Greetings to all followers of the NET blog! Katie Foster here, signing in from Encounter Team One. I was very excited this week when our regular blogger, Maria Kalin, extended an invitation to me to write this latest entry. Team One has been very busy doing the work of God since arriving in Saskatchewan. Retreats are going great, and lives are being touched.
Upon arriving in Saskatchewan, our team had reason for celebration, as our wonderful blogger Maria Kalin turned 19! The evening was marked by a Wal-Mart adventure followed by a trip to Dairy Queen, and completed with team prayer led by the birthday girl herself. That evening, our team was hosted together in a school in Weyburn, making it great for team spirit and convenient for retreat set-up. We woke up the next morning, however, to a chilling temperature of -40°C. Instead of letting this discourage us, however, many took the opportunity to attempt a new trick – throwing boiling water in the air and watching it freeze before reaching the ground, to the amazement of all those from warmer climates. Following our stay at that school, we traveled to Wilcox, where we were once again hosted in a school. This was not a regular school however, and so we stayed in dorm rooms at Notre Dame High School. While we were there, we had opportunities not only to minister to youth on retreats, but connect with them in the cafeteria and around campus, and even take in a few hockey games. From there we traveled to Regina, where our team met up with NET Ireland alumnus Reed Miller. Following a few nights stay in Regina, we hit the road once again, traveling to Yorkton, where we threw a surprise “Un-Birthday” party for Jacob Aultman. We arranged a Super Bowl party, which included dinner at our contact person’s house, and a wide screen television on which to watch the Super Bowl. The night was fun for many, with a close game and a great half-time show, however, much to the displeasure of Tom Russell, the Pittsburgh Steelers lost to the Green Bay Packers.
In the last three days we have been doing Confirmation retreats in Yorkton and Melville, and then traveled back to Regina for a much anticipated weekend of team days, a ministry day, a “no-obligations” day, and a travel day.
Ministry has been great as well. One aspect of our ministry that we have made recent developments in has been with regards to the rosary. Before Christmas break we gave few rosaries away, and talked about it only a little on retreats. In the past several weeks, however, we have begun to speak on the rosary before prayer ministry, and the response from the youth has been amazing. During prayer ministry over half the youth can be seen with rosary in hand, and many have taken them home. I noticed a girl in my small group today, a non-Catholic, praying the rosary during prayer ministry, and I was touched. To see the enthusiastic response of the youth to the rosary has been inspiring, and I know that the Blessed Mother will use this prayer to bring about a deeper response to the love of God in those youth and in this nation.
On a more personal note, over the last several weeks, God has been giving me a deeper awareness of the purpose of our ministry, and the importance of our ministry. All across our nation there are people who are hungering and thirsting for the love and mercy of God. Through the work of the NET team, some hear the Gospel message preached for the first time. Others, who have been told only rules and regulations from authorities in the Church, hear for the first time the mercy and compassion of God. Through listening to youth speak in small groups, I have realized that our world is broken, and through ministries such as NET, healing can begin. Some need a listening ear; others need an example from youth. I have realized the importance of relational ministry, of investing in others, and reaching them with the message of the Gospel. This is especially true on retreats, but God has been showing me that He uses the NET team to reach more than just the youth.
Recently, God has also shown to me that Netters are not limited to witnessing only on retreats and in host homes. A few days ago, Google maps gave incomplete directions to get to the church, causing some of us to stop at a gas station to get directions. Claire and I went in, and were helped by a gas station cashier, who helped us look in the phone book for the church address and phone number. While doing this, conversation flowed, with us explaining a little about NET and our ministry, and the cashier revealing that he had little experience with church in his past. After finding the church address, he bade us farewell, closing with the proposition the he “may join [us] someday”. I realized as we continued onto the church that we were meant to get lost that morning, and that perhaps God used us to bring one of His children home to Himself. God continues to use opportunities such as this to remind me that we are called to be a light in the darkness, salt to the earth, and hope to the nations. I pray that God may continue to use our team for His work and His purposes as we journey forth from here!
From Regina, Saskatchewan, signing off, Katie Foster. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you all!
P.S. Copy and paste this link to see a video of our team throwing boiling water into the air, and the astonishment that follows.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K83xUuXUDgs
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