Hello amazing Mission Partners and Prayer warriors!
Thank you for your continued support and prayers! You're in my prayers daily and I have found peace and joy knowing that I have such a great support system behind me in this mission The Lord has placed in front of me. This call to serve at the Northern Arizona Campus has been a difficult challenge where I have experienced moments of rejection of the Church and Her teachings, a sense of relativism and apathy, and the suffering of students trying to free themselves of temptation and live not of this world, but for Christ alone. It is a temptation of my own to believe the lie that the campus could never be won over for Christ and that His work isn't present. However, Jesus loves me and knows my weakness and has blessed me with peace of such an amazing support system and the ability to witness growth and conversion in the students. Seeing the students flock to the Adoration chapel, new Bible studies popping up in all different groups on campus, and witnessing 13 students choose to put careers on hold and apply for FOCUS this coming May to serve Christ in a radical way on other college campus's. These students will be attending FOCUS interview weekend November 15-17 where FOCUS and the students will discern whether this is the mission and lifestyle God is calling them to lead for the next few years. Please keep them in your prayers and intentions!
These past few weeks Bible studies have started rolling and the students are diving deeper into God's divine word and teaching. I have the opportunity to lead 3 Bible studies who differ in age group and all walks of life. New Catholics, non-Catholics, devout Catholics, but most of all women who are struggling with knowing the truth of living a life for Christ but still feel a pull and desire to give into the temptations of the world. I have been able to walk them through a 5 week study where we encounter God's work throughout the New and Old Testament. How His mercy, justice, and love is present in all times, and how it is present and here for them now! We are now moving into praying with scripture and how God wants to inspire us daily with His Word. I am excited for a new transformation in their hearts as they encounter Christ in a real way through the Bible. Please pray for these women as we begin this exciting journey!!
Thank you again and please feel free to e-mail me any specific prayer requests!
How to pray with Scripture:
Leccio Divina: Divine Reading
1) Pick a passage from the Bible.
-Great place to start is the Gospels!
2) Begin by praying to the Holy Spirit to guide you in the reading and to open your heart to what God wants to say to you through the scripture.
3) Read through once and meditate for 3-5 minutes on what the passage is actually about
4) Read through again, meditate for 3-5 minutes on a phrase that is striking to you
5) Read through a last time, meditate for 3-5 minutes on a word that is particularly striking
6) Reflect: Why is this word/phrase so striking to me? What is God trying to tell me through this passage? How does this apply to my life now?
7) End by praying in thanksgiving for the scriptures and that God will guide you as you strive to take His word into your everyday life!
