Where to start?

Why are we so blessed? Do you remember that SNL skit? We'll get to that Bob. If you don't that's okay, but that's a question I've been asking myself these past few months, especially these past few weeks.

The past two months have been a whirlwind of graces. I ended the year with a bittersweet goodbye to all the graduating Midshipmen. Who now are officers in the Marine Corps or Navy. I am beyond proud and honored to have served them in their last year at they Academy. I know they are off to do bigger and better things. Things that most people wouldn't even dare to do. As I say goodbye to many friends who are moving to different states, serving our country or entering religious life, I am reminded and humbled that my friends are not my own. God gives you the people you need at points in your life and they are true gifts. So, having swallowed that piece of knowledge I have realized that we all have been called to go and do BIG things, and I must have hope that we shall be reunited in heaven, one day.

I traveled to Denver, Colorado for our Team Director training. Some of you may not know but I will be returning to the Naval Academy as the Team Director. Talk about an amazing week of training. I don't know where else I would get this great training. FOCUS has taken the time to not only train us how to be good leaders on the respective campus' we serve but also teaching us how to live the lifelong mission of being a leader whatever our vocation may be.

From there I flew back to Annapolis for a day to get packed up for our New Staff Training. The next day I made the trek out here (University of Illinois at Campaign) with another missionary. As we drove 13 hours to Campaign, IL I was thinking, our lives are crazy. Denver, Maryland, Virginia, Illinois all in 3 days.  We arrived and the next day we were back in classes. The first few days of Training were just for us Deans and Fundraising coaches. During New Staff Training we are all broken down in to different colleges around 8 people men with men women with women. These are the people that you spend the most time with. It is to help us have a smaller group of people that we eat dinner with and have evening formation with. Even an extrovert can get overwhelmed by the 300+ missionaries here.

Dean and Fundraising Coach Training was til Wendesday then we had our first ever Cor Unum from Acts 4:32 “And the multitude of believers had but one heart and one soul.”  It was 3 day celebration with all the staff and their families. It was a huge work party. 
From that we  welcomed our 160 first year missionaries. They are the largest class of first year missionaries. Saturday there was a steady stream of eager, nervous, intimated first year missionaries checking into their new home for the next 5 weeks. 

Daily Mass is always a part of our day

Eucharistic Procession on U of I's campus

2012-2013 FOCUS Missionaries

And we've been going non stop since then. Almost 4 weeks down, 1 more to go.  Let me tell you, these missionaries here are top-notch rock stars. I forget what counter-cultural life we live, and am reminded when I am here at training that this is a different world. These men and women that have said YES to serving the church are unbelievable. The first years here are pushed to the edge and the only thing that keeps you going is knowing that the Lord has called you to serve in this mission. 

Meet the 2012-2013 Navy team! Marcos and Celine are both first year missionaries with FOCUS. 

Alrighty, thanks for reading!  I am now off to MPD class for the first years and then off to Mass, dinner, and more fundraising classes. 


Peace!

Team Navy! L-R Marcos, Celine, Me, Eric