Missions 2008

I've just come back from Challenge Missions in Isleton, California. I must say, it was really impacting on me for a number of reasons.

Reason 1.
I know, a lot of people are extremely irritated by groups who go door-to-door and telling people to convert. I know that I'm irritated by that. But this weekend I became on of them. With my group, I went door-to-door inviting people to come to Easter Mass and to bring their kids to the kid's camps. Let me tell you, I was dissapointed that so many people don't go to church at all. After hours of going to houses where the doors were slammed in our faces, it was so refreshing to find the house of a good Catholic family that would invite us in. I have learned the true goodness of people who offered their homes, their foods, and their showers (blessed showers, never shall I take you for granted!) to us, we who don't know them. Just because we come telling people about Christ.

Reason 2.
Never have I known real generosity until this weekend. There were 14 girls in total and we had some food donated to us. Yet, families donated lots and lots of food. Oh, it was some of the best food I've tasted. And to think, they donated so much without knowing us.

Reason 3.
I was so deeply moved when the other group of girls came back and told us of this man they met. They had come to this house and the man invited them in. They began to chat with him when suddenly his daughter came out and began to yell and swear at him. The girls quickly left but turned back to see him standing outside and sobbing. They returned to him and though at first he refused to talk, he broke down and confided in them that he was miserable. His daughter disrespected him and seemed not to care for him. He was alone in the world and had noone to rely on. They consoled him and talked a while. They invited him to the service that night (Holy Thursday night) though they were sure he would not come. But lo and behold, he did come. One of the girls, Jessica, became closest to him and sat next to him, explaining the whole service to him. At the end, he thanked them all deeply. The next night, Good Friday, he came again and sat through the whole thing, eagerly drinking it all in. He came again and again and the night before he left, he thanked the girls from the bottom of his heart. He felt like he had come home. I watched all this, impressed and touched.

People criticize people like us for being "too religious". Tell me, what is their basis for comparison? What does "too religious" mean? I don't condemn people for believing what they believe. Why should they be angry at us for believing what we believe? All we are doing is inviting people to the Church. We're not shoving our religion down your throats.

I'm Catholic and I love it.