Nothing but Your love!

As I drove the eight hours to return home, I could not help but reflect on possibly the most fulfilling summer of my entire life.  The immense blessings my family and I received during the past ten weeks have profoundly changed my heart and mind.  My soul was once again made anew by His grace.

It was difficult to say good-bye to those my family and I had grown to love so much.  We are forever connected in Christ and nothing can change that.  Words cannot adequately express the bonds that were created, the hearts that were changed, or the intense movements of the Holy Spirit that enveloped the camp.  Christ was surely present, in spite of us humans.

I did not want to leave, but staying was not an option.  The camp had been rented by Life Teen for the summer and now that camp had ended, everyone was going home.  I knew I had to go, but ten weeks away is a long time and my heart was not ready to re-enter the chaos of my everyday life.

As I was driving, Matt Maher's, "Everything and Nothing", started playing and tears began to stream down my cheeks.  These were the words that encapsulated my feelings best.  The dichotomy on my heart put into song.  This summer was a time that allowed me to deepen my relationship with Christ by opening my eyes to the sins that keep me from Him, but also a time for reconciliation and healing so that I could continue His good work.  Christ reminded me where home truly is...no matter the sufferings, sacrifices, or doubts I must face.

"I am so far gone, but I'm already home with everything and nothing but Your love!"

Thank you to all who encouraged and prayed for my family and me this summer.  By your actions and words you led us closer to Christ.

Thank you also to our son, Justin Patrick, born into heaven on June 1.  You have given me a peace I never thought I would obtain and have led me to a deeper understanding of what it means to RADIATE JOY!

I am looking forward to eternity in heaven with you all!

Mission accomplished!  Thanks be to GOD!

St. Joseph, Terror of Demons, pray for us!

"Everything And Nothing"

Come let us return to where we were
Back to knowing life and saving words
Back to where we heard redemption speak
Where You brought us to our knees

Come let us return to Eden's heart
Long before the fall, back to the start
Back before we covered up our sin
And took a second skin

Once upon a time
I'm lost and found
I'm saved and drowned
I'm everything and nothing all at once
I'm so far gone
But I'm already home
With everything and nothing but Your love

Come let us discover something new
Cause we're all pilgrims on a journey to the truth
We're all wanderers relying on a man
To help us understand

Cause everybody wants to see the proof
We're always tripping on our pride to get to You
So blessed are the ones who haven't seen
But still believe

Once upon a time
I'm lost and found
I'm saved and drowned
I'm everything and nothing all at once
I'm so far gone
But I'm already home
With everything and nothing but Your love

My heart is tin but love is real
I'm unconvinced by what I feel
No yellow bricks to pave this road
Oh, straight and narrow lead me home
Lead me home

I'm lost and found
I'm saved and drowned
I'm everything and nothing all at once
Oh, I'm so far gone
But I'm already home
With everything and nothing but Your love
Everything and nothing
Everything and nothing
Everything and nothing but Your love
Nothing but Your love
Nothing but Your love

Session II Family

Go and "be missionary"?

Gabe left camp the other day to go home and participate in his youth group's annual summer mission trip to Pittsburgh, PA.  It was sad to see him leave.  I wondered if how I felt was a smidgen of what it would feel like when he leaves for college in two years.  I did not want him to leave, but I knew he had to go.

I watched as he said good-bye to those he had begun to call "brother" and "sister".  I saw how difficult those good-byes were and the second thoughts he was having.  But all that changed when Kristina, one of the Life Teen staff members, said to him, "Gabe, you can't leave yet. You are part of our family here." He looked at her and confidently said, "I do not want to leave either, but I need to be sent out and go BE MISSIONARY.  I have to share with everyone all I have been taught."  It was when I heard this that I realized how important it was that he leave.  There was great wisdom in that simple statement and yet, there is nothing easy or simple about what that entails.

So, I asked myself, What does it mean to "be missionary"?

On March 27 at World Youth Day, Pope Benedict XVI challenged young Catholics to be "missionaries of joy."  In his message he encouraged them to "bring the gospel to their families, their schools and universities and their workplaces and their friends, wherever they live.  You will see how it is contagious."  So simple.......

I have learned so much this summer about "being missionary".  From the full-time missionaries to the summer missionaries.  From the youth ministers to the teens.  From the priests, hosts and musicians to my own children.  All you need to be missionary is an open heart.

In Jeremiah 1.5-8 the Lord calls Jeremiah.  I have heard these verses a million times, but never so clearly as I did five weeks ago as I listened to Chris Benzinger speak about missions.  We are all called, through our baptism, to spread Christ's love. Wherever and whenever.  No matter how old or young.  Without fear.

The five individuals below are full-time Life Teen Missionaries.  They will be sent out to their new mission bases on September 1.  Some will go to Atlanta, Georgia, some to Houston, Texas, some to Tiger, Georgia and some to Haiti.  If you would like to be a mission partner or learn more about the program, visit http://lifeteen.com/missions/.

So, what does it mean to be missionary?



Felix:

"It simply means to spread God's love to all you encounter."

















Lizzie:


"It is much more than being poor."










Annie:

"To love with everything so that others might know His love."

Mark:

"It is to live every moment as an opportunity for bearing witness to Christ's love and mercy."













Jessica:

"To stay rooted in prayer and to love always."










We are all called to be missionaries.  So, will you join me?

Highlights of summer continued........

Lots of sisters!  

The very funny, Stephen Estes.

Sol and Will at messy games during Will's visit to camp!

Madison and Mary

Mark and Gabe

Sol carrying the Olympic torch!

Bailie visits.  Our hike to Brasstown Bald Mountain.

Paul Devine (greatest last name ever) and Kristina soon-to-be Devine.

Paco and Max........world beware!

Brian bust'n a move!

DJ and Sol

We love our Marys!

Mohawk Max and mohawk dog!

Daniel and Isaac.....best friends.

Perry, Jackie, and Bety

Highlights of Our Summer.......

Sol and Isaac tubing on their man-made lazy river

Seeing Ike Ndolo at Steubenville Atlanta

Mary attends camp at Life Teen Camp Covecrest-Tiger

Mary and Olguin

Celebrating Caroline's First Eucharist

Meeting Benedict Nixon

Sol and Max at messy games

Fr. Tom Pastorius from St. Louis

Brian Kelsch - amazing host and man

Fr. Nathan from Maine....going crazy!

Matt Franklin.  Musician from Oceanside, CA.  What a blessing!

Hiawassee music on the square.  Need I say more?

Max and Paco.  Can the world handle two?

Max gets four stitches.

Isaac turns three!

Gemma loses two teeth.

The Joy in Cloudy Days

Brasstown Bald the highest peak in Georgia.  The mountains in the far back are in North Carolina.

We awoke this morning to a cool, crisp day in the North Georgia Mountains. The sun was hidden behind the veil of clouds and we could not help but reflect on the cloudy times in our lives.

 Today is also the Feast of St. Benedict. It was on this day five years ago that our son, Benedict Michael Farris, was born into heaven.

 As we pass the half way point of our missionary summer, we would be remiss to not mention some of the hardships of this life.

 We miss our families, our pastor, our community, and our friends. Our children miss the neighborhood pool, backyard cookouts with friends, trips to the beach and river with their extended family, and "being connected".

 There have been times of physical trial with no air conditioning, lots of bugs that bite and sting, poison ivy, and illnesses.

 Living in community and working alongside our children has been challenging. It has shown our glaring weaknesses as parents and people.

 True holiness demands finding JOY in even the most difficult situations and in our faults and failings. So we choose to continue to strive for holiness.

 May the Passion of Jesus Christ be always in our hearts.

Summer Missionaries

Life Teen Summer Missionaries are college age young adults who give around six weeks of their summer to serve teens at camp.  Their job here is to bring everyone they encounter closer to Christ and they have done that amazingly.  Our family was welcomed with hugs and now they call my parents "mom" and "dad" and they feel exactly like family.  I have enjoyed these four weeks with them and am extremely sad to see them leave.  They have gone over the top with their mission and have even brought our family closer to Christ too.  Let me share a glimpse of them with you:

DJ is a great and holy man.  We have had a lot of fun together, such as racing with me in the shopping cart at Wal-Mart and making Adventure Time jokes.  He shows God's love by welcoming everyone with a smile.  He wrote me the best affirmation letter I have ever received and will keep it forever.

Dylan is an amazing person from California.  He is very funny and is modern day St. Philip Neri.  He loves the Lord very much and it shows in all he does.  He shows God's love by being fearless.  He does not know a stranger, only friends he has not met.

Colby was a Summer Missionary when we were at Covecrest-Tiger last year.  He is awesome!  The first time I saw him I decide he looked like Percy Weasley from Harry Potter, so automatically I wanted to talk to him.  He is kind and very patient with my "annoyingness".  He shows God's love in everything he does.

Zach is gentle, loving, smiling always and is fearless. He is a great friend. He likes to have a great time with anyone. He is quiet at first, but after a little bit will talk a lot more. He is very holy and prayerful in his own quiet way. He is also very patient with everyone. I see God's love in his gentleness.

Daniel is like a brother to me in every way.  When we were at the lake he picked me up and threw me in the water and then I tried to tackle him, but failed......miserably.  He is like an older version of Gabe, but stronger.....and cooler.  He shows God's love in an unassuming way.  He is always observing, paying attention to every detail so that he can better serve each teen individually.

Anthony is full of energy, funny, recklessly in love for Jesus, and he is also treats me like a sister. I met him two years ago in Covecrest-Tiger, but I sadly did not remember him. We consistently have poke wars. He is quite weird, such as when we went to the lake/beach and played pokeman, which is very different because we just crawl around saying our names and tackling each other. I see God's love in him because whenever it is time to pray he immediatly gets in a prayer mode and is very serious.

Paco always makes time for everyone and is unafraid in his faith.  Like everyone he loves Isaac, but he can only get him to come with candy. He goes to Baylor, and that makes Solomon and Max love him even more. I see God in his independence and kindness to others.


Chelsea is happy, bubbly, and very patient with Gemma.  I think they are both princesses. Chelsea goes to Clemson and is trying to influence everyone to go to Clemson. She is very loving, patient, and kind. I see God in her patience with others.


Natalie is a quiet warrior for the Lord with a strong faith and fragile heart. She is very sweet and patient with Gemma, too. She is very sweet to everyone. I see God in her friendliness and kindness to everyone.


Christine makes Fransciscan University proud!  She doesn't care what others think of her and radiates joy.  She is bubbly and always greets everyone with a smile.  She shows Christ's love by her joyfulness.


Bety is prayerful, kind, patient, loving.  She is so considerate of others and would be someone you would tell your deepest secrets to.  I will miss her strength and the peacefulness she brings to our community.  I know she will always continue let Christ's light radiating through her everywhere she goes.  She is a gem!


Jackie incredible energy, great singer, and her laugh is contagious.  She is a beauty!  SO much fun to be around.  She can always see the bright side of everything and she shows Christ's love in her unselfishness.  She is a true joy!


Amanda - is from Nebraska and staying true to her state, likes corn;)  Isaac loves her and would run great lengths to be able to jump into her arms.  During community prayer, he would seek her out so he could be with her.  I know she will be a great teacher one day.  She shows Christ's love in her smile and her ability to connect with children immediately.

I am sad to see them leave.  We have become a family rooted in Christ's love and of the same mind.  They have forever touched mine and my family's life and for that I am grateful.  I know God has big plans for them and it would be selfish for me to make them stay here forever!

RADIANT JOY!
Mary

In the Presence of a Saint

Have you ever been around someone and thought, "I am in the midst of a saint."?  The past two weeks we have been blessed to be in the presence of a living saint:  Br. Paul Kostka.  He is a seminarian and, by the grace of God, will be ordained a priest in the next year.  He is a founding member of a new order called Servants of Christ Jesus.

So, how do you know you are in the presence of a saint?  From the moment Br. Paul entered camp, every action and word led you to Christ.  He walked in and immediately began to serve wherever there was a need.  He did not ask, he did not seek recognition, and he did whatever needed to be done with joy, compassion, and kindness.  I never heard him complain.

As the week went on he never ceased ministering to the 170 teens, their chaperones, the summer/full-time missionaries, and our family.  He is unassuming, thoughtful, and willing to sacrifice his comfort for ANYONE around him.  He never lectured anyone or stood on a soapbox, actually, he never needed to speak one word for his actions spoke volumes about love and truth.  His humble demeanor permeated camp like a contagious epidemic, and as you would expect, Christ's love radiated all week.  I am certain there were times of great inconvenience and he had to forego his needs to serve others.  However, you would have never known because when you were with him you always seemed most important.  It was as if he could see the face of Jesus in each person.  What a gift!

He attended every opportunity to spend with Jesus, even if it meant sacrificing sleep, food, or any other personal need.  It was clear from the beginning, Jesus is his priority.   I think Gabe summed him up best when he said on the first day he met him, "if Jesus is there, so there will be Br. Paul."

His love for Christ was evident in the way he cared for us all.  My life will forever be changed because of him.  His most beautiful characteristic is that he would never think these things of himself...........that is saint.

Please pray for him as he heads to India for one month to serve alongside the Missionaries of Charity and for his final year of preparation for the Sacrament of Holy Orders.  What a day that will be!

Only in Covecrest

Family wiffle ball game at Covecrest-Tiger:  six families........Farrises, Allgeyers, Walthers, Martins, Balls, and Berrys..........29 children, 12 adults (not all pictured, some not cooperative, some not present):