Tuesday, January 15, 2013

SEEK and you shall find....

As soon as I returned to Nebraska, it was time to head South again! We began the semester by bringing over 300 students to SEEK2013, a national conference held by FOCUS in Orlando, FL. It drew over 6,000 college students from all across the country. The purpose of this conference was to provide an opportunity for these students to encounter Christ and the richness of truth that He offers them in His Church. Here are some testimonies about what the students from UNL experienced:


“I learned so many good things.  We were surrounded by wonderful Catholic speakers.  A quote from speaker Jason Evert really encouraged me.  He said “The fruit of prayer is not always experienced in prayer, but in the rest of your life.”  I know that even if I don’t hear the answers to my questions while in prayer, I will find God’s will by living a life rooted in prayer.”

“My most vivid memory was watching 6000 students line up for confession more eagerly than if they were waiting for a ride at Disney.  This act alone showedhow passionate everyone was about their relationship with God.  I cannot express my gratitude for the lessons I have taken away from SEEK 2013.”

“I went to SEEK hoping to get spiritually hit in the head with a 2x4.  I was hoping God would reveal my vocation or give me a sign about my future.  What I got was so much better.  I got Him.  During adoration and confession Jesus was right there telling me that He was the one I’ve been seeking all this time.  He was the only one I needed.  I’d been trying to fill my life with friends; school and material possessions and He looked straight into my heart and soul and told me that those things could never satisfy me – only Him.”

“This trip changed my life.  My eyes have finally been opened and I truly understand the commitment it takes to be Catholic.  This will be the pivotal point I can talk about years from now.”

“My favorite parts of SEEK2013 turned out to be things I really wasn’t looking forward to.  I learned to see the beauty of Mass.  Confession was also my favorite part and it brought tears to my eyes to see literally thousands of young people standing in line to confess."

“I gained a sense that my peers are actively seeking God.  I am not alone."

These are just a few of the many testimonies that students shared about how God rocked them. Overall, TOTALLY worth all the headaches that went into organizing the trip! Praise God for the opportunity to serve these students for another semester! Thanks so much for your prayers and support!!