Jesus is my Super-Hero!

That's where I was this weekend! Being spiritually fed at the Springfield-Cape Girardeau youth conference, themed around super-heros, super-powers, and our kryptonites. The conference was blessed to feature the key-note speaker, Tony Melendez and the Toe-Jam Band!

Odd name, right? That's because Tony was born without arms. His super-power, however, is extraordinary. He plays his guitar with his feet! Tony has preformed for Blessed Pope John Paul II and is a phenomenal speaker and musician. His message for the youth of the diocese was beautiful; find your strengths and flaws, and give them all up to God.

From this, I heard a call to service.

Despite my absolute joy over being hired as the new west side Camp Re-NEW-All director, there has been a lot of emotional and spiritual struggle. For the longest time, I felt the unbearable pressure. I was concerned that I would lose staff, that I would lose support from longtime friends, that I was not what Camp needed or what God had wanted. But Tony, and all the fellowship I found around me soothed those doubts.

Because when you lay it all out there, Jesus will provide. And as the Holy Trinity core team sang over and over for us this weekend,

And if our God is for us, than who could ever stop us? And if our God is with us, than who could stand against?

I had already heard and answered God's call, but I had been pulling a Jonah. There were many times I had not been trusting or devoted enough to what God had told me. I had heard what God said correctly, and it was time to trust in that. After all, God will never give us more than we can handle, and God will always provide.

Just like God provided for Tony, by giving him talents that he was able to use despite the struggles he was also given, God will always provide for us. God wants the best for us, the best that could possibly be given to us, because we are God's best and most beautiful Creations, and oh, how He Loves us.

If you would like to know more about Tony Melendez and his incredible journey and story, here's the link to his website!

http://www.tonymelendez.com

Finally, I have a huge, massive, gigantic thank you and shout out to give to my old youth ministers, and as always, my friends. Johnna Hilton has been a part of my life since I was five years old, teaching me how to sing, act, pray, Love, and serve the Lord. Travis Washeck became a youth leader when I was in high school, and I had a wonderful time getting to know Chris Vore better this weekend. The three them are the proud T, C, and J of Totally Catholic Junk- an online Catholic store that has creative apparel, and all kinds of fun Catholic "junk". 

totallycatholicjunk.com

I think that's enough for tonight- all that's left is for is some pictures and videos. 

Sydney Barta, my little sister Ginna, and Sean Jastal singing in the rain

Adoration on Saturday night

The banners processing in at Sunday Mass

I think that's about it! Hope everyone has a blessed week, and remains full of the Holy Spirit!

Totus tuus, 

LeAnn 

Introverts and Extroverts

It's an interesting concept, dividing the human race into two distinct groups; extroverts and introverts but its something I find fascinating.

The first thing that needs to cleared up is what exactly an introvert or extrovert is. Introverts are those who feed off their alone time, need time to recharge their batteries on their own. Extroverts on the other hand, find their energy in groups of people. 

So a more earthy example would be a comparison of two people.  My boyfriend, Josh loves to be with his group of friends. He gets excited around the group, and seems energized after leaving the group event. I, however, need a few minutes to breathe after being around the exact same group of people. Read a bit, cuddle my cat, take walk by myself or with someone. I need that quiet bit to relax and let be, and then I'm ready to go again. 

Now wait, what could this possibly do with religion? Or my relationship with God? Or church, or Catholicism or anything else that I normally look for on this blog?

What recharges your soul? Do you need quiet prayer, in the form of meditation or perhaps adoration? Maybe your recharge is found in a more exciting place, like a church camp or rally? Is it that large group of people, all on that same religious page?  What fire fuels your soul, the quiet or the masses?

Whether it's quiet or loud, big or small, or even both, it's important to know what pulls you in closer. The Mass is great, it's full of God and community, and always has something new. But it also contains a lot of the old; there is nothing wrong with tradition but at times we need something different to pull is back into our Lord. 

We are hitting that point in the semester when things get crazy, one of the first things to slip is our prayer life. We lose that "git r done" attitude we started with a month and half ago, and finding motivation can be hard once you're in neck-deep. It helps to know how we tick when trying to find how to help ourselves along. Give it minute, think about what motivates you, and proceed from there. Don't let your prayer life slip just because you are feeling overwhelmed, join a bible study, sign up for adoration or whatever it takes to keep yourself going. 

It's only six weeks in, don't let yourself slip. Keep your prayer life up! 

Totus tuus, 

LeAnn