Back in Blacksburg

I'm so grateful.

I'm grateful that all of Newman's ASB trips returned safely this weekend from their respective destinations. It was awesome to see the sense of community upon our return - old friends embracing after a week apart, new friends helping to unpack the vans, and everyone sharing pieces of their experiences. I can't wait to hear more about all the different trips in the weeks to come. One of my favorite things about post-ASB is seeing the videos that each group makes about their trip - ours will certainly be posted here sometime in the next few weeks!

I'm grateful for the opportunity our group had to serve this week in Louisville. I'm amazed by the work that Catholic Charities and other agencies and organizations are doing there. Sitting in on the refugees' cultural orientation program on Friday morning, where they were learning about leases and pay stubs and taxes, really put into perspective how difficult it is for these people to adjust to life in a new country, and how important the refugee resettlement services are. I am grateful that there are people like Chris Clements and the teachers and staff at the English school, who embody Christ's love and live out their faith through service.

I am grateful for the hospitality we received in Louisville - from the staff at the Flaget Center and the parish at Saint Lawrence, to the priest at John Paul II Academy and even strangers on the street. I am particularly thankful for the generosity of the Hehir family and David Miller, who were gracious enough to feed our entire group during our trip. Having traveled to Kentucky instead of home to New Jersey this week, it was so great to have a home-away-from-home-away-from-home.

I'm grateful for the support that the Newman Outreach Project has received - all the prayers, encouragement, and donations that have come our way leading up to the ASB trips. We could not have done this without the help of our friends, families, parishes, and community.

I'm grateful for our group - ten incredible young people who dedicated a week of their lives to the service of others. Although we may not have changed the world, we definitely changed someone's world. I am so proud of the work that was done, and the love that was shared this week. I am inspired by their passion, selflessness, and spirit, and I am so thankful for the opportunity to get to know them all better as we grow in faith and community.

I'm grateful for Ben, my co-leader, who helped me keep my head and my perspective through this whole process. I couldn't have asked for a better compliment to my personal strengths. Thanks for eating pie with me.

I'm grateful for God's grace, which was revealed countless times this week, as pieces of our trip fell into perfect place - and I'm thankful for our group's ability and willingness to go with the flow.

I'm grateful for the renewed sense of life and spirit that I encountered in Louisville, and I'm looking forward to continuing to meet with our group and hopefully work with refugees in Roanoke. Spring break may be over (ah, only a couple hours before classes start again!), but this experience does not end here.

At morning prayer yesterday before departing the Flaget Center, we read Luke 9:1-6 - Jesus Sends Out The Twelve. Even though it just happened that there were twelve of us on the trip, it was very fitting as we prepared to return to Blacksburg. Each one of us had a unique experience in Louisville, as you can tell by the previous posts, and each of us will bring something different back to our lives at Tech. When we hear about Louisville or refugees or Catholic Charities, we'll each have a different memory to connect with it, but I'm fairly certain that we'll all be reminded of the work God is doing in each of our lives, and how to listen to his voice.

And I'm so grateful for that.

-Kelsey

outside of the Louisville Slugger museum and factory,
right before heading back to Blacksburg!