In the Words of Toni

I have a bucket list of things I want to do over the summer every summer. I didn’t finish last year’s so I carried it over to this year.
I had no idea that the plans I had made for myself were nothing like it turned out to be.
I was meant to be here.

Remember this day. Remember this moment. Remember this feeling.
Today was my groups first time on our own doing program for high school students. The last site we went to was with all 12 members. I do my talks on Sunday, the very first day of the mission & I did not expect the turnout to be how it was.
The groups are from Florida and Pennsylvania, they don’t know each other so there was kind of a division. The four of us leaders has our own individual small group. I love my group.
So at first we did praise and worship and this was a tough crowd but once we did an activity it kind of loosened then up. I had my talk on being a servant of God. Within that talk I have my testimony and how I came here. It got extremely personal. I look in the crowd and all I see are bored faces, I was discouraged…little did I know the responses I got after my talk. So many people came up to me and hugged me saying I was brave to share that, people came up to me and told me how much it related to them, and people told me that they truly believed that they were meant to be here for a reason. This girl in my group just started crying out of no where, it was crazy.
I never thought this would happen.
Praise be to God.
Go on a mission, it’s life changing.

Sometimes I look at pictures of my friends hanging out and I think “I should be right there with them” and I get sad. But I snap at of it because no, I’m not meant to be there, I’m meant to be here in this very moment. Yes, I’m giving up one summer on a mission, but I’m doing it for God. Any other summer can be dedicated to hanging out and being with friends, but this summer will stick out the most to me because I did something out of the norm, I did something out of my comfort zone, I devoted time away from my family and friends. This experience will last forever. Yes, times may be trying, and yes at times I feel like giving up, but God pushes me and tells me I can do this.
I’ve met so many amazing people that have become like family to me. God called me here and now to be a leader, to go state to state and do mission work, to help where help is needed, to give talks and testimonies about my faith.
No, I may not be hanging out with my friends and family this summer like I usually do, but I have been given the opportunity to partake in something far greater. I’m meant to be here.

Anonymous asked: I hope one day we can hang out and talk in person.

Uhhhhh

Anonymous asked: I miss you

Who are you?

Donate :D

http://www.gofundme.com/2zpa00
$5 $10 $15 $20 $50 $100
It doesn’t matter how much you donate, every little bit counts.
Spread the word.

I’m having trouble with fundraising because I’m doing it while I’m on the mission and my church along with my diocese were unable to help me.
I was discouraged because my home parish, one that I had been serving in for years, denied my request, but I still have to keep trying! God will provide and I’m praying real hard for that!

I’m in Oklahoma until Wednesday, go to Texas to recoup, and then I head to Louisiana on Friday.
Lord have mercy.