cool things, interesting news

So some news and updates,

A few weeks ago I posted that there was some questioning about my site placement.  I got a chance to talk to a missionary from Brazil and after a lot of prayer and recollection we hhave decided that Brazil would be a better place to send me than either Ethiopia or Rwanda.  I am excited, I will be going with another Salesian, though we will likely not be working in the same sites, but it will be good to have the company.  I will be working in te city of Porto Velho in the western Amazon regions of the country.

On Tuesday we got a private behind the scenes tour of of the United Nations, pretty awesome to be standing behind the podium where the Queen of England gave a speech a week ago.  We also got behind the scenes in the security council chamber, it pays to know the security guards apparently. 

There could is a lot more to say right now but my computer's battery is acting up so I have to cut it short.  Suffice that the days are filled with running around with little kids and the nights are spent hanging out, planning, and keeping each other sane.  I have now discovered that the hardest part of mission so far will be getting on the plane. 

God bless you all.

update about training

so, it's been a few weeks since I've last posted on this thing so I thought I'd give an update on how things are going in NY.  God has been good, training has been awesome.  I am currently stationed at a cross cultural missionary training named Maryknoll, things here have been a little hit and miss as to orthodoxy but the people have been more than welcoming and they have been excellent hosts.  There are about 32 people here from four different mission organizations, the Salesians are about 22 of those people and everyone has been awesome.

I am easily making friends here and especially my fellow Salesians are excellent people.  I've been able to make it to many daily masses and an unexposed adoration chapel is on the second floor (shweeeet!) so Jesus is never far and I've been very comforted by Him these last days.  There is a spontanious rosary group, daily evening and morning prayer and great spiritual conversations everywhere. 

There's been a lot of sports, games, adventures and definitely laughter.  I have found a group of Salesians who just plain love to laugh.  Me and many of the other Salesians spend every night either focused on some awesome Christ centered conversation or we are laughing our heads off at each other.  It's awesome.

I got a chance to take a free trip to NY City on Wednesday!  The Maryknoll program paid for everybody's tickets to go to and from NY so a bunch of us spent the better part of twelve hours walking around and seeing the sites (ground zero, Times square, Central park, Madison Square gardens, the Brooklyn Bridge) it was great because our tour guide turned out to be a Salesian seminarian I met two years ago.  NYC day trip in under $30?  Awesome!

Anyway, things are great and your prayers are appreciated as always.  One thing to pray for is me and the director, Adam, have been talking about the possiblity of me going to either Rwanda or Brazil, because both places are under-manned.  So say a prayer that we can find the right place and God's will be done correctly.

God bless you all!

1st day

The drive out to the training site was long and, fortunately, uneventful.  I've been having fun reconnecting with all the people I met at the discernment retreat, although I must admit I feel far too exhausted to fully appreciate it.  Tomorrow starts the real training stuff with mission overviews and psych evaluations.  Should be no problem.  I'm feeling a little nervous so prayers are welcome :-)

First day of July requires the first post in this blog.  I just want to thank everybody for all the support and prayers.  Thank you all for the help leading up to this.  I start training on the fifth and I pray that everything will go well.  God bless.