A few days ago I read this bible quote and it inspired the title of my blog and of my mission work this year:
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:1-2
I wrote this poem during orientation in New York, believe it sums up my call to do mission work, and wanted to share it with everyone:
and in death is a gift
a beautiful, glorious, and challenging
gift from God
sometimes disguised
in a painful hardship
sometimes through the
word of a friend
and occasionally
through a dream
or in a simple rose
all are messages
from God
reminding us of
His love
our call
His desire for us to
kneel before Him and say
"Thank you because even though
You do not need me
to do anything
you have chosen me
you have blessed me
with this amazing opportunity
and so
'Here I am Lord to do Your will'
I'm here to answer your call
to hand over the little I have
and especially these hands
which through You
and only You
can do great things,
This heart which
You have made to
be filled with your love
so that I may
love You and Your children,
and this whole life
following You
to whatever You call me
and wherever You lead me
letting You love me
surrendering all things to
Your control
Letting you show me
what I need most
to serve you best
and give me
grace and openness
to receive it
willingness
to embrace it
and peace knowing
that it is You
I receive at mass
it is You that I see
in every child
it is You I see in those
that are hardest to love
and refuse to change
it is You I see in
every moment
every tear
every smile
every good bye
every hello
every old friend
and all the new friends
You are there
living
loving
waiting
for every yes
and forgiving
in every no
never leaving us alone
always there in our
minds
heart
souls.
what I need most
to serve you best
and give me
grace and openness
to receive it
willingness
to embrace it
and peace knowing
that it is You
I receive at mass
it is You that I see
in every child
it is You I see in those
that are hardest to love
and refuse to change
it is You I see in
every moment
every tear
every smile
every good bye
every hello
every old friend
and all the new friends
You are there
living
loving
waiting
for every yes
and forgiving
in every no
never leaving us alone
always there in our
minds
heart
souls.
Today I leave the United States and am heading to Bolivia for a year to start my mission work as a Salesian Lay Missioner (SLM - for more information visit: http://salesianlaymissioners.org/home/). I will be living, working, and tutoring at Hogar Maria Auxiliadora which is an all girls orphanage in Itocta, a farming community which is 45min outside of Cochabamba. The girls are ages 7-18 and are there for a variety of reasons. More than anything though, my job is to be a loving presence to the girls. I feel so very blessed to be called and gifted with this work and to set off on this amazing adventure. Please pray for me as I journey waaaayyyyy down south and as I begin my mission work. As soon as I have internet access in Bolivia I will post an update or at least let everyone know that I made it! God Bless you! St. John Bosco and Mary Help of Christians Pray for us!
~Michelle~
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