The lifecycle of a Desire-ChajulExperiences

Hi Everyone!

Sometimes in our hearts an idea creates. Sometimes we think about that idea to ourselves and even the What if's of that idea. Then we begin to think more about that idea and one day we talk to somebody about that idea that is in our heart, that idea that we have thought about to ourselves but haven't shared it with anyone just yet. Then you talk to that one person, and perhaps talk to another, then those people might mention that idea to someone else and now that idea, that one in your heart, is being spread, perhaps even being prayed for. Eventually with time you notice how certain things are starting to line up with this idea you had and it's coming to life.....Then you realize, that this idea...is actually a desire...a desire that is in your heart...and The Lord..He knows all of our desires because He is the one who puts them there...and when you realize this...you are still for a moment and your mind travels back to when you first had this idea...and then it all makes sense to you....and you now are able to understand the lifecycle of an idea that is actually a desire given to you by God.

This lifecycle happened for me when it comes to me going to Guatemala. I always had some type of idea that I wanted to do a missions trip, I didn't know how, when, what, with who or anything when I first thought about it.

Eventually the life cycle took place and things out of my control fell into place and The Lord made it happened.

This post I am going to talk about what it was like traveling down and when I first arrived!

I left Newark airport early in the morning. When I got on the plane I was fascinated that every seat had a TV in front of them. I must have changed my movie over four times because I couldn't decide what I wanted to watch! I just thought wow, how amazing this is that I am actually able to watch a movie of my choice on an airplane. I had a layover in Houston and that plane was similar, tv's on every seat.

As I was sitting on the plane I began to get a little nervous for when I would arrive at Guatemala City Airport. This was really the only thing I got nervous about on the trip and that was the thought of when I land and I would have to find the group of people that I was meeting there.

These thoughts went through my head:
I am not fluent in Spanish and I do not look like a native of Guatemala.
If someone approached me would I understand?
Would I be able to read the signs and know where to go?
What if I can't find the group?
I don't have a cell phone to call them will I be able to get a hold of them?

Those were all questions that went through my mind and finally after going through those questions I was able to pray and feel at peace with trusting God that He will get me to where I need to go and to pray to be prepared for whatever I may run into.

When I got off the plane I was able to navigate my way to customs and make it outside of the airport. People who are picking passengers up are not allowed in the airport they have to stay outside. So eventually I walked out of the doors and there was a crowd of people behind ropes and taxi drivers and people trying to get my attention and it was nerve racking for sure! I took a deep breathe and scanned the crowd looking for the girls who I was meeting. Soon enough we spotted each other and I left the roped off area feeling relieved! That was my biggest fear of the trip! I was able to thank God for taking away that burden !

It's not easy going somewhere unfamiliar and completely out of your comfort zone. I admire anyone who does that whether it is to another country or to a new restaurant. But leaving your comfort zones help you to grow, learn, and experience things you never imagined. It's a leap of faith!

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”-Joshua 1:9

God Bless!

Here is a video of Chajul!

Always Amazes Me!-Back From Chajul!

Hi Everyone!!


Wow, thank you all so much for your prayers during the time of my trip! It was incredible! God just continues to amaze me! With a busy schedule of wedding festivities since the day I landed back in the states I have not yet been able to sit down to and write about all of the things I want to share with everyone but soon enough I will get the ball rolling!  However, the woman that I stayed with, Sister Bernice, who is a Maryknoll Sister, (Quick description of a Maryknoll Sister: "We give witness to God's love and devote our lives in service overseas.  As nurses, doctors, teachers, theologians, social workers, environmentalists and more,  we serve the needs of the people – the poor, the ailing and the marginalized –  where we are missioned. Our mission began in 1912,  when we became the first group of Catholic Sisters in the United States founded for overseas mission.") She wrote a newsletter that I would like to share!

Below is her newsletter:

Chajul, June, 2014

A Call…

Greetings from Guatemala on the longest day of the year. I’ve had two amazing experiences over the last few months and I want to share both with you now.

   

On April 18, we Maryknoll Sisters in Guatemala received an e-mail message from a young woman in Philadelphia who was finishing her studies at Temple University. She said in part:

I have always wanted to do mission work and I feel that in the next few months will be the right time. God's timing and his plans have always been far better than the ones that I ever could imagine! I am extremely open and willing to hear about any type of mission work that perhaps could be possible for me to do in Guatemala. I don't really have a particular type of mission work that I am looking to do, mainly to Serve in any way that I can. I like to choose a word for the year and this year my word is "serve." However, I am interested in working with children.

I picked up on her request immediately, partly because I had the perfect mission for her, and partly because her name is Megan Kita! Her timing fit perfectly with the university vacation of Ana Dieguez and Gaby Calderon, former Chajul volunteers from Monte María high school who wanted to return for a week to work with kids again. While we all figured out the best schedule by e-mail, Megan and I delved into our Kita surname.

In summary: I know my own grandfather, Józef Kita, was the only one of his family to become rooted in the Philadelphia area, but Megan’s ancestors may have come from the same town in Poland, Jodłowa. Her ancestors went to Bayonne, New Jersey and her grandfather was born there. All her family lived in New Jersey until her parents moved to Easton, PA where she grew up. Two years ago her childhood friend bought a house in Philadelphia and they moved there. Where was the house? On Tulip Street, near the Port Richmond neighborhood where I grew up! Amazing!

Megan arrived in Guatemala on June 11at 1:30 p.m. and Ana, Gaby and I met her at the airport. We drove 3 ½ hours and spent the night with our Sisters in Lemoa. The next morning we drove to Chajul where they quickly gathered over 20 children. For the next several days they worked in three languages – Spanish, English and Ixil – and taught arithmetic, crafts and English. Everyone got along so well, it was wonderful!

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The way that the Lord has orchestrated this story in my life and in the life of Sister Bernice, Gabi, and Ana just absolutely blows my mind and amazes me. This is something I could have never thought of myself. When we let go and let God His plans are always better than ours. 

A quick little bit on what we did there:

Sister Bernice has a house in Chajul connected with the church where there are two classrooms in it. We let the kids know that we are in town and that we will be giving classes during the morning and the afternoon. News travels fast there! By word of mouth! Most kids there go to school in either the morning or the afternoon so when they are off they would come to Sister Bernice's house. These kids are amazing and so willing and excited to learn!! They have changed my life!

Can't wait to continue sharing about this experience and how God's love reaches people in all different places with all different languages!!

God Bless! Please continue to pray for the kids of Chajul and all of God's kids!

Psalm 127:3 "Children are a gift from the Lord."

Fueled!

Hi Everyone!!

Tomorrow morning I am off to Guatemala on a Missions Trip! I am beyond excited and feel so blessed and at peace with this opportunity God is giving me. I think it is important though for all of us to know that where ever we are in the world we can be on a mission!

I thank you all for your prayers and well wishes before I leave! I am asking you to continue to pray for me and the people that I will encounter there! I most likely will not have access to the internet and I will be posting about everything when I return! Continue to spread God's love wherever you go. Be a glimpse of the light in darkness.

"For even the son of man did not come to be served, but to serve..." -Matthew 10:45

Sister Bernice shared with me this paragraph and I wanted to share it with all of you:

MISSION IS COMMUNION by Kathleen Reiley, M.M. and Jean Maloney, M.M. 

Regardless of what ministry of service we may find ourselves engaged in - this attitude of openness, reverence for and willingness to learn from the people to whom we have been sent is essential to mission and entering into true COMMUNION with the people. 
Mission is a total way of life. It is making God's love visible in our world by our work, prayer and attitudes towards one another in community and to those to whom we are sent. It is our relationship to each person, to the earth, all peoples, all cultures, in unconditional love and service that God's kingdom may come about. 
[Prepared for 2014 Maryknoll Sisters Northeast Asia Mission Presence Assembly]

I thank you all so much for your prayers and well wishes before I leave! I feel so extremely blessed I do not even have the words to explain it! Thank you to those who so generously donated to help buy things to bring for the kids! Thank you Noel for my weekly spanish lessons! Thank you to my parents and brother and the rest of my family for always supporting and loving me! Thank you for my roommates and my friends to help guide me every day to get to this point! Because of all of you I have been fueled to go and do what I feel God is calling me to do right now in my life, thank you all for helping to be an instrument!

I am asking you to continue to pray for me and the people that I will encounter there! I most likely will not have access to the internet and I will be posting about everything when I return! Continue to spread God's love wherever you go. Be a glimpse of the light in darkness. 

"For even the son of man did not come to be served, but to serve..." -Matthew 10:45

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3IrwujyAJ4

^This song inspires me!

God Bless!!!!

Trusting Your Struggle

Hi Everyone!

Wow it has been a while since I wrote on the blog!

It’s amazing what can happen in your life when you let go and let God. That is basically how I have been trying to live especially these past few months. I struggle at times though, I absolutely do. But I have learned and witnessed through myself and others that if you TRUST YOUR STRUGGLE it will help to fuel you to go where you are being called, where the gifts and talents that you have been given can be used to help others reach that ultimate goal in life. That ultimate goal of helping others to become aware, find, strengthen their relationship and become closer to Christ and to know the love He has for each and every one of us.

Right now I am preparing to go on a mission’s trip to Guatemala! I will be going to The village of San Gaspar Chajul which is a tiny community of indigenous Ixil people in the mountains of the department of Quiché, Guatemala. I am beyond excited and I want to share with you some of the pin points in my life that brought me to this next journey because I am absolutely taken back by them!

I could go back so far to the pin points but I’ll keep it short and simple for now and put the main ones down!

-In 2007 I chose to go to Temple University to study Sport and Recreation management

-Randomly was matched with three other roommates for freshmen year, (We had the best freshman year and we all got along, still do today!! E430!)

-Freshman year Misha, one of my roommates, became a football manager for the football team.

-Summer after Freshman year Misha was diagnosed with Leukemia. (She battled for two and a half years and the whole time was self-less, strong, and an inspiration to others.)

-Skip several years later and in March 2011 Misha passed away.

-Graduated college December 2011 after returning back to Pennsylvania from Arizona for an internship, I was asked by Misha’s bosses at Temple Football about becoming a Graduate Assistant for Equipment and working with them.

-After a few months of deciding and after having a conversation with her Aunt, she told me that I could fulfill a dream of Misha’s. And so I did. (Thanks Auntie!)

I came back to Temple and moved in with my best friend where we grew up next door to each other since we were babies.

-Since I was going to be a Graduate Assistant I had to choose a Master’s program. I chose Liberal Arts because I was always in to poetry.

-In the Liberal Arts program you are required to do a thesis.

-This past January when thinking about my thesis I thought that if I have to write one I want to do it on something I am passionate about. I had the idea of going on a missions trip and using that as part of my research. The desire to go on a missions trip has always been in the back of my head, it was just never the right time…and now I know why!

-When I moved to Philly I wanted to join a church parish and because of one of my roommates friends and my conversation with her about the type of parish I was looking for I went to a Mass at St. Malachy’s and it was exactly what I didn’t even know I wanted let alone needed! And so I joined!

-I become friends with some of the parishoners and they would ask me what I was doing with my life. And so I would tell them about school and how now I am trying to figure out a thesis topic and how I would love to go on a missions trip as part of my research.

-I met this one woman who told me she went on trips a lot and so we met for dinner and talked about possible opportunities because she knew people in Latin America where she has gone before.

-She emailed her friends in Latin America and copied me on the email explaining to them what I was looking to do.

-Well one of the women on the chain, her last name happened to be my last name, KITA!

-She emailed separately and said, if you family is from Poland we could be related!

-Well my entire family is from Poland!

-She told me where some of her ancestors landed when they came through Ellis Island..... Philadelphia and Bayonne, New Jersey.

-My Grandfather was born in Bayonne!!!

-After this connection and further conversations with her she told me that she would love if I came down where she is to do a mission. Sister Bernice Kita lives in San Gasper Chajul.

-Before I knew it I was buying my plane ticket to go down there. I had and have no doubts that this is exactly where I am supposed to go next. I will be teaching children in a school and will also be focusing on teaching them how to play sports!!

-Oh yea not to mention where I live now, there were actually some Kita’s that lived right in my neighborhood! AMAZING!!

-We have not yet figured out the direct relation of our family members but the connection is already there with us.

A former roommate has a sister who is a Spanish teacher and she has been tutoring me for the past month on Spanish!

-And just like that God is fulfilling this desire I have always had in my heart and it is better than I could ever imagine!

That is the short version of the pinpoints to bring me to this trip! However, I am not writing my thesis on this topic because The Lord through other pinpoints directed me to another thing that I am passionate about and will share at another time.

My thoughts!

-This year the one word I choose to live by is “SERVE.”- praying to do that one word God has blessed me with this opportunity to serve the people of Chajul.

-I find it amazing that the choices and the paths that other people take in life are created to help one another. It is important to recognize the paths of others and when and how our paths cross.

-Trusting the Lord and trusting that His plans are greater than our plans.

-In my heart I always wanted to do a trip, I never had any worry about it. I think it’s important that we verbally tell others about things that interest us and pray to keep our hearts, eyes, and ears open to recognize when we are being called for something. We are all instruments in God’s orchestra so let’s create music.

I am beyond excited and feel beyond blessed to have encountered so many people in my life to help me get to this point. Everything doesn’t always make sense now but just keep having faith.

No wonder why it was never the right timing for me to do a missions trip before hand because if so how would this connection with Bernice Kita have been made! God’s timing is perfect! Be patient and in your patience, trust your struggle!

I am asking you all to pray for me the next week as I prepare to make my way down there. I ask that you pray to help me be an instrument to help others get closer to God.

"So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."-Luke 11:9

God Bless!!!

Those Simple Things

Hi Everyone!

I have been thinking lately, how the little things that we do in life for other people are like the little things that God does for us. Now for me, one of my favorite things that the Lord gives me almost everyday, is to witness a sunset or a sunrise. I absolutely find myself to be astonished at the colors every time I see one. I know that a sunrise and a sunset happens every day but even so I love being surprised by this gift from God. 

It made me think about when women receive specifically flowers from a man, and when then receive them not for any special occasion, just because. In my life I have only received flowers from a man because of a special occasion, and honestly I think that was only twice in my life. So I can't speak from direct experience of receiving flowers just because but I can speak from witnessing friends of mine receiving flowers, just simply because this person wants to let them know they love them. I would have to imagine that the feeling of the man bringing them to her or having them delivered must be something like seeing a sunset or a sunrise. It's an exciting and thrilling feeling. The colors that are embodied in the flowers just like the colors that can be drawn across the sky. It is something so beautiful, but it's more about what you feel when you see the things. It's the feeling of love, that someone loves you so much and these are ways of trying to express a feeling that is felt toward you.

Most women I know love flowers but they also love the little things in life. I can't speak for a man but I would have to imagine that the little things have so much meaning as well. I believe that these little things, these simple gestures are what keep relationships alive especially with Christ. The Lord does these "little things" for us every single day. It is up to us whether we recognize them and be examples of what it means to give little things to others, just because. Remember though, these little things in life don't have to be tangible items, not at all. The more you get to know people in your life you will quickly learn the things that bring joy to them.

1 John 3:18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

Pinning that Point

Happy Tuesday!!

Try this see what happens, ready? Stop right now and look around at the moment you are in...

Now, how did you get to this moment? Can you pinpoint a moment that brings you to this moment? And then can you pinpoint a moment that brought you to that moment? Can you keep going back and pinpointing certain moments in your life to lead you to exactly the one you are in?

Perhaps you can't pin point the very moment you are in, that's okay! Can you find a moment in your life when you can, maybe when you met someone or you went somewhere or something happened? Can you pin point moments that led to that moment? Maybe at this very moment you are having trouble pin pointing moments. Take some time when you are free and think about it. Try and pick a moment in your life and pin point certain moments that helped get you there. It's pretty amazing when you are able to see all the dots connect! You will realize why certain things happened and appreciate where you are now because of all those moments, even if those moments were not the best ones you ever had.

I love pin pointing moments of my life that brought me to other moments especially the moments when I meet people. I look at these moments and thank God for guiding me and even when I would stray off his path, He always seemed to lead me back on it. How amazing that God loves us so much! I have come to find out that God's plans are always better than mine plans. His timing is always better than what I think good timing is. Pin pointing moments of my life help me to appreciate why I have been where I have been.

Pin point moments of your life and see what happens :)

"In everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:18

God Will Open Doors but It's Up To You Whether You Walk Through Them

Hi Everyone!

So did you ever ask the Lord for something and he was pretty quick to respond? Well, I have had that happen to me many, many times. Some prayers I feel like it takes forever for the Lord to answer them or for me to recognize His answer and other times I ask and I receive within a few minutes, hours, or days. His timing is always perfect though!!  Well, this happened to me the other day! About a week ago I was praying to the Lord and asking Him how I could increase my energy. I started exercising more and I began to get more tired than I had been throughout the day. So I flat out asked, "Lord how can I get more energy?!" A day or two later a close friend of mine texted me asking me when I was going to join AdvoCare.

"AdvoCare is a premier health and wellness company offering world-class energy, weight-loss, nutrition, and sports performance products along with a rewarding business opportunity."  

Several months earlier he had asked me when or if I was going to join AdvoCare. Well, this time when he asked, I decided to really look into everything. This is a paragraph from their website that I read, "Joining team AdvoCare empowers individuals to explore their ultimate potential. When people try the products, the positive testimonials pour in: "I feel better than I have in years." "My energy level is unbelievable." "AdvoCare has changed my life." AdvoCare focuses on wellness and provides an opportunity to enrich your life in the way that you choose." When I saw what AdvoCare provided and the testimonial I knew that this is where I was supposed to be, on this website and this is something that I probably was supposed to get in to. For me this was the answer to the prayer I was asking the Lord. Now it would be up to me whether or not to take this opportunity that was right in front of me. God gave us the gift of free will so whether or not I choose to capitalize on the opportunity is up to me.

My friend suggested to me that I do something that is called the 24 Day Challenge. I encourage anyone who is interested or curious to go on to the website and check it out! http://www.advocare.com/ 
After I checked into it, I decided that I wanted to do this 24 day challenge! I love challenges and I thought that this would be something perfect for me to do at this time in my life. When I told my friend that I wanted to do it, I asked him if we could add another thing on to the challenge for ourselves, but this doesn't have to do with the body physically, but with the soul. When I begin to start my 24 day challenge with AdvoCare, which I probably will sometime this week (when my supplies come in the mail) I will begin to transform, nourish and change my body and health to help better myself. So I asked him if he would want to throughout this process help to transform our souls too. I think that it is so important and especially when it comes to your body and nurturing it that we remember to keep God in the center of it all. "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?  You are not your own; you were bought at a price.  Therefore honor God with your body," (1 Cor. 6:19-20).

So with this 24 day challenge my friend and I will also challenge ourselves to strengthen our relationship with the Lord as I also go through the process of strengthening my body so that I can better serve the Lord. The support that I have received from the members of AdvoCare over the past few days before I have even started the challenge has been incredible. I am so excited and ready to begin this challenge.

There is a difference between a commitment and being committed. I have made a commitment for 24 days to work on my health and to strengthen my relationship with The Lord with a friend. Each day that I do this I continue to become more and more committed to my commitment.

So, remember when you ask the Lord in prayer for something, be open to His answer. Once he provides you with an answer it is your choice whether or not to walk through that door He has opened. I ask you to pray for me that I focus on the Lord through this health challenge along with prayers that my friend and I will continue to strengthen our relationship with Christ to better ourselves in order for us to better serve the Lord and His children and fulfill His will on Earth.

"Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."- Mark 11:24

*Alex-Thank you for your faith and trust in the Lord always and your persistent effort to help change people's lives to become a better version of themselves each day.