NET Canada

Hello beautiful readers! This is Claire and Adele reporting from Team 2. This past week we had a very full schedule, we had six Encounter Days. They were all very successful, and though it was a long week, it was very grace-filled as well.

On Wednesday and Thursday we were in Whitby, Ontario and had confessions available both days. The priest requested extra time for confessions so we had them for about an hour; almost every student was in line and we unfortunately didn't have time for them all to go. Most of the girls in my small group hadn't gone since their first confession. It was so amazing to me to think of all the souls that were made new those days!

The students were also very responsive to us the whole day. Even right at the beginning, several of the girls got right into the music. During lunch, many of them were playing guitar and piano. Overall, they were pretty excited to be there and that is always a plus!

The next day we traveled to Etobicoke where we did Encounter Days at Nativity of Our Lord parish. Since they hosted a NET parish team last year, the community was very familiar with NET and very excited to have us there. Several of the students attend the EDGE program, which is still going strong. Lorne, the youth minister, was involved with the Encounter Days and he really helped to get the youth involved. He is awesome and it's apparent that he really loves working with them. The youth, in turn, seem to like him a lot as well. We were also able to see the Hennessys, the family of Christiana [editor's note: Christiana Hennessy is on Team 3, the french traveling team]. They are an amazing family; some of us stayed with them the last time we were in Etobicoke, so it was great to see them again.

This is Adele writing to tell you about our Team Day on Sunday, which turned out to be my unbirthday. We traveled to Ajax, Ontario to meet up with one of my host families from last year, the Grant family. It was such an amazing surprise! We spent the beautiful sunny day in the park catching up on old times and playing ultimate frisbee. I was really happy to see the Grants but I was also so excited for the rest of the team to meet them as well. They are such a beautiful and loving family - you instantly feel welcomed when you are with them. After a really great afternoon, we went out for dinner at Jack Astor's. The food was delicious and just spending time relaxing with the team was a lot of fun. Overall my unbirthday was a huge success!!

Monday we did an Encounter Day for grade 9 students. The students were a little chatty but they were all really affirming towards each other. At the end of the Encounter Day one of the students, without being asked by the teacher, thanked us for the day. We were really touched by his initiative.

It has been a busy week but really rewarding. Thank you all for your prayers and support!

God bless always,

In Christ,

Claire and Adele