Never had attended WYD before, I wasn’t sure what to expect of the 3week immersion nor what outcomes would come from this experience. I had just graduated from San Francisco State and was preparing to move back home. Although, I was excited to see my family and begin my new life as a post-grad, I was also nervous about the transition. So as I got on that plane to Europe my heart was heavy with emotions of uncertainty and doubt. The first few days praying in Gyor, Hungry were difficult. I had so many questions about my career and my family and I wanted God to simply give me answers to all of them. I wanted Him to just tell me what to do once I returned home. But after a talk where the story of Moses and the burning bush was shared, I stayed
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I was filled with so much sadness to see this place of hurt and fear. I wondered how could St. Maximilian Kolbe have the courage to offer his life for a stranger? Then as I looked down at the ground at what was left of one of the crematoriums, among all the rubble and dirt were beautiful purple and while flowers growing. In a place filled with so much hatred and fear, life was still growing. And in that moment I knew God was inviting me to make time for love and mercy in all moments of my life, but especially in times where hope seems so far. This invitation from God was made even more clear the day of the prayer Vigil when we walked almost 2 hours to get to the venue. As I was struggling to walk in the heat, I was soon filled with so much hope and love from people I had never meet. People on corners welcoming us with smiles, waves, offering us water and food, giving us the strength and encouragement to keep going. After already feeling the love and kindness from my host family in Wadowice, God was again spoiling me. I got to experience the love people shared with others in the midst of their own pain, even if it was only our feet pain. This experience made me see that we are all capable of love, and that God gives us the choice to plant those seeds of love and mercy wherever we are in our
I was filled with so much sadness to see this place of hurt and fear. I wondered how could St. Maximilian Kolbe have the courage to offer his life for a stranger? Then as I looked down at the ground at what was left of one of the crematoriums, among all the rubble and dirt were beautiful purple and while flowers growing. In a place filled with so much hatred and fear, life was still growing. And in that moment I knew God was inviting me to make time for love and mercy in all moments of my life, but especially in times where hope seems so far. This invitation from God was made even more clear the day of the prayer Vigil when we walked almost 2 hours to get to the venue. As I was struggling to walk in the heat, I was soon filled with so much hope and love from people I had never meet. People on corners welcoming us with smiles, waves, offering us water and food, giving us the strength and encouragement to keep going. After already feeling the love and kindness from my host family in Wadowice, God was again spoiling me. I got to experience the love people shared with others in the midst of their own pain, even if it was only our feet pain. This experience made me see that we are all capable of love, and that God gives us the choice to plant those seeds of love and mercy wherever we are in our