Yesterday during my chill out relaxing in my hotel room, first night not on a top bunk in a hot crowded room in quite some time, I was able to be productive actually. Catching up with friends, researching some things, planning some things, it was great! Two of my friends have just returned from Ghana and hearing their stories and updates was amazing. The best was seeing their pictures and seeing how far the school is coming along as well as the bright smiles that still run across the kids faces. I am so thankful to be able to travel like I am and see the world. Europe has always been a destination I wanted to tackle and I really feel like I accomplished my goal this summer. With that said, I miss Ghana so much. Seeing the pictures and hearing the stories only added to that. I am going to need to find a balance between seeing the world and returning to Ghana every summer from now on.
Recently I heard from a student who was returning from a service trip this summer. Talking to her and hearing about her experiences was surprisingly fulfilling for me. Even though I didn't go on a service trip this summer, hearing her stories made me reflect on my own experiences in the past. She told me about her first day of work. She wasn't feeling to connected to it. Of course she was happy to be there but something was missing. After praying a bit she looked up and saw a rainbow across the sky. It was at that moment that she knew she was doing what she was supposed to do.
The Assumption of Mary is this week and I feel that this story from my student goes along with the Assumption perfectly. When the angel appeared and Mary agreed to have Jesus she was doing the work of God. In Luke it says "blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it." Doing service work is rewarding in many ways. When my student said she knew this is what she was supposed to be doing, it was a satisfaction that she felt that is unlike anything else. It's as if you're being rewarded by God, without actually being paid or given anything. I personally think this is the blessing Luke was referring to when you 'hear the word of God and observe it'. No one said following Gods word would be easy, but someone DID say you will blessed. Therefore, why not?
......
I've been in Rome for less than 24 hours and I've accomplished so much. I watched Roman Holiday, I did yoga for the first time, I went to church, and I even went to confession. I arrived in Rome and went to my meeting spot to meet up with my friend Tiffany. She was two years ahead of me at St. Mary's, but when I was a freshman her and some other juniors took me under their wing to show me the ropes. I havent seen her since her senior year so over 5 years. It's been really fun reminiscing about college and catching up.
Her job here in Rome is giving tours of the Vatican and other sites. She is totally hooking me up and I will be seeing Rome like few do. Even just walking down the street with her she is explaining things and answering my questions about stuff. I feel bad because during her time away from work she is getting the stupid tourist questions but she claims she doesn't mind. So far I can report that yes she really loves her job, Americans are not the dumbest ones on her tours (I won't say which country is...), and yes she has slipped and said 'poop' instead of 'Pope' before.
I went to church this morning at a beautiful basilica down the street from her apartment. I was a little early so I was just wandering around taking in the statues and paintings and things. I saw priests were doing confessions and when I saw one in English I thought why not. Like I said on Facebook, the Pope is on vacation so now I am in charge. I needed to be in a sinless state for my new title.
The game plan is to stay here for about 5 or 6 days. I will be doing St. Peter's and Vatican tour, the colosseum tour, a tour to Assisi to say what up to St. Francis' hometown, the Pantheon as well as the Roman Forum, and hopefully reenacting a chariot race at some point. The list is long but I am pretty excited about everything.
Sent from my iPad
No comments:
Post a Comment