It is hard to believe that I am back in Helena, MT for a
second year of service with Reach Youth Ministry. First of all, I want to thank
all of those who have supported me financially as well as spiritually this year.
It is because of your love and support that I am able to be here again this
year, and I am so thankful.
Now to tell you about this year: there are 11 Reach members and
two teams. My team is the Helena team and our patron is St. John Paul II (so so
so awesome). We will be traveling across the Diocese of Helena doing retreats
and youth group nights. Our team will also be traveling to Utah as well as
Arizona and New Mexico. I am very excited about going to the Southwest because
I had the blessing of going there with my Reach team last year. My team is
returning to some of the cities I visited last year, so I am really excited to
see some of the same amazing families and individuals again. The other team
(St. Kateri) will be based in Yakima, WA and will travel across the Pacific
Northwest. However, this year, something new and really awesome is happening in
the last few months of Reach. Both the teams will come together as one big team
(under the patronage of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati) to work at a camp near
Seattle, WA. God is good!
In the last three weeks, we have been pretty busy. We have
heard talks from amazing speakers in the community, we are learning ministry
skills such as leading games, activities, and giving a testimony, and we are
also getting to know one another and growing in fellowship. A typical day of
training includes an hour of personal prayer time, a morning session, Mass,
lunch, outdoor activities, afternoon session, and team prayer. I have gone
hiking, played sports, gone to a lake, etc. Montana is beautiful! This includes
the scenery and the people.
The Reach members are split into three different host homes,
and all of us live with wonderful families. I am staying with a beautiful
couple that lives near downtown Helena. They have been so good to me and the
other two girls that are my roommates/teammates. We are definitely being taken
care of here in Helena. There are also families across Helena who have
generously offered to host the Reach teams for dinners on weekends. I am in awe
at how beautiful, loving, and supportive this community is toward Reach. We are
so blessed.
Additionally, last weekend, both teams had the pleasure of
going to Legendary Lodge (a place where the Diocese holds summer camps) to
attend the first CYC (Catholic Youth Coalition) Board meeting. The CYC Board is
a group of a little over 100 high school youth who serve as leaders in their
parishes and come together throughout the year to grow in faith, fellowship,
and to plan events throughout the diocese (especially the big youth convention that
takes place in the Spring). These young people are amazing and it was wonderful
to spend the weekend with them and see what amazing witnesses they are. The
youth of this Diocese are an example of what the young church can do and wants
to do. These kids are given great responsibility, great adult guidance, and
they rise to the challenge.
This weekend, the Reach teams are traveling to Conrad, MT to
help with a Kickball Tournament that is a big deal in this diocese. I am
excited to be part of this fellowship event.
Please continue to pray for me and for my brothers and
sisters on Reach. We are praying for you as well. God bless you!
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