What a Crazy, Blessed, Last Few Weeks! by Gianna
Anyway, to get back to the point.
This has been a eventful last two weeks here at Big Woods, filled with friends, family, cleaning, many holy Masses, and packing. It was awesome to be able to have our friends and siblings stay at Big Woods with us for Cameron's Confirmation and our Commissioning Mass. Here our some little dashes to describe some of the eventful times of these past weeks.
Cameron's Confirmation
- We were able to pray with the confirmands before they got confirmed, and it was a truly beautiful Mass.
- Most of the confirmands were able to read a reading or intentions during Mass.
- After the Mass, we had a small recception of cake and fellowship in the Saint Mary Magdalen ministries hall.
- Since there were like 40 kids there ranging from 1-18, we played some fun tag-like games outside to celebrate the confirmands.
*Funny fact:
During the Mass, Father accidentally used the wrong oil for some of the confirmands, so some of them had to get re-blessed/re-oiled!😂
Our Commisioning Mass
- Our Commisioning Mass was a very memorable ocassion.
- First of all, some of our close friends and family were able to join us for this occasion, which was awesome to be able to see them before we leave.
- I, along with some of the kids who were in Intake with us, was/were able to read the readings and intentions for the Mass.
- Many of our teachers and leaders gave speeches on our time here at FMC, and all of our joys and struggles that we had together.
- A couple of the formation leaders led the cross ceremony, where they gave us all nice wood cross necklaces along with a blessing, and a hug.
- After the Mass, we were able to honor the formation team and kids ministry coordinators with a folder of cards and thank-yous from all of Intake.
- A huge recception was hosted back at Big Woods, and it was a very nice time full of fellowship, fun, and prayer together.
*Funny fact:
While I was playing around with some of my friends at the recception, many people came up to me and said "Congrats! You're a missionary!" At first, I was very confused, because thought I had been a missionary since my baptism, if not, then at least for the last 6 months. Then they explained: "Now you are an official foreign missionary!" 😮Ohhhhhhhhh...
And lastly, packing
- After all our guests had left and all the big celebrations were over, we had to start packing...yay...
- We had to clean, pack bags, weigh bags, purge, store and donate many, many things.
- We are currently living out of a suitcase now, easy to quickly zip up when we are getting ready to leave.
- Our packing is mostly done now, and it looks a little more cluttered around now, only because of all the bins and bags, suitcases and donations that are stacked everywhere, ready to go.
- We were able to send back a lot of things (that we are not bringing with us to Costa Rica) with our sister and friends, who took it to the storage unit in Missouri for when we come back.
As you can see, God was working through it all, and we got through it! I hope that you enjoyed this blogpost.
God bless,
Gianna Jesus loves you!!!!
Our friends from Missouri, us, and the Martin family after a night of fun and fellowship together
The Confirmands and their sponsors after the Confirmation Mass
