Moving Swiftly

Greetings!

Saskatchewan via NET 

I can hardly believe that we have been in Swift Current for a month now! Things have certainly been moving swiftly. We've made several visits to the middle school and high school, we've lead several events, and future events are planned. Although our days are pretty busy and many of us are starting to come down with a case of homesickness, we are overcome with the love and support that we have received from the parish community. 

A few days ago during prayer, I meditated on the idea of love. I found myself fumbling through the Catechism of the Catholic Church and ended at the glossary. To my surprise, there wasn't a definition for love in the glossary, but rather a note that directed the reader to look at the definition for charity. The Catechism defines charity as, "the theological virtue by which we love God above all things for his own sake, and our neighbour as ourselves for the love of God". We hear at church about how God loved the world so much that He sacrificed His only begotten son for us. We hear about how amazing holy men and women such as St. Theresa of Lisuix, St. Francis of Assisi and Blessed Mother Teresa had such passion and zeal for God and the life of the Church. It's amazing to think that God has bestowed upon each of us the same ability to love and strive for that love as well. NET has not only taught us to love as Jesus loves, but also experience what that love is like. 

Before NET training, each missionary is asked to fundraise towards NET. By leading fundraisers, mass appeals, writing heaps of letters and much prayer, we have been working towards achieving this goal. All of the NETTERS have to reach out to our communities for support financially but especially spiritually. Without the support of our families and communities, we could not accomplish our mission in bringing the Gospel to thousands of youth across Canada.
Last week we all received partnership (fundraising) updates. We were surprised on how the majority of us have reached our fundraising goals and that they were completed by people who we don't know. It is so beautiful that, although we live in a world full of adversity, people are very generous and kind. 

The Community of Swift Current

Besides our partnership, we have witnessed true Christian charity through our parish community in Swift Current. We have been so blown away by the amount of support and love we have received. When we planned a Halloween party for grades 6-12 and we made announcements in mass that we were looking for volunteers to donate candy and other Halloween treats. We ended up receiving way more than we planned! The Lord certainly provides! The parish is blessed with so many parishioners that are eager to help. 

We've also been able to witness Christ's love through our host families. Every two weeks we move into a new host home. Currently, we are at our third host home. Every morning when we're driving to the parish, our conversations are almost always about how awesome our host families are. How wonderful is it that families open their homes to two or three strangers for two weeks? We've had a blast talking to our host families, playing with the kids and being included in family traditions. We are so thankful and feel so blessed to have had the opportunity to be incorporated into so many families. Every week I realize that saying goodbye to Swift Current in May is going to be a challenge! 

We are so thankful by the constant generosity and love that we have received throughout our journey with NET! Amazing things can be accomplished when we allow God to work in and through us, which we have witnessed in all of our supporters. 

Thanks for reading!
Ashley
iNFUSE 1,
 Swift Current, SK