What's sustains us...

I've devoted a lot of time to sharing what has gone on here on campus. There is plenty more to tell, as well! Each week, there are exciting new activities happening...Thursday was a Eucharistic procession all over UNL's campus, Friday through Sunday was a special conference for Greek fraternity and sorority members where some amazing conversions took place, tonight was an awesome healing Mass that ended with many students spending over an hour in adoration of Our Lord...and all the while we fill our days with meeting with students, putting on Bible studies, and evangelizing strangers. But in the midst of continually putting on events, listening to students, and directing them towards pursuit of what is good and true, how do we as missionaries continue to give of ourselves from 9am to 11pm, as often a day's work requires? Well, put simply, we don't!

What do I mean? Well, if we were giving ourselves, I personally would have used myself up the very first day on campus! The purpose for our being here is to share Christ's love, which is the only reason why we're able to keep pouring ourselves out in the midst of the difficulties that we encounter.

So what does this mean on a practical level? It means that at least one hour of each day is spent in personal prayer with the Lord (three times a week, this happens all together as a team), and that we also participate in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass every day. Twice a week, we say morning prayer together, and every other week we spend a half hour as a team praying for each other's personal intentions. Any add-ons for me personally? At the moment, I'm renewing my Marian Consecration, saying a rosary and reading Scripture daily, and also trying to do more Ignatian prayer. I've also been trying to frequent the sacrament of Reconciliation every other week, although sometimes it is more like once a month. Have to work on that one!

How does this help? We can't give what we don't have. It's only by our filling ourselves with the graces that God is continuously offering to us that we are then able to help the young people on campus encounter the reality of God's awesomeness. The joy that comes from living an authentic Christian life is very attractive! What is at the center of this life? Prayer!

Additionally, one of the most important ways to help students understand the lifelong mission that they are entering into is to help them understand the importance of developing a prayer life. It's pretty difficult to encourage them to do this if we aren't doing it ourselves! We need to instead be at their side praying with them.

So, there you go, the secret is out! FOCUS missionaries are on campus to be instruments of God's love, not because their super-human. Praise God!