Wrap-Up Retreat

So this retreat is for all of the NET Missionaries who have been throughout Ireland the past 9 months. The majority of them got to be in Ireland for the full amount of time — my team was really the only team who had to wait, with the exception of a few. Because of this, I dreaded going to Wrap-Up. I feared that no other team knew our struggle, or would blow off our waiting time. I just feared that they wouldn’t understand us. Plus, all of the other missionaries got to meet each other during training and after the Christmas break. So I figured they would all be good friends and my team would be excluded.

That was NOT the case at all.

We were SO recognized by our struggle and perseverance. The staff of NET gave talks throughout Wrap-Up to prepare us for going home, and my team was mentioned so many times in the talks for persevering or in recognition of our ministry being such a success in 3 months. They recognized how we jumped right into ministry without needing time to settle and how busy we became. Even at the Thanksgiving Mass, the director of NET Ireland, Tony Foy, gave our team a shoutout for the progress of our parish over the last 10 years.

But we weren’t only recognized by the staff, but other Netters. Each missionary had time to share their experience with everyone and so many people talked about their lack of understanding why God chose them over us to serve in Ireland for the 9 months, or how they were shocked to see our perseverance, or how they wouldn’t have been able to do it themselves.

I felt so loved and seen. I couldn’t believe how our perseverance touched every single person there. Praise God.

We were also so loved by the other teams. My team always seemed to stay together, but so many other people would want to join us. I am so happy that others wanted to take the time to invest in us after not knowing anything about us. There were people who would join our team for cards, or our bonfire, or who would even volunteer with our team to clean up after the dinners. How great is that?!

We were so affirmed. People were always affirming my team on how we loved each other. We always wanted to be with one another or we would always make eye contact, or pshh physical contact (considering how we are a very physical touch team).

My team just loves so well and it was a real struggle to get to that point. It took a lot of conversations and effort to understand the ways in which a person felt loved and didn’t feel loved. And praise God our efforts were known.

I hope that I don’t sound prideful. I truly am praising God for these things. He blessed our team so much with a desire to love deep considering the struggles we went through and I give all glory to Him. It has been a grace that we have loved well.