On the Road

   Happy November! I apologize for the delay in updating this blog. We have been super crazy busy over the last month. Our team hit the road on Oct.3, and we have been going ever sense. Our first retreat was in Cedar City, UT. It went really well for a first retreat together, and we met some amazing people. This was the first of what will be 5 retreats in the Diocese of Salt Lake City. Then we went to Draper, UT. That retreat had close to 100 youth. 

Our next retreat was back in Montana. We went out to a retreat center with the students from St. Andrew’s Catholic School in Helena. The retreat was about 3.5 hrs from Helena. Those high school students were great. They loved the games and were also really responsive in discussions. Then we went to Malta, MT. This is a really small town Northeast of Helena. The retreat had 11 middle and high school students and all of them were wonderful. I love when we have a lot of youth on a retreat because we get to share the love of Christ with so many hearts. However, small retreats are so beautiful and they are really special. The kids and the adults were so appreciative, and they loved that we came to do a retreat for them. Then we went to Pretty Eagle Catholic Academy near Hardin, MT. It is on the Crow Reservation. We did a middle school retreat and then went to St. Labre in Ashland, MT for another middle school retreat. It is on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation. We got to tour the school and sit in on some culture classes, which I loved. I sat in on a beading class where I learned the reasoning behind different colors. I also went to a class on Northern Cheyenne culture. Additionally, we all went to a drumming class and listened to the teacher and a group of 5^th graders drum and sing. It was so cool. 

Next we went to Price, UT, and that drive was about 13 hrs (yes, it felt like it took forever). I loved that retreat though. It was a smaller town and the area was so beautiful. We were surrounded by great people and beautiful scenery. The kids participated in activities, and they were so full of joy. Then we went to Spokane, WA. We met an awesome priest, some young adults who did Reach in the past, and other adults who were wonderful, caring, and very supportive. The youth were also great. They got into the activities and listened really well. Yesterday, we went to Anaconda, MT. It was for 3 retreats (each for 1 hr). We got to work with grades 3-5 for the first time this year. That is always fun because they are so energetic and joyful.

 Tomorrow we leave for Ogden, UT for our fourth Diocese of Salt Lake City retreat. After that we return to St. Labre and then we go to Park City, UT for our last Utah retreat. Please continue to pray for us. We always appreciate it. Things are busy, but everywhere I go I learn something new, meet awesome youth and adults, and get to share the love of Christ. I am truly blessed. I am praying for you all. God bless!