Hawaii, here we come

Some thoughts from MAX-'007 member Mark:

It's been a little odd to be back at home after being on the road for so long. Over the course of 6 weeks on the road, I had changed so much that being in my room felt strange, as if the room felt like it belonged to someone else. I'd been sleeping on tables, carpets, floors, and cars so often that even having a bed was weird. 

And what happened that made me change so much, people always ask. The experience of living in tight-knit, intentional community, for one. One of the Franciscan friars who had joined us on the road mentioned that it was very special what we were doing in living as a team on the road. He said at least Franciscans and other religious have the benefit of going through a novitiate and postulancy to get used to that sort of life, but we had kind of just thrown ourselves into it, and doing well with it. That only happens with the grace of God, because it it was just up to us, we'd fail, inevitably. 

Another thing that changed me was the opportunity to enter, just briefly, into the lives of so many people and then see God work in their lives. Prayers answered. Hearts moved. Lives changed, in meaningful ways. I am so blessed with this unbelievable grace of having a front row seat to witness how God works. So often, we don't feel like God is around, because we pray, and the answer to those prayers may seem so far away and distant. But God, in His mercy, granted us the privilege to see how His will and purpose unfolded. Like we keep saying, hold onto Our Lady's mantle, because she's going to take you on the ride of your life. We, on the team, can certainly attest to that in the first leg of the tour.

And now, we jump on a plane to minister in Hawaii. What could people living in God's little piece of heaven on earth possibly need? Whatever it is, we'll be there to find out, and to help provide it. 

Thanks for your support so far. Keep us in your prayers!

+mark