done and all the opportunities you've given me. Just seeing you at school, I know that you will always be a friendly face with something nice to say." Primary School Teacher: "The students always get so excited when they see you at school or if they know you are coming to their class today. You are able to offer them something that one teacher cannot." MY PRAYER
Dear Heavenly Father, I pray for all the hearts and lives You have touched and impacted through the mission of NET Ministries and through the generous hearts of many supporters of the mission. I pray that you would continue to provide Your source of strength, peace, and love in the lives of all Your beloved children. Lord, make known to them how precious they are in Your eyes. God, I surrender this entire year to you, all the efforts, victories, and sacrifices are for Your Kingdom. Lord, I pray during this Christmas season that You would bless people of all nations across the world. May we truly prepare our hearts for the birth of Jesus Christ, and may we always remember to share the Love that You gave us on Christmas Day. Amen. THANK YOU These are just a few of the amazing things that have happened throughout the year that have been put into words. It's been an honor to cross life paths with so many incredible people. I feel like the seeds have just been planted, and soon much more growth will happen in these beautiful hearts. Your prayers and support have made these changes possible. God has used us to allow positive impacts to be made across the world. Isn't it amazing how God could use a community in Ohio to impact a community halfway around the world? It is absolutely remarkable what God can do when we give Him our unconditional 'yes' in life. It truly has been a gift to serve as a missionary throughout 2018, and I look forward to serving for a second year with NET in 2019. THANK YOU for your kind thoughts, well wishes, powerful prayers, and loving comments. The ways you have supported me do not go unnoticed or unappreciated. Thank you very much! May God bless your generous heart.
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My team and I are leaving Rockhampton in just over one week. One week of ministry, one week of debrief, and a long flight across the world is all that remains to my 2018 missionary journey with NET Ministries. Although my commitment retires, the mission still remains. As I reflect on all that has happened this year, I think the best way to describe it is not that it's been the adventure of a lifetime, but it's been the transformation of a life; the transformation of my life. I think that's a major part of serving as a missionary; self-transformation. Yes, there is certainly an external mission to love and serve others, and that's the heart of the mission. But it's in giving that we receive, and in this time of service, I have found that I have received beyond measure. I have been transformed. I have witnessed many individuals I have grown to know in Rockhampton be transformed, and I can attest to the transformation that I know best; mine. To be a missionary includes service and sacrifice, and with that, comes many other things. I have been personally challenged more in the past ten months than I ever have my entire life. This experience has been hard, and there have been a number of times where I wished I could have been doing something else, but it's a gift that this experience has been difficult, because that's what has encouraged me to grow and become a better version of myself. 'It's been hard' would be an understatement. I have been challenged in bold conversations, I've overcome the difficulties of community living, there have been many early mornings with few sleep-ins, I have been required to comply and be obedient to the rules and obligations of NET Ministries, I have been a leader and a follower in many aspects, I've answered tough questions, but these things seem surface-level. This list appears minor, like things everyone faces on a regular basis in life. The challenges go deeper into the heart. I have been thousands of miles away from home, family, friends, and many people I love and care about. Events happened at home that made me feel like I needed to be there and made me miss my family and friends. I felt helpless being so far away. I lost my best friend, she passed away suddenly and unexpectedly while I was on mission oceans apart. A team member left our team without explanation, leaving a lot of hurt and tension between remaining team members, wounds that took much time to heal. It's been a whirlwind of emotions balancing the feelings that every other person on my team has experienced throughout the entire year. When one team-member is emotionally unstable, the entire team is affected. To say it's been "hard" wouldn't dip into the ocean I have been swimming in this year. But mission isn't always easy, and the very true reality is that life is never always easy. However, Jesus doesn't tell us that life will be easy, but He does promise to be with us through it all, and that He has. I have experienced a call from God to grow in Faith, trust, obedience, service, holiness, prayer, virtue, and love. My faith and trust have grown immeasurably because of the ways I have felt and witnessed God working in my heart and the lives of many others around me. No, it hasn't always been easy, but with God, all things are possible. I have been able to work hard to fight the Good Fight for the Kingdom of God, and that brings me more peace and joy than anything. I have experienced the kind of transformation I could have never imagined, and for that, I am ever grateful. But I believe this is only the beginning of my learning and life-changing experience, it's not finished. In the challenges that these past 10 months have been, I've been looking forward to going back home and settling down, having a job, and obtaining a lifestyle with more structure and stability. However, as much as I envisioned myself doing just that, God currently has other plans for my life. Beginning in June, I started to feel God working in my heart in a way that I didn't really want. He started to build a desire and call in my life to continue to serve and live as a missionary. I tried to seek other options and possibilities, but the Lord made very clear to me what His call was for me after my 2018 term of service with NET Ministries. When Jesus calls, I want nothing more than to answer and obey, to peruse and live God's Will. I felt the Lord's call, strong and clear, to return to serve in Australia with NET Ministries for a second year. I prayed about it a lot, had many conversations, and went through the application process for a second year. Through that process, the interview, and some daily encounters, I felt God speaking to me and calling me back. I was invited by staff to return to serve a second year with NET, and after wrestling with the idea and coming to peace with it, I have said "yes"! After this year, I will return home for the Christmas holiday and a break, only to return to Australia to serve a second year in 2019. I will go through training with a new cohort of missionaries for about six weeks, be assigned to a new location for service, and begin life in service in a different part of the world, continuing the mission that still remains. I think this unknown change and challenge is a call to continue to be outside my comfort zone where I can grow and learn. While challenges can be difficult at times, I know this is what push me to grow as a person and become a better version of myself to which I can greater serve those around me. Jesus Speaking to Me At the end of September, my team and I traveled to Brisbane for an event called Ignite Conference. Ignite is a large conference that anyone can attend, people from across the country travel to be a part of this conference. It's an opportunity for young people to hear inspirational speakers, meet new people and build relationships, pray, grow in Faith, and ultimately, encounter Jesus. We attended the conference with students from Emmaus College in our local community and helped behind the scenes for the whole event. This year, my team and I were responsible for some sessions with the grade eight students throughout the weekend. Through these sessions, I felt the Lord speak to me in powerful way.
On September 29, 2010, I was in a very serious car accident with my sister, brother, and cousin. I was thrown into the front windshield of the car and became unconscious. I was a lifeless body being transported by paramedics to seek the nearest help, but it was those moments of lifelessness that breathed life into me. This event in my life is dear to my heart because it was a powerful time in my life when I encountered Jesus and God's plan in a way I had never understood prior. Considering the circumstances, I could have and should have died in that accident. But I believe that my time on this earth just was not meant to be over. I realized that God has a brilliant plan for my life, one that I may not fully understand, but much greater than anything I could plan for myself. Since then, I've wanted nothing more than to live for the Lord, loving and serving Him every day and perusing His plans for my life. At the conference, one day before the eight-year anniversary of the accident, I had the opportunity to share my story with our students and testify to the ways God has been present in my life and how I have encountered Jesus, encouraging them to be open to encountering Jesus in their own way. To think that eight years later, to the date, I was serving God as a missionary at this massive conference in a place I never imagined myself being, I couldn't help but feel God's intervention in my life. It made me feel as though I was in the perfectly right place at the right time, according to God's Will. It was reassuring of the plans God has for me and the decisions I make to try my best to testify to Love in as many ways as I can for as many people as possible. I am very excited for what another year of service will bring and the wonderful works the Lord will do. I feel that the transformation is just beginning, I can only imagine how God will allow me to grow in the next year to come and beyond. I am honored to share this transformation experience with many others. Someone once said, "The only convert a missionary has to make is him or herself." I have witnessed that come to life in the past ten months, all while witnessing God transform the lives of the people around me as well. Thank you for sharing in this journey with me, for praying for me and the Lord's mission, and for your kind thoughts and support. I wouldn't be able to be where I am right now, doing what I do every day without the love and support of family, friends, loved ones, a Faith community, and YOU. You are a blessing who God uses in special ways each day. Please know that you will be in my prayers today and always. The joy of the Lord is my strength! Peace, Love, and may God bless you. "Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good for His steadfast love endures forever!" -Psalm 106:7 God has been beyond faithful and loving to me and those around me. I'd like to share a bit of that with you! I realize that my blog posts can often be a lot of words, so this time, I thought I'd let some photos do the sharing rather than long paragraphs. Please enjoy this collection of photos, it is my hope that they will share a bit more insight to the everyday life of my team and the mission that I am a part of in Rockhampton, Australia with NET Ministries. Thank you for reading, and thank you for sharing this mission with me! May you feel the peace and love of Christ every day. God Bless you! My team celebrating Gerry's 19th birthday! Treasured moments captured at MX Youth every Friday night...Learning to follow the trusted voice of God above the distractions that life can sometimes bring: I get to lead a small group at MX Youth with grade 7 and 8 girls. Reflecting on the topic of the night and its meaning, "Ask and you shall receive, knock and the door will be opened..." What more is there in life and are we made for more? Sharing at MX Youth on the topic, 'There's S'more', partnered with s'mores on the campfire: MX Youth Group prayer experience in the church: Classroom Ministry"Under Eights Day" at Saint Mary's Primary School was an opportunity for students under the age of eight to experience a hands-on day where they got to learn new things, be a part of activities, explore a police car, learn a cultural dance, make crafts, climb obstacle courses, have their face painted, and celebrate learning. My team and I got to share in this special day and accompany our primary students at Saint Mary's School! Grade 6 students at Saint Joseph's Primary School learning about the gifts of the Holy Spirit and how those gifts can be a bigger part of our lives: Grade 10 ACTS CampPictured below are moments from an 3-day retreat that my team and I led called ACTS Camp: A Chance to Share. Grade 10 students from all across the diocese traveled to be a part of this experience. We ministered to 61 students during the retreat exploring topics such as courage, forgiveness, the unexpected, adoration, teamwork, prayer, and leadership. It was a powerful experience where students built new relationships, considered new topics, and had an opportunity to invite Jesus to become a bigger part of their life. By the end of the retreat, it was time for emotional farewells as students did not want to leave the community that had been built during ACTS Camp. Welcoming our students to the retreat: ACTS Camp music ministry: At the retreat, I had an opportunity to share about the virtue of courage; how I have grown in courage over time, points in my life where I felt a call to be courageous, and extend an invitation to be more courageous in life, however that may look for each individual person. I shared about an experience in high school where I felt God calling me to be courageous and do something that was way beyond my comfort zone. But life begins at the end of our comfort zones, so I challenged students to take a step outside the space where they feel comfort and face each day with courage. Enjoying sunrise over the ocean during ACTS Camp: Parish Community EventsServing at Mass: Celebrating the Sacrament of Confirmation! Grant (pictured with the white shirt and black tie below) is a young adult in the community who received the sacrament of Confirmation this year. We have been journeying with him in his Faith journey and learning and growing together. Our young adult community gathering is held twice a month. Pictured below is our young adult group watching a video from the Chosen series. We finished the Alpha series earlier in the year, and now we've begin the Chosen series of videos. We share a meal together on Sunday nights, watch a faith-forming video clip, and discuss it in small groups. It's a beautiful opportunity for all of us to grow and learn in Faith where my team and I get to help lead the nights of discussion and reflection. In addition to our schools, we get to be a part of the parish community and some of the events held there. This year is the Year of Youth, and below shows a special event my team and I got to be a part of. It was an ecumenical morning tea event where community members from all across Rockhampton gathered to celebrate the Year of Youth. I was asked to share part of my story; what has been my Faith journey, how did I decide to serve with NET, why do I serve with NET Ministries, what do my team and I do in the community, and the role God has played throughout my life. As a part of NET Ministries, we get a two-week break in the middle of the year with time to relax and have time off from ministry commitments. During my break, Megan and Molly came to visit me!!! Park Run PB! Park Runs are a major event around Australia. My team and I have committed to running our local park run, which is 5K in distance, as often as possible. We are able to make it most weekends. I have developed a new appreciation for running and enjoy striving to set a new 'personal best' time each week. It's challenging, and I NEVER enjoyed running before, however, it's amazing what the support of a team and some self-discipline can do! While it doesn't happen often, every once in a while we make it to the ocean. It's incredibly beautiful and an amazing reminder of the beauty of the world God has blessed us to live in. Thank you so much for your support, kind words, prayers, and love. I appreciate your kindness more than I can express. Please continue to pray for me and my mission as I keep you in my prayers. Peace and blessings to you and your loved ones. May the God of Peace and Mercy smile upon you each day!
My favorite days of the week are Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday because my team and I get to go to school and spend time with our students. We have three primary schools to attend, and one high school. My favorite days are the days that we spend with our students because they are truly beautiful, I see enormous amounts of potential instilled within these intelligent young people. In the past months, we have met, chatted to, ministered to, and built relationships with over 1,000 students across Rockhampton. We have been into over 40 classrooms interacting with young people. In the primary schools, our ministry consists of assisting during RE classes in which we prepare a 30-minute session where we cover a topic requested by the teachers. Some of the popular topics we have been covering in the classrooms include The Holy Spirit, The Eucharist, Prayer, Baptism, and parables from scripture such as the shepherd and the sheep and the parable of the mustard seed. After working in the classrooms with the students, we stay at the school during their lunch breaks and play times to see them in a different atmosphere. Sometimes, our students ask us deeper questions about the material we covered in the classroom. After lunch at each school, we stay to play with the kids. I am amazed at how we can connect with these young students by staying around to play a game of tigi (tag), soccer, handball, "dinosaur", or any other creative game they enjoy during their breaks. I have seen so much fruit come from the ministry we share at the primary schools. The students know us as "The NET Team" and we learn their names as well (as many as we can remember working with 1,000 students). They ask me interesting questions and say exactly what's going through their minds such as, "Miss, I lost a tooth!", "Hey, I remember your name!", "I went to America one time!", "Have you seen movie stars in America before?", "Do you know Donald Trump?", "When are you coming to our class again?", "Will you play tigi with us today?", and so many other things that simply make my heart smile and laugh at times. My favorite thing about going to see our students in the schools is that we get to return each week, and I get to tell them that I'll see them again next week! I enjoy this most because I get to witness the growth in these young people and see relationships build stronger. We spend two days a week at Emmaus College, one of the large high schools in the city of Rockhampton. This high school campus is divided into two sections: one campus for grade 7-9 and a separate campus for grade 10-12. One of the amazing ministries I get to be a part of for the high school students is youth group. The community did not have a youth group or any sort of program for young people in the church. Our mission as a NET Team is to link the school and the church. There are very few young people who believe in God or have a personal relationship with Jesus. We are working to learn more about the perspectives that these young people hold and to show them that we fully respect what they feel, think, and experience. However, we are also here to share with them our personal experiences of Jesus in our lives and how we have encountered God's love in different ways. From our sharing, we entrust the Holy Spirit to work in the hearts and minds of our young people to open new possibilities and opportunities. If they feel a desire to seek more, go deeper, or ask questions, we are here 110% to support them and journey with them. Regardless of whether young people tell us that they want to learn more about Jesus, we truly and authentically care for our students and their well-being. I want to know how their school day was, how many assignments they have, how many brothers and sisters are in their family, what are they doing on the weekend, how did their sports game go, and many other things that keep our students on the go. MX Youth is the name of the youth group that my team and I have started in the community. The name "MX Youth" comes from the first canonized Saint of Australia; Saint Mary of the Cross Mackillop, the "M" is for Mary and "X" for the cross. We started very small, but we remained consistent and persistent. We had three students attend our very first night of youth group, and the following week, there were four. We were pleased to have students coming, and we continued to pray and reach out to students at school. Slowly, our youth group grew from three to eight to ten to twelve to sixteen, and is still growing. Now, there have been over 30 students who have attended youth group so far. MX Youth is an atmosphere of acceptance, welcome, and community; all students are welcome to join the evening for fun, fellowship, faith, and more. Regardless of how many people attend, the numbers aren't what is most important. While it is pleasing to see a large amount of students seeking the young faith community, my team and I know that if even one student experiences an opportunity to learn something new, gain a new perspective, or welcome Jesus into their heart a little more, then all of the work is more than worth it. In addition to youth group, we hold retreat days at the schools called Encounter Days. During one particular Encounter Day, I felt very blessed to have met a young girl and witness something BEAUTIFUL. The theme of this particular retreat day was "The Unexpected", so we spent the day talking about Jesus in the unexpected and some expectations each person may hold of Jesus. We reached a time in the day where we split into small groups to talk about some of the things that had happened throughout the day. In my small group of about seven Grade 10 girls, we shared the perceptions they each held for Jesus. Answers included responses such as: "Jesus is a man in the clouds", "Jesus has a beard and white clothes", "Jesus is a man we worship", "Jesus is everywhere". One of the students asked me how I perceived Jesus. I told them that I see Jesus as my friend. He is someone who is always there to support and love me, no matter what happens. Jesus is a loyal friend that I can talk to any time and ask for help whenever I need it. The girl who asked me my perception of Jesus seemed a bit surprised at my answer. Later she shared with me that she never thought of Jesus as a friend, and she didn't even know that Jesus could be a friend to us. At the end of the day, all students had an opportunity for personal, one-on-one prayer. This student asked to be prayed with and especially for Jesus to be a bigger part of her life as a friend. I feel like this is only one example of the ways God is working in this community and using the NET Team to shine His light and love in a new way. I feel so blessed to be serving with youth and to get to witness first-hand the changes that are happening in our students. I feel like this young woman gained a new amount of hope during this retreat day. Every Thursday morning we attend and minister at daily Mass at Emmaus College. At the beginning of the year when we first began helping at the Mass, the group of people in attendance included a few teachers and staff members, a handful of parishioners, and maybe two or three students. We have slowly witnessed the number of students at this Mass grow. The small chapel is nearly full each week, and we've been adding more seats at the back in order for everyone to fit. I think the biggest change that I have witnessed in the community within the past months of serving here is GROWTH. Young people are changing. Students are talking to the team more. We are building relationships with more and more students and learning about where they are at in life. Attendance at events is increasing. People are changing and hearts are opening. I believe all this growth and change is the fruit of God working in the ministry that my team and I get to be a part of every day. In our MX Youth Nights, we often have an opportunity to share a personal experience with the students about a way we have experienced Jesus in our lives. I have had the opportunity to share my personal testimony with our students, a testimony describes a first encounter with Jesus. For me, it was when I was 14 years old and experienced a serious car accident. I was a lifeless body being transported by paramedics to seek help, but it was those moments of lifelessness that breathed life into me. It was this accident that made life so real for me. In my recovery, I feel like I grew to know the presence and power of Jesus in my life and the plans that He has for my future. It was after the accident that life changed for me because I encountered God in a way I never had before. I grew up going to church and praying, but it was the grace of God that I felt flood over me and my family in the aftermath of this tragedy that I can now consider a blessing. I've also shared with our students a talk on "Who Am I?". This was a topic that we explored one evening at MX Youth. I got to speak to our students about who we are and our identity in Christ. Recently, I shared a talk on the "MORE" that there is to life. There is more and God wants us to experience it. More than the latest technology, nicest clothes, or most popular social media. We are not made for comfort and contentment in this world, we are made for greatness. I shared with our students the more that Jesus has to give them. There is one photo below in particular that I chose to share with them: So many times I feel like the little girl in this image. I have something that I know and am comfortable with; something that I want to keep, hold onto, and live with. I think it's the best. But Jesus is always there asking me to trust Him, to say "yes" to Him. He's got something better to give, as long as I go to Him. Jesus has more, He is the MORE. Diocesan Youth PilgrimageWhat's Been Happening Outside of Ministry?Ministry and our work in the community is going beautifully and has been incredibly blessed, but that doesn't mean that things haven't been hard and challenging. This has been the most challenging year of my life, but it's through these challenges that I've experienced the most personal growth in myself, the way I think, and in my Faith. My team and I were a team of five, but back in June one of the brothers on my team chose to leave without warning or explanation. We experienced a few weeks of negative reactions and angry emotions; an emotional roller coaster to say the least. But recently, God has brought new light into our team with an enormous amount of peace. We are now a team of five again with a new member who has been such an asset to the team and our ministry. God makes all things new. (Rev. 21:5)
A few weeks later, I got news from home that no one ever wants to hear. My best friend from home passed away very suddenly and unexpectedly. I was torn and my heart broke. I felt like I wanted to go home to be with her family and my friends. I didn't know if I should leave Australia to go home to properly mourn the loss of my dear friend, or whether I was meant stay here in Australia during this time. Mackenzie is the beautiful soul that was lost, and she, more than anyone, always told me how incredibly proud she was of my choice to serve God in a radical way. Mackenzie loved Jesus with all heart and that love poured out of her every day in her words and actions. Mackenzie was an angel who truly changed my life and brought me closer to God. She was a constant witness in her friendship with me to what it means to be prayerful, loving, kind, gentle, and compassionate. Knowing Mackenzie and speaking to her mother, I discerned that I was meant to stay in Australia. However, there are still times that it doesn't seem real, it doesn't seem like she is really gone. Mackenzie was a woman of God, and I know that she is peacefully walking with Jesus now. I feel like I have a new angel in Heaven watching over me. As much as I wish this loss wasn't a reality, God has surrounded me with supportive people who have showed me so much love. Peace is growing in my heart knowing that Mackenzie is with God. "My soul will rest in Your embrace, for I am Yours and You are mine." - Hillsong United I don't share the challenges to ask for sympathy, but to share the way that God can bring peace and growth out of any situation. These are examples of how He loves and supports in times of trial and struggle. Through these challenges, I've been able to turn to prayer and find God's mercy and compassion among the sorrow. I feel incredibly blessed to be serving as a NET Missionary this year in Rockhampton. I truly appreciate the love and support of everyone all around the world. Thank you for your prayers, kind thoughts, love, and support. I feel and experience so much of God's love through the encouragement of friends, family, and loved ones. Thank you, and God bless you! Pictured Below: Katie, Gerry and Robyn (Rockhampton team sisters). Know that we are praying for you and sending much love from Rockhampton, Australia! Peace and Blessings to all! Have you ever seen something really beautiful, or tasted something absolutely delicious, or heard something that made you feel good inside; have you experienced anything that's made your heart smile? Maybe you saw a beautiful flower or sunrise, tasted a delicious dinner, or heard a life-giving song. Whenever you experienced that thing that made your heart smile, did you tell anyone about it? Did you tell a friend, family member, peer, co-worker, or neighbor so they, too, could experience that wonderful thing; so their heart would smile too? That's how I feel about sharing the love of Jesus. After experiencing the goodness of Jesus and the love He has to offer, I MUST share it... through actions. That's what it's like to be a missionary, and that's why I am a missionary. Jesus makes my heart smile every day. First impressions of Rockhampton. Saint Mary's Church and our house. Sunsets from our back door. I’m learning more than I ever imagined, being challenged in ways I never predicted, receiving in ways I haven’t asked, and sharing love in ways like never in the past. It’s indescribable, but no one can out-give our Heavenly Father. As this journey continues, I have no doubt that God will provide in unforeseen ways and that I will witness more of God’s love than I could possibly begin to describe. Building a New Home We landed in the small airport of Rockhampton, Australia to be welcomed by friendly faces and members of our new community. We live in a house that is just over 125 years old, it's a retired presbytery next to a small church in town. It may be old, but it's our new home, and it's quite accommodating. The women on team share a bedroom area in the house, and the men share a bedroom. There is a kitchen, dining room, prayer room, office, lounge room, and bathroom with both bedrooms. As NET missionaries, we are committed to living an authentic Christian lifestyle through a number of priorities we incorporate into our daily routine. We still cook and clean, we do laundry and wash dishes, we shop for groceries and drive a car, but there's more. We pray a lot. Each day we spend an hour in a time of personal prayer to be with God. We spend another hour of the day in team prayer where we pray with one another through praise and worship music on guitar, intercession, scripture, and Spirit-led meditations. We attend daily Mass, we pray together before every meal, and we pray together at night before we fall asleep. It's ideal practice at learning to live life as a prayer. There is a great amount of commitment in our missionary lifestyle, and that commitment starts at home within our team. We plan a scheduled time for "lights out" which everyone is expected to follow, and a time for "rise" when we all wake up together. In order to function as a united team, we spend intentional time in conversations to help us work as one and serve within our ministry to the best of our abilities. We also have time for team meetings, planning and organizing our sessions for the week, and preparing our weekly ministry. Each week is full of commitment, every minute of each day is planned according to a schedule that we follow to allow us all to function together. I am learning a lot about commitment; commitment to a new "family" with my team, commitment to a new community and ministry responsibilities, commitment to our students at schools, commitment to parishioners, commitment to friends and family at home, commitment to new friends, and most of all, commitment to God. This being the first time for the community of Rockhampton to have a local NET Team, we came with no expectations. Everything has been beyond rewarding and full of blessings. The past two months have been spent in the classrooms of our three primary schools, on the campus of our 1,500 student high school, at youth group every Friday night, at our three churches every week, at young adult gatherings, at parish events, at team meetings, at Mass, in Adoration, at school lunch breaks and recess, in school hallways, leading prayer, student retreat days, in churches, and at other school and parish events. We get to do a bit of everything, and every encounter with people is incredibly rewarding and beautiful. We've gotten to meet so many new people, and I've gotten to talk with countless new students. It truly is a gift to get to see them from week to week and journey with them. I am very grateful for the ministry I get to be a part of! For more details on what our daily commitments are and the ministry we get to do in schools and at church, keep an eye out for my next coming blog in a few weeks. More details, stories, and beautiful testimonies coming soon! The past nine weeks I’ve gotten to know my team a lot better, they’re some of the true treasures of this year. My four teammates are all from Australia. We have a lot of fun together, teach each other a lot, share victories and struggles, support one another, pray together, cook for each other, create memories, serve as a team, make a lot of noise, travel as one, and call one another to holiness. I'd like to introduce you to my team! This is Gerry! She is 18 years old from Melbourne, Australia. Gerry just finished high school and has shared her deep love for youth ministry through her active involvement in her home parish in Melbourne. This passion and love for Jesus has brought her to NET this year. She’s got the voice of an angel and musical skills on guitar that I am blessed to witness every day. She loves all kinds of dogs, we share a love for dancing, and she appreciates the beauty of nature outside the big city. Gerry possesses a special ability to truly invest in the people she meets each day through her compassionate heart. With parents from India and Sha Lanka, she has helped increase my understanding of parts of the world I have never experienced. Gerry is a beautiful soul whom I am gifted call my teammate and sister in Christ. Here's Robyn! She’s a fun-lovin’ gal from Sydney, Australia. In her 19 years of life, she finished high school in the city and studied at University for a year where she decided to serve with NET. She completed one full year of NET in 2017 serving on the National Team. Her experience with NET in 2017 was life-changing for Robyn, it was her first year on team that led her to committing to serve a SECOND year with NET. Robyn enjoys most sports, especially softball, she has quite an interest in motorcycles, she’s got a brain like a GPS, and she loves Jesus a lot. Her joy and positivity radiate from her heart when she talks to those around her. I am blessed to call this brave woman my teammate and a sister in Christ. Luke! This young man was home-schooled for part of his life and studied at public school for the rest of his 18 years in Canberra, Australia. He’s got a great love for the game of cricket, and a passion for economics, politics, and history. His deep appreciation for books and new knowledge shines every day through his intellectual vocabulary choices. Luke is an amazing guitar player, and he’s got a golden voice to match. Luke is a very bright young man who enjoys helping me learn about Australia. His compassion and kindness shine daily, especially when interacting with the students at school and parishioners in the community. Luke is a brilliant young man whom I am blessed to call my teammate and brother in Christ. Meet Mick! Mick is from a family in Brisbane, Australia. In his 19 years of life, he finished high school, spent a year discerning the priesthood, served in the Army Reserves, and now is a NET Missionary. Mick has a great passion for all sports, so great, in fact, that he cannot choose one favorite. Mick has a deep appreciation for the sky, from evening sunsets to nighttime stars. Mick enjoys music and shares his creative side through writing poetry, playing the keyboard, making music, and juggling. He’s never afraid to have a random dance party or sing a song with his team. Mick shares his love for Jesus through his gentle heart and his desire to be a great brother to all. I am blessed to call him my teammate and brother in Christ. A Few Treasured Moments
Mail can be sent to us if you're interested in this! It's always lovely to hear from friends and family back home and around the world. If you feel you'd like to put something in our mailbox, it'd be much appreciated. I'd be so grateful to receive any messages or kind thoughts via mail. There is no need of any items, only prayers and encouragement. Anything can be sent to: Katie Ahrns PO Box 9874 Frenchville, Queensland 4701 Australia In addition to a mailing address, it's a great surprise to receive emails and updates online. Another option is to email me at [email protected] to keep in touch. I keep you in prayers and look forward to hearing from you if you'd like to be in contact with me! Rockhampton is more commonly known as "Rocky" within Australia. Personal Reflection I really do believe that every person has the ability to change the world. I hope to be a part of that change every day, and not just any change; a positive, meaningful change. It’s quite amazing when I think about it; the ability that each and every person possesses. As humans, we have the ability to make another person feel happy or sad simply in the way we treat them, the words we choose to say, and the actions we live out. In these ways, we have the power to make someone happy or unhappy, to make someone smile or look down, to make someone laugh or cry. This ability that humans possess, along with many others, is truly powerful and incredible. This power gives us the ability to change the world, for the better, if we so choose. That can be a challenge in itself; choosing the good change each day. But it's a choice more than worthwhile. It's an opportunity to choose love, share love, and TESTIFY TO LOVE. On another note... I’ve been blessed to get to witness some really beautiful sunsets. I thank God for every single one. Watching the sun set is one of my absolute favorite hobbies. Most evenings around 5:30 I can take a peek out the back door to admire the beauty of the sunset. In the times that I’ve gotten to stand in awe of the sunset, I’ve come to ponder a new thought. God made beautiful sunsets. He also made beautiful people. In the eyes of God, each person is more valuable and more beautiful than any sunset. If I can stand for a few minutes in awe of the brightly colored clouds in the sky when the sun is touching the horizon, how must I be looking at the people I pass by every day? I cannot fully understand the way God sees His children, but I can hope and strive to see people the way God sees them; with more beauty than all the vibrant colors of the sky just before nightfall. As beautiful as this is, YOU are a million times more beautiful than this, plus more. My PrayerMy prayer is for all those who are striving to be the positive change in the world, for all who are changing the world; that they may truly testify to love. I pray that everyone knows of the beauty that lies within them; that they know the way God sees them. May others see them the same. Jesus, may You walk with the students in Rockhampton and all youth worldwide. God, please be with individuals who feel alone, confused, stressed, or discouraged; may they feel Your peace. May God grant His loving grace to all in this world, and may we feel and know of His presence. I pray for loved ones, family, friends, and all who have supported my journey. I pray for eyes to see Jesus in others and a heart to love as Jesus calls us to love. God, you know the desires of your children. Please be with us all and allow us to always look to You for strength, joy, peace, and authentic love. God, I lift to You intentions in the hearts of people in all nations. Thank you, Jesus, for Your love and goodness. Amen. God Bless You.I met kangaroos, and I met koalas, but the greatest beauty a nation has to offer lies within its people. BRISBANE Like a glove lies empty and waits for the owner to pick it up and use it, I am like a glove; a glove to be filled by God’s hand, for Him to use me to do His Will. I am empty until He fills me with His abounding life and until I let Him bring me to life. NET training has been completed! This year 46 missionaries were trained to create seven full teams. Individuals from Australia, Canada, America, Ireland, New Zealand, Poland, and South Africa have committed to a year of service in the Church. This year NET has sent teams to two separate Universities in the cities of Brisbane and Melbourne, to the community of Bundaberg, Iona, Rockhampton, and Melbourne, and sent out the National team who will travel and serve across the nation. The university teams will work with university students through outreach programs, the local teams will work within schools and parishes, and the Melbourne and National team will work within school hosting Encounter days which are like one-day retreats. I have been called to serve on the local team of Rockhampton, Australia this year! I am very excited for the ministry that my team and I will get to be a part of during 2018. This is the first year that the community of Rockhampton will have a local NET team for the entire year. Our focus will be on the three parishes in North Rockhampton, three primary schools, youth group, and Emmaus College which consists of a junior and senior high school campus of 1,500 students in total. My team is made up of five individuals including myself. Robbie (Robyn), Gerry (Geraldine), Mick (Michael), and Luke are my brothers and sisters on team. Robyn is from Sydney, Australia, Gerry is from Melbourne, Australia, Mick is from Brisbane, Australia, and Luke is from Canberra, Australia. Our training was at a campground called Glendalough on the Sunshine coast in Peregian. During training, everyone gives up cell phones, technology, and access to the internet in efforts to focus deeply on training and enjoy the beauty of nature surrounding us. It was truly freeing to be away from the world of social media for a few weeks. Training was an amazing time in which I grew to personally know absolutely wonderful humans from many different parts of the world and walks of life. It was such a gift to get to know the beautiful souls who have committed to NET Ministries this year. Training seemed long, but it came to an end all too quickly. Our daily schedules looked a bit like: 6:30 am – rise 7:00 am – team sport 8:00 am – breakfast 9:00 am – personal prayer 10:00 am – session 11:00 am – morning tea 11:30 am – session 12:30 pm – lunch 1:00 pm – personal time 3:00 pm – session 5:00 pm daily mass 6:00 pm – dinner 7:00 pm – rosary 7:30 pm – session 9:15 pm – supper 9:30 pm – prayer 10:00 – lights out Days were busy, but meaningful and productive. Each session was packed with information necessary for our teams to work together and be successful in our ministry in each community. Information covered in sessions included topics such as how to interact with young people and meet them on their level, how to write a short testimony and present it to a group, how to lead a retreat day, how to answer tough questions, how to maintain attention in a large group of youth, how to serve your teammates, how to confront conflict, how to pray with young people, how to lead a small group, and many other things. We were educated on the culture of youth and the regular challenges they may encounter. NET works to reach young people through dramas and skits in efforts to connect with youth and bring the Gospel to them in a new way. We spent much time on training learning and practicing different dramas and skits to be performed. We learned many different games and activities that can be led to teach a lesson and discuss it with the youth. We teach songs and play music in our ministry, so training included time for practice and Praise and Worship music. Training consisted of many more things than I could possibly list. It was certainly a time of challenge, growth, learning, and reflection. Camp where training was held. Treasured Moments from Training
Rockhampton, where I will be living this year. Commissioning February 24, 2018 A Personal ReflectionI left a home where the sky is blue, but sometimes grey when it rains. Where the sun comes up in the morning and sets in the evening, where a rainbow forms when the perfect amount of precipitation and sunlight collide, where people get tired and hungry, where birthdays are celebrated, where humans desire to be loved and feel wanted, where grass is green and trees grow upwards, where people walk on their feet and speak with their body. There is much that is similar from my past to this new land I will call home for the year. There are many similarities in this world, no matter where we may be or where we will go. What will always be there is love; God’s Love. Something I’ve enjoyed most about experiencing life in Australia is witnessing similarities in a different part of the world that reflect God’s love and His image. From the cornfields in America, to the mountains in Haiti, and the waters of the Dominican Republic, to the woods of Canada, and the classrooms of Belize, to the hilltops of Japan, and the streets of Australia, I’ve seen God’s love remain constant and reflect from every flower pedal and ray of sunshine in nature to the precisely colored eyes of the people I’ve encountered. He is everywhere. His love is universal. In celebrating the similarities, I have enjoyed learning about a culture I’ve never experienced before and some history of Australia.
While the people are beautiful and unique, they come from the same Maker as I, and that’s been beyond incredible to experience; to look into the eyes of everyone I’ve met and see Jesus. A personal prayer I’ve been focusing on throughout training has been to see through the lens that Jesus sees in hopes that I can love others in the tiniest bit like Jesus loves. Testify to Love. It’s a song, but means much more to me than lyrics put to music. If I could choose a simple meaning to life, it would be this: to testify to love. If there is anything we should do on this earth or in this life, our daily and constant aspiration should be to testify to love; to be proof that love exists, to share love, to live as love, to know love, to be love. And not just any kind of "love". I’m not talking the kind of love in which one “loves pizza” or “loves dogs” of “loves to watch movies”. There is a love much greater in which I believe we are all called to share, to testify to every day. That, my brothers and sisters, is God’s love; God’s love that He shares with us in every breath we take, every morning we wake up, every human we walk past, every bird we see among the sky, every hug we receive, and every smile we share. There is a love that brings peace and pure joy to the soul. Authentic love. That is God’s love. It’s waiting for us every day, and we can find it every day, but we must choose to. In the eight weeks that I have been in Australia, I have been motivated, encouraged, and called to testify to love more than ever before. I’d like to share that with you and invite you to join me in testifying to love in the little ways possible. Theme Scripture of 2018Revelations 21: 5-7 The one who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." Then He said, "Write these words down for they are trustworthy and true." Then He said to me, "They are accomplished. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give a gift from the spring of life-giving water. The victor will inherit these gifts and I will be his God and he will be my son." Theme Song of 2018Greetings from Australia!The journey that began a year ago on paper has now become a present reality. I made it to Australia, and our training begins tomorrow! I’d like to thank every single person who has supported me along the way. I truly would not be able to embark on this unknown journey without the loving support of many wonderful individuals. During the year of 2018 from January through November, I will be serving as a Catholic missionary with NET Ministries in Australia. Our mission is to “Encourage young people to love Jesus and embrace the church.” 46 missionaries, including myself, will experience 6 weeks of training to prepare us for the year. During this training, everyone will be assigned to a specific team: the national team which travels around the country during the entire year working with many different individuals, a local team which serves within a radius of a specific city throughout the year, or a university team which serves on a college campus during the year. Our supervisors pray earnestly about where to assign each missionary to ensure we are all placed where God really wants to use us this year. I am very excited to find out where I will be serving for the remainder of 2018! Each team ministers to the population they are serving by tailoring materials, events, and activities to each age group in all efforts to direct young people to God and glorify His Kingdom. You may be wondering how on earth I ended up in Australia. I sometimes ask myself that same question. I do know this: God asked it of me so I said “yes”. Why would Jesus ask me to leave the comfort of my home state where I am surrounded by family and wonderful people who love me and have access to everything I may ever need to live comfortably? Because we are not meant to live comfortably. I could have easily stayed in Ohio or with in the US, but God has called me far beyond my comfort zone and placed me in a new home where I am very vulnerable. Times when we are vulnerable are the moments when God does the most in our hearts. Not only am I in Australia to be used by God and work to glorify His Kingdom, but He is going to work in my heart through this experience as well. How did I end up here? I grew up in the small town of Fort Loramie, Ohio on a farm in a family of six. I graduated high school and went to college at The University of Findlay to earn a Bachelors of Animal Science. I absolutely loved the experience I gained at Findlay as a college student. I learned so much about myself – it was a time that my passions became much clearer to me. I chose to study Animal Science because I loved animals and caring for them, however, my love for animals altered slightly. I still love animals a lot, but I had a new, deeper desire to become a missionary. I wanted to serve God by giving all that I could. Where did this desire come from all the sudden? It began when I was in high school and grew immensely when I began college. I was actively involved in youth ministry programs in high school, and that’s where the seeds were planted and watered. Those seeds grew into plants when I got to college, and that’s when I knew I wanted to be a missionary. I knew I wanted to serve, but I didn’t know where or how or when or how long. I soon realized that I could finish my college degree in three years, so that became my new goal. I wanted to graduate in three years with aspirations to become a missionary after. I accomplished that goal in May of 2017. I first heard about NET Australia from a friend. As my friend shared a little about the experience I remember thinking, “Wow, that sounds amazing, but I could never do THAT.” About two years ago those thoughts went through my mind. It’s ironic to think of those moments and the little expectations I had at the time. My "senior" year of college, I spent months discerning, searching, and applying for the perfect path to take after graduation in a role in which I could serve. I had a list of at least 20 different options, which was incredibly overwhelming. I made little progress with that list. However, it did keep me occupied long enough to wait on God's perfect timing. My entire fall semester of 2016 I spent much of my "free time" reading about potential missionary opportunities. It was stressful and frustrating with my graduation date approaching much faster than I realized. Just when I thought I had plans figured out, I didn't. I rode a roller coaster that Fall. With many emotional challenges and obstacles, I felt lost at times. After Christmas, in January, is when I realized that it was time to really surrender to the Lord. I thought I had already, but I truly hadn’t. Shortly after, everything just seemed to fall into place, aka: NET Australia. I stopped searching for a short while, and I stopped looking at that list of 20 organizations I had to consider applying with. In that peaceful time is when God led me down a new and unexpected path. I had previous experience performing missionary work, but NET was not on my radar. I knew a lot about it, and I thought it was a great thing, but just not the thing for me. Oh, how I was wrong. January of 2017, I got to be a leader for the annual retreat that our Newman Club on campus hosted. This opportunity was what started everything. I got to do much of the "behind the scenes" work to make the retreat happen, and I got to see God touch the hearts of the retreat participants in new ways. This retreat was the beginning. Everything else happened incredibly fast following the retreat. One morning I sat up in bed with NET Australia in my mind. "I need to look up NET Australia right now" was exactly what was in my head as I woke up suddenly. (I should also add that I rarely ever sit straight up in bed in the morning when it's time to get up. It's always much more of a challenge than that.) But that morning I hopped out of bed and pulled out my laptop. I read all about NET Australia online. Before I knew it, I was clicking a button to request an application. More information was email to me, and a recruiter reached out to me. My recruiter was wonderful. She asked questions that demonstrated that she really cared about me and was praying for my discernment in serving the Lord. I felt great motivation to complete the application, and a few weeks later it was submitted. About two weeks later I was being interviewed, and several days after that I was asked to serve on team. I said yes! What started in January became official in March. All within two months, God placed on my heart this unforeseen calling, I applied, was interviewed, and said yes to serving on mission. Wow, God is so good, and His timing is so perfect! There is a song that comes to mind when I think of this new journey. Broken Things by Matthew West. "I'm just a beggar in the presence of a King. I wish I could bring so much more. But if it's true...You use broken things, then here I am Lord, I'm all Yours." I feel this song and these lyrics greatly demonstrate the mission I am now a part of. |
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