Oh Sandy!

Well we're all hunkering down to weather Sandy, the hurricane that is passing through. We woke up with electricity, and since everything else, including the University and the churches are closed, I figured it would be a good time to post an update on how things are going!

Here is a map of Sandy's path as of midmorning Monday.

This weekend I was able to head up to Connecticut to visit my aunt and uncle. They were having an early Thanksgiving get together, as not everyone could make it in a month. I got to see my cousin who I grew up with visiting my grandparents' house. We are only a few months apart in age, so we get along pretty well. It had been a long time since we had seen each other though, almost a year and a half! As my uncle is a new and welcome addition to my extended family and I was unfortunately unable to attend his wedding to my aunt, I had yet to meet his 5 children, and my new cousins. Luckily two of his boys were able to come as well as his brother and sister-in-law. We had such a great time! There was so much food, even the men didn't have seconds of everything. Once we had rolled ourselves out of the house after dinner, we made our way to 41st Bridge Street, a nice restaurant that was hosting a Blues Band competition. It was so awesome! Both bands were extremely talented, but my favorite was the Delta Generators. They received a standing ovation and came on for 2 encores!

I had made the decision to leave in the morning, against my aunt's wishes, but it was important to be back down here to weather the storm with my team. Yesterday was spent stocking up on water, non-perishable foods, and batteries. The news is constantly on in the background - and gosh, I never thought I would become my mother. But here I am with a tab opened to the weather channel online, keeping an eye on Sandy even as I type. Both of my parents have been such a help and a blessing. Even though I am standing on my own two feet, making my own decisions, I know I can always call them, ask for advice, and they will give it. I am so blessed! Know that if you are in the path of the hurricane, you are in our prayers. Please keep me in yours so that I make it home on Thursday! (my plane leaves from JFK at 6:15am on Thursday)

I saw on one of the news stories that there were people refusing to evacuate, even though they were in evacuation zone A. While I know some of them choose this because, like someone told me recently, they think the government and the weather channel are in cahoots to boost the economy and the storm won't really be that bad, the reporter said some were staying behind because they were scared of loosing their houses. Seriously? I'm imagining a man standing in front of his house, his family huddled behind him, pointing a shotgun at the oncoming 'Frankenstorm'. All joking aside, there is something wrong with society that a person's property is worth more than complying with a government that's trying to save their life and the lives of the rescue teams who this person assumes would come rescue them if things got too bad. It reminds me of the story of the Prodigal Son. While this story is definitely a story about forgiveness (the younger son takes money from his father, squanders it, then comes back home where the father forgives him and welcomes him back with a huge party) the main moral is often overlooked. Both sons value material things: the younger son demands his inheritance from his father and returns only when the money has run out, the older son follows the letter of the law and is mad that he hasn't gotten a party sponsored by his father with his friends. But that's not the true treasure. The father says to the older son when he complains: "My son, you are here with me always". It is not the material things that have the most value, but the fact that we have a relationship with God.

We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. ~Mother Teresa 

Welcome to Fall

So it has been awhile since I posted, and for that I am sorry! So much has been going on that I can't wait to tell you about!

Two weekends ago the students at Seton Hall went on Fall break and the missionaries got to go to Pennsylvania for our regional gathering. All of the missionaries from the Northeast and Atlantic regions had about 40 hours to spend away from campus, playing and praying with fellow missionaries in the beautiful, mountainous, colorful retreat center in the woods. Because one of my teammates went to Mount St. Mary's, only a short drive from the retreat center, we were able to stop by and even see the shrine to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton! Then this past weekend, I was able to go visit my aunt who lives in CT! It was such a beautiful and relaxing drive and time with her and her husband!

For those who know my testimony, you know that the FOCUS national conference in 2010 played a big role in my conversion story. This year FOCUS is having another national conference in Orlando. We're expecting 7,000 students to descend on the Swan and Dolphin Resort for 5 days of rejuvenating and life changing experiences. Here at SHU, we are hoping to bring 100 students on 2 buses for an over 24 hour drive! The missionaries started fundraising last year and we have been able to sponsor 2 students who will be going for free. I wanted to share these two stories with you to show you how God is working here.

First, there is a girl who is currently going through RCIA and is very involved with Campus Ministry. I had asked her if she was going, but she said that she wasn't. She is from California and because of other circumstances, she won't be able to go home at all next summer, so she really wanted to have as much time at home as possible over winter break. Going to conference would mean coming East 2 weeks before she had to be here. Her name ended up in a drawing at one of our events last week, and when her name was read as the winner, she started crying. She said she had been praying about going, and that this is God's answer. She is sad about missing out on time with her family, but she is so ready to go to Florida! I had dinner with her yesterday and she told me a story: In the Bible Study she is in, they make a poster at the beginning of the year with a quote that they will try to live out all year. This year's ends with "God keeps you going." After winning free registration, she got a 'going' sticker and put it near her poster. She couldn't sleep the other night and started meditating on the quote, and this is what happened:

Praise God for answered prayers!

The second is just as amazing! A young man who none of us had met before won at an event we had earlier this year. He looked like someone who was just at the even to get points to put him in a better position for housing next year. He didn't partake in any of the small group discussion, basically keeping to himself and studying the whole time. When we called his name at the raffle, someone overheard him say an expletive. The missionaries assumed he was mad about going and was going to drag his feet. Well one of the male missionaries had a meeting with him last night and found out differently. Apparently he never wins anything, and when our team director said "and the person going to FL is..." he said his own name followed shortly by our TD announcing his name. Out came the expletive. He has also been wanting to go to Florida for a long time. My teammate asked him if the faith aspect was a deterrent  since we actually won't be seeing much of Florida. He responded that it wasn't. In fact, he is inviting at least 7 of his friends, who all are interested if they have some help fundraising! Praise God! Please keep these two and the other 98 students going to SEEK from Seton Hall University in your prayers.

In other news, two of my really good friends made the 12 hour trip from Belmont Abbey to come and visit me for their fall break! They got here last night around 2am and will be here until Sunday! I am so blessed to have such amazing friends!

Faith Like a Child

I have just gotten back from a half day retreat. Before I get into the details, I just want to say thank you all for your prayers! God has been hearing them and my complaints about traffic/driving and gave me the most perfect half hour journey today. We had our retreat at the Shrine of St. Joseph about half an hour away. The drive was perfect: a 10 mile stretch on a lightly trafficked highway where I got to go 70mph! Once you got off the interstate, we then drove through back streets lined with trees that every once and a while would surprise us with some yellow, orange, or red leaves. The Shrine was right in the middle of this rural fairytale land. It was the most enjoyable time I have had in the car since I got here.

This dedication to Our Lady of Fatima is where I spent the morning meditating at the Shrine

There was very little structure to the day, but there was a theme: faith. As some of you know, Pope Benedict XVI (my hero), has declared this year from October 11, 2012 until November 24, 2013 to be the year of faith in honor of the 50th anniversary of Vatican II. When asked to share what we were going to do for ourselves and the students we serve in light of this inspiration, I found myself meditating on this stained glass window:

This image is one of the windows in the chapel at Our Lady of Sorrows where the missionaries go to Mass on Saturdays. I am drawn to the little girl in the yellow dress. I realize that this is how I want to live this year of faith. I want to continually seek Jesus' side. I want to clutch His robe so that I can hold on to nothing else. I want to continually look upon His face with complete and utter love and devotion. And perhaps more than anything, I want to feel His loving gaze into my soul and His gentle hand upon my head.

So now that I live in the north, and we actually have a change of seasons, I have realized that people love doing 'seasonal' things. So things like apple picking, pumpkin spiced anything, scarves, and colored leaves are all the topic of conversation around here. So on Saturday, myself, the other women missionaries, and two other students went apple picking! It was my first time and I had a blast! It was fun to wander through the orchard, looking for non-rotted apples. We ended up walking away with three bags full of apples between the five of us.

Caitlyn climbed the tree to grab an illusive good looking apple.

Is there something on my face?

I had grand plans for my apples! I wanted to bake apple crisp. So as soon as we got home, I picked up the ingredients and called a student to head over for a baking frenzy. It was so delicious! While we were eating our straight-from-the-oven warm crisp with vanilla ice cream we watched Clue. Made in 1985 and based on the board game, it was so ridiculous it was hilarious! What a great Saturday!

We brought the rest of the apples to the brothers' house on Monday. We were invited there for vespers followed by an authentic Mexican meal. There are 5 professed brothers/priests of the Community of St. John who live and work at Our Lady of Mt Carmel Parish, two of whom also work at Seton Hall (I mentioned them in a recent post). Br. Martin was a chef before he entered, so everything we cooked had to get his seal of approval. The food was delicious and the company was impeccable. I am truly very blessed.

On Friday the FOCUS missionaries head to PA for the Atlantic regional gathering. I can't wait to be reunited with my fellow missionaries from the surrounding states. Yet, a missionary's work is never done. Please pray for peace for all the missionaries this weekend. Pray that we can leave all the to-do lists at home and truly enjoy each others' company. Pray that our to-do lists are blessed and get done, despite the way the hours disappear during the week. Know that you are in our thoughts and prayers!