NAS: The Holy Spirit

Ahhh!!! It's summer vacation! Today was my first day and it feels weird! I loved being at the same school all year this year! Tomorrow (May 27th) I have an interview for a full-time position at a low-income Catholic School in my diocese. So, if you could take a moment at 1:30 pm central standard time to pray that it goes well, I would be very grateful!

Now, the prompt for the NAS this week is the Holy Spirit. Seems perfect considering that we celebrated Pentecost on Sunday! 

I LOVE the first reading on Pentecost Sunday! It gives my chills whenever I hear  it. It is truely amazing how the Holy Spurit moved the disciples. They were able to speak in different tongues and were understood by all! I was looking forward to mass on Sunday solely to hear this reading and to hear the homily.

Well, things don't always go according to plan...I hurt my back somehow between Friday and Sunday. I was in pain all day and the medicine I was taking made me dizzy so I knew I would not be driving myself to mass. If my parents went, they would take my dad's truck and there was no way I would be able to get in. Even if I did make it there, sitting in a pew would be tough. I was devistated! I wanted to go so badly. 

Well, we ended up taking my brother's car. Then, one of my favorite priests was saying mass so it didn't last over 45 minutes. (Disclaimer: he's not one of my favorites because he says short masses) His homily was good, but he didn't talk about the first reading.

But he did talk about not being afraid. How God provides for all and he is there to remind us not to be afraid. He talked about how when he met St. Pope John Paul II he was told by him to not be afraid. I felt like the Holy Spirit was talking through him to me. 

The last couple of weeks have been kind of stressful. I sent in my application for the Catholics on Call Conference, but one of my references got lost so we had to quickly fix that. That same day I got my flight info for my trip to Wichita. I will not only be flying by myself for the first time, but I will have to switch planes by myself at DFW. I also have this interview for a job I REALLY want tomorrow that I have had scheduled for 2 weeks. From June 8 through June 21 I will be on the go. This has me super stressed. I'll be in Wichita, then at TEC's 50th Celebration, then a week in Ruma, and finally Assembly. So I really won't be home for nearly 2 weeks.

But, God has said be not afraid. The Holy Spirit is with me giving me the comfort and peace to get through this next month. 

Check out Jen and Morgan's blogs for more NAS goodness!

7 QT: Another Update

Wowzers! I have been busy, busy, busy!!! I've been kept busy by the sisters and doing "homework". I will now share a little of what I have been up to!

1.

I had the opputinty to explore the a Ruma convent! Wow! It's really pretty! 

I could just sit quietly here and just enjoy the beauty!

2. I had this opportunity because I was invited to attend the 50th Jubilee celebration for some of the sisters. It was a pretty ceremony. It was also my first "on my own" event that I have attended. Normally, my vocation director or another sister is my guide, but they were all busy celebrating so I was on my own. Luckily, everyone is very friendly and I ended up getting to catchup with one of the sisters that taught me in high school. As the day went on, I found myself not wanting to leave. The Ruma convent is beginning to feel like home!

3. I have also had the chance to have dinner with another small community of sisters. I was very nervous because I would again be on my own AND I had to drive on a couple of different interstates to get there. It was a lovely dinner and I had the chance to hear their vocation stories. I was kind of shocked at how similar theirs were to mine. Some of them had also, at first, said no to a religious vocation. It also took some awhile to accept that it was where God was calling them.

4. I have also began exploring the vows. This was really difficult to start. I easily read the poverty section with no trouble. I feel like I can, and kind of already do, live that vow. Most of the celibacy section seemed like it would be a struggle, but doable. It encourages a support system because leading a celibate life isn't always easy. The obedience section also seemed doable. It's not like I will be told what to do, but it will be conversations and discernment where the community and I see where I should minister. Will there be difficult times? I'm sure, but that's when you talk to someone.

5. There was one section that I read that kind of put me in a panic. It was about never having my own children. This though has always been okay with me. However, when I read this, it, all of a sudden, wasn't okay. I don't know why, but I had a nice long chat with God about this. And I do wonder if I will be okay never having my own children.

6. I had the chance to have lunch at the Ruma convent with some sisters and associates. I love how welcoming they are and how they make me feel like part of their family. Next weekend, I have been invited down to meet the Jr. Associates and spend the day with them. They are young men and women 11-20 who want to grow in their faith through prayer, study, and charity. I'm excited to meet this group!

7. As I was leaving, I may have helped myself get a job. It's amazing how God works. The principal of a local Catholic School just so happened to be there as I was leaving and she is looking to hire a middle school social studies teacher! I'm certified to teach middle school social studies. The principal is considering becoming an associate, another associate works there, but is leaving to work with sisters in Tanzania for a year, and another sister works there. I think I would fit into this school! 

Please pray for me as I go about applying for this job!

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