Day: 10 - 12 Office

The GAP year training has begun!!! This week has started of with training in the UCO/ Word of Life office. It is very similar to my job at the church with some big differences. My service at the office includes; cleaning the bathroom, kitchen, handling parts of the email, phone and mail systems, some financials and that's all I know for now.

Through this training I've learned that cleaning the floor on my hands and knees is much more humbling than using a mop, and I was humbled to learn from my supervisor Ermin that obeying for the sake of obeying though respectful can be improved by obeying in a way by learning the desire of a leader, supervisor, teacher, or parent's heart. Obeying while still keeping aware of one's desires for that command. Which can be taken to my own obedience to God therefore praying not only out of obedience but out of wanting to fulfill the desire of God's will in my life.

The verse this message came from is
2 Samuel 18.

Lastly happy St. Monica's feast day.

You're in my prayers.

God Bless

Aaron

Day 9: Church and a Picnic

Today it started of with mass at the church which will become my home parish for the next year, the church is St. Thomas the Apostale. I will soon be putting pctures of the chuch up, the church has 24 hour confessions on Friday's, daily mass at 7am and a very active youth group so I am very excited.

The second part of the day consisted of attending the Word of Life Community Picnic at a park area. The picnic was very similar to our community picnic's in Toronto and had a Hawaiian theme to it. There was volleyball and lawn chair volleyball (sit-down lazy volleyball, but much harder). We played soccer, had the best hawaiina shirt concert, tossed around the frisbie and foot ball and had a BBQ/ Potluck. Finally during lunch we took a walk near a creek and with a couple of the community boys, started jumping across this creek. Overall a very fun and full day. You're in my prayers

God Bless

Day: 5 - 8 Getting Settled

The transition from Lansing to Ann Arbor was a quick one. Throughout the past few days it has been moving in to the UCO household, where I will spend the next year, and getting accoustomed to the town. Instead of explaing what the house looks like, here is a video tour.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoX7azRXXuU&feature=youtu.be

Day: 2 - 4 Opening Retreat

The Gap Opening retreat this year took place at a campsite near the pine river, we left in the evening on friday and arrived 2 hours later after getting lost. When we arrived we arrived we set up camp which was a 6 person tent even though there was only three of us, then got to work on the fire. For dinner we had steak and potatoes which we wrapped in tinfoil and roasted on the fire.

The next day we woke up early and were going to leave at 6am, but due to the rain we ended uo sleeping till 10am. Once it was all clear we rented a raft and setsail on the river. This river included alot of turns and rapids, and every so often there would be a very large sand hill that we would climb then jump down. After 4 hrs of climbing, rafting, and relaxing down the river we arrived back at the car then headed for camp. Due to the rain we were not able to start a fire and we came home to Lansing and ate the rest of the food.

The Gap retreat was very relaxing and unlike past years we only had two gappers, myself and Jeery who is actually gapping in Lansing. The retreat provided a time of bonding, and get to know a little about what to expect in the Gap program. It was an overall amazing experience, though very wet, it a glimpse on the flexibility needed to overcome the obstacles that would come throughout the year. You're in my prayers

God Bless

Aaron

Day 1: Lansing Adventures

As the GAP opening retreat starts on Monday (tomorrow)  today was more relaxing.

It started off with Mass at 9:00, at Ressurection of our Lord parish. The choir was amazing.

After church we had brunch at the Munk house, which was followed by watching a really bad re-make of the movie Cinderella. This was followed by a nap, and then a campfire in the backyard with mini weeners, and smores.

 "His love endures forever" You're in my prayers

God Bless

The Journey

The drive down took 6 hours and it was filled with sleeping, music and movies.

A small bump in the road when we got stuck at the border and I needed to get the VISA sorted out, which has given me until May 10th 2015 to live in the land of the free. So as of today my planned date of arrival will be as close to May 10th as possible the following year. Please pray for me.

God Bless

A Beginning to an End

As the adventure of Totus Tuus has ended, the journey of the GAP Program has begun.

Moving from missionary work to different missionary work has enabled me to learn from my mistakes. Instead of expecting certain things, and creating fictional fantasies of what this year will entail, I am more free due to the lessons learned in Totus Tuus. My expectations for this year are none, and I am open to whatever it brings.

Although my goals for this year have been developed and will continue to be refined. The end goals are also reasons for my desire to take part in the program, and by the grace of God they will come to completion.

Goals (in no particular order)

1. Discernment - that I man discern more clearly God's plan for my life in terms of a career and a vocation.

2. Training - that I may be trained/ formed to minister to youth and kids in high school, university and younger. Also to receive training in other new aspects of life.

3. Spirituality - grow closer to God through service, communal and personal prayer.

4. Service - to gain a love of service and a willingness to serve and sacrifice.

5. Perform - practice and apply what I have learned, bear fruit and bring others closer to God through my ministry.

I would like to thank all those who supported me in making this decision, all those who helped me when I had doubt's, and all those who have and are still supporting me as I embark on this adventure. You are all in my prayers.

God Bless