Life Update

The last post was about what is on my mind... now about what is going on in my life! I will talk about it all here, but I will post pictures on Facebook... it takes way too long for pictures to load here! (...and I used to think that it was quicker to do it here! haha)

First, the trip to Gogrial and Akon (pictures already posted):

Great drive! I always love going for drives through new places! I think that is because I love nature and just think the world and landscape is so beautiful The road was not paved, it was like that scene in Ace Ventura when he is cruising through the forest! haha A lot of fun though! :) We visited some brothers from another religious order in Gogrial, then carried on to Akon (about 45 minutes away) where they were finishing up construction on a new church in the presidents home town. It was pretty massive! 

Second, October 31st rosary procession for the end of the month of the rosary:

I love the processions we have here! First because they are always full of children! But also because it is very rare to find such public acts of faith in the US! It was very beautiful walking around the town near the church for about 30 minutes as the sun was setting! It was also amazing to see a procession that was long enough that the end of the line was on a different part of the rosary because they could not hear the front! Very cool witness to the faith by an abundance of children!

Third, All Souls Day mass:

We had off of school for all souls day (but not all saints day... dont ask, im still confused too.) There was mass in the graveyard in the evening which was very cool. Not just the idea to pray for the dead in the graveyard... but because there were at least 4,000 people present!! This is not an exaggeration. I guessed 3000-5000, some other people guessed even more than that. So i think 4,000 is a good conservative guess-timate!  Mass was celebrated by the bishop and lasted about two and a half hours, it was beautiful! 

In other news, life at the VTC continues to go well! Exams are the first week of December, then we have a 3 month vacation from school. I am sure I will be kept busy with work at the parish and with the street children though!

Now that I am giving the exam, and am on the other side of the test, I know a little more how it feels to give tests... I always thought it didn't matter to the teacher how one student does, but it does! I always get sad when even one student does not do well. So, i have a new understanding! -Thank you to all of my teachers who graded my tests! :) 

I'll be sure to keep you all updated on new works that I start when I do not have school!

Those are the main events!! It is almost time for prayer though, so pictures will come tomorrow on Facebook! :) 

Peace!

~Dan

(sorry if there are some bad spelling mistakes, or worse than usual grammar. I did not type this before hand in Word like I usually do!)

Seek Ye First

I have a new hobby… Reading! This should come as a surprise to most people who know me! But in my spare time I have started to read a lot. One theme that has been coming up a lot in the books I have been reading is the message, ‘Never stop searching!’ This idea of never ceasing to search is what makes me want to read more! It is a fabulous cycle: read, learn, and become inspired to read/search for more! (It just took me about 24 years to get in the cycle!)

The only way we can come to know God is by searching! In prayer, in life, in reading, [and most importantly] in the sacraments! If we search, God will answer. I read recently, ‘one of the Devil’s greatest tricks is to get us to stop searching’ (which is what got me thinking, and eventually writing).

One of the most notorious, or cliché, sayings from someone who refuses to believe in God is, ‘I cannot believe in a God who allows so much suffering and pain!’ But I would bet most people who say that never asked ‘why is there suffering and pain?’ and if they did ask that, I can almost guarantee that they did not search for an answer. Asking is good only if you are willing to search for an answer!

Side note:

If you are reading this and want an answer: Free will! One thing that makes us humans, human, is our free will. We are free to choose good or evil. If God were to step in every time someone was going to choose evil, we cease to have free will. If we have no free will, we cease to be human and our ‘yes’ to God is meaningless if the choice is not ours. BUT our ‘yes’ to God is never forced, thus it is NEVER meaningless… our ‘yes’ is the greatest gift we can give! This is just a quick response to get you thinking, to start your search! If you want to continue your search… read the book, ‘Crossing the Threshold of Hope’ by Blessed John Paul II. AMAZING BOOK! Basically it is an interview with a reporter who asks some very tough questions and JP2 who gives phenomenal answers!

The point of the example is this: the person who has that attitude, or asks that question, never searches. They could eventually end up denying the existence of God. It is about the lack of searching! Something or someone (the devil?) created in that person a hardened heart, a heart that had no desire to search. Maybe it was via comfort, ‘I don’t care about searching for more. I am happy where I am; why bother upsetting the apple cart?’ Maybe the person puts his faith in worldly gratification, ‘Well, instead of searching for the faith and love, I can be happy if I go shopping, have a few more drinks or hook up!’ There are plenty of other examples. With any of these excuses the point is that we are deterred from the desire to search for more.

I used an extreme example of someone denying God because s/he refused to search, but the something similar can be said for those who have a strong faith! I promise if you search for more, you will find it. You can always grow, you can always increase faith, but you have to have the desire: you have to search! I know for me, sometimes pride can get in the way and I catch myself saying, ‘I already read and prayed today.’ Maybe we can catch ourselves only doing the minimum of what we think will get us to Heaven. Yes, the end goal should always be heaven, but your attitude should NEVER be to do the bare minimum to get to heaven. (We know this because Jesus giving us the beatitudes. In addition to following  the commandment, He gave us ‘open ended commandments’ that we can always work on perfecting in our lives; we can always SEARCH for a greater understanding of the beatitudes!

You have to want to search! Like in scrubs when JD is lifting a couch he yells, “YOU GOTTA WANT IT JOHNNY D!!! YOU GOTTA WANT IT!” God has already put that desire in your heart to want more. All you have to do is make the first step (ask a tough question and search for the answer) and He will do the rest! J

                                                                                                                                                                           

I just finished reading, ‘Crossing the Threshold of Hope’ and just today started a book called, ‘To the Field of Stars’ about the camino de Santiago! I am extremely excited for the new book. It might make my day dreaming and staring into space worse than it typically is! But none the less, I am excited!

Looks like this post was a bit longer… Hope you made it through and will click the link to my blog next time I update it!

One final thing: This song sums up what I was trying to say!! J Seek and God will answer!

Seek Ye first the kingdom of God,
And His righteousness,
And all these things, shall be added onto you, 
Alleu, alleuia

Man shall not live by bread alone,
But by every word
That proceeds from the mouth of God
Alleu, Alleuia
Ask and it shall be given unto you,