In college, I was invited to go on a mission trip to serve the poor over spring break. I turned down the invitation even though I didn’t have any Spring Break plans. I was later at Mass in the Newman Center at school, on my knees, and during the Eucharistic Prayer, as Father held up the Host I heard, “What if you just went?” in my heart. Even though it had been a week since they asked me to join them, I immediately knew what this statement was about. I was nervous but after Mass, I called up my friend and she told me it was the last day to sign up, so I said, ‘yes’. Despite my initial reluctance, I hopped in a van with a bunch of Catholics I mostly didn’t know to spend a week serving the poor. During this week we went on a few street walks to encounter the homeless the missionaries were friends with and through each encounter I was touched. Each friend on the street brought me a new perspective, touched on something I had been praying and thinking about lately, or was just a lot of fun. I was so attracted to this life of coming to know the homeless and befriend them, that I wanted to drop out of college right there and become a missionary. I wanted to spend every day encountering the Lord in the homeless because I knew in some unique way, they had so much more to offer me than I had for them. The Lord had different plans plus, my mom wouldn’t let me, so here I am four years later, beginning a mission year with Source of All Hope!

I am drawn to Source of All Hope most especially because of their devotion to the Eucharist and Mary. I have been attracted to these two pillars of our faith for a while and when I found out Source had a great focus on them, I was sold. I believe that these devotions I share with Source of All Hope will help me to encounter my own poverty in many ways throughout my mission year and I know they will be there to help me every step of the way. Source missionaries are given the privilege to walk the streets and encounter the poor and there is nothing I want more. I am looking forward to encountering Christ in the poor this year and I can’t wait to share my experiences with those on my support team.