The-Middle-of-Nowhere
I, a New York City gal, never knew anything or even thought about The-Middle-of-Nowhere, Ohio. The idea of picking up my life and placing it there was unimaginable... but it happened and now I’m a missionary at Damascus Catholic Mission Campus. It’s normal to think I downgraded, but after living here for a few months, I can assure you that I haven’t downgraded at all.
LET IT BE KNOWN: This post isn’t meant to say that one place is better than the other. It’s simply meant to share the craziness that is God’s will. So here we go!
I’M SOMEWHERE
I’m too far for UBEReats or Postmates to reach. However, I’m under a massive amount of stars and next to sunrises / sunsets. I’m surrounded by creatures like deer, giant turtles, bullfrogs, fireflies, and more. I’m in awe of creation in every moment.
Most importantly, I’m in front of Jesus during mass or adoration almost every day. I’m physically so close and so intimate with Him.
I’m somewhere. I’m on Holy Ground.
I’M SOMEONE
You know the cheesy phrases, “You’re going to be somebody.” or “You’re doing big things.”? I finally believe that. I’m part of an organization that’s changing lives. Through it, I get to create art that exposes beauty, bring joy, and enlighten others. I also get to build fruitful relationships where I’m leading individual persons, small groups, or big congregations to Jesus.
I’m someone. I’m Jesus’s hands and feet.
I HAVE SOMETHING
I don’t have easy access to my biological family anymore. I don’t have a lot of money, my own car, and my own apartment anymore. But I have a meaningful job and coworkers who love me so well. I even consider some of them to be my true, life-long friends and all of them to be my new family! That’s just what happens when people who are running after God come together.
In the few months we’ve been working, we’ve contributed to apathetic Catholics becoming devout Catholics. We’ve contributed to emotional, mental, spiritual, and physical healings. We’ve contributed to ACTUAL MIRACLES. At this point, it’s impossible for us to deny the reality of God...
I had the faith to believe what I couldn’t see. Now, I have something. I have the reward to see what I believe.
– Saint Augustine
I have something. I have heaven here on Earth.
It’s funny to think that in high school (6 years ago), I was voted “most likely to live in New York City forever.” And 4 years ago, I never would have thought to leave my favorite place in the world. I never would have wanted what I have now for myself.
I had a dream, but God had a bigger one. Now I realize that when you lose your life, you’ll find it in God. And that new life bears so much more fruit and goodness. It wins so many more victories.
Moving to Ohio to become a missionary at Damascus Catholic Mission Campus was not my decision, it was God’s. And now my life is so full, it overflows. It’s better than I ever imagined... because it’s a life spent in heaven on Earth.
