A Word of Welcome

To all those who have recently received the link to this page through a mailing this week, welcome!

I hope you will find this informative, and do not hesitate to refer friends to the blog. Please see the very first post at the bottom called "Genesis" for a more formal word on the initiation of the page.

Regional Gathering Emmitsburg, MD

This weekend FOCUS missionaries from the Eastern Region (Navy, Maryland, George Mason, Belmont Abbey, Vanderbilt, North Florida, Vermont, Ramapo, Seton Hall, Pitt, Temple, and Mount St. Mary's) gathered for a time of fellowship and rejuvenation in Emmitsburg, MA in upper Maryland. In addition to a great time with my brothers and sisters, I had the privilege of visiting Gettysburg, PA. The Gettysburg Foundation had recently redone its museum, and it was certainly a treat. It's winding halls wove me through the Civil War's intricate yet brutal history. Through a great combination of artifacts, primary documents and quotes, and multimedia education, I was engrossed in the story as it narrated the events leading up to the historic battle that shaped so much of our history.

The personal accounts, the various articles like belt-buckles, muskets, bayonets, uniforms, letters, journals, and knapsacks impressed me deeply. And it was not without sadness that I reflected on our nation that stands still so divided on human rights, more than 150 years after so many suffered and shed their blood for strikingly similar reasons. One side fought obstinately for the repression and brutal subjugation of an entire race of human beings. The other struggled for liberty and justice for all human life. Some problems continue, even in our "modern, enlightened" age to plague our society. An interesting fact (pace the democratic party), did you know the republican party was formed specifically during this time of civil unrest in the mid 1800s to take the platform against slavery, arguing that all men are created free?

First Timers' Retreat

The Catholic Student Center at the University of Maryland holds a "first-timers' " retreat every fall. There is a group of students who leads it, and we as FOCUS missionaries assist them in any way they need. A crucial way in which we contribute is to engage the retreaters in conversation, to make them feel welcomed and loved and to simply participate in an eager and loving way. I felt that this description of our duties was a bit ambiguous, but it turned out to be a great thing that we went. Now, back on campus, we see the students who retreated, they know us and it is very easy for us to speak with them and invite them to join in our events and activities. Many of these students are also eager to join our Bible studies and become more involved.

Genesis

I, Teddy, called by the will of God to be a FOCUS missionary and disciple of Jesus Christ, to my family, friends, a specially my Mission Partners that are in Boulder, Denver, Louisville, Golden, Windsor, Greeley, Commerce City, Arvada, Longmont, Broomfield, Westminster, Lafayette, Erie, and Brighton in Colorado, along with Charlotte in North Carolina, Swanton in Ohio, Santa Fe and Albuquerque in New Mexico, Muncie in Indiana, and Surrey in the United Kingdom; to these sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!

I've started this journal to help communicate my joys and sorrows, successes and struggles in my life as a missionary to college students. I hope to make you all more a part of my mission by praying for you as you read and post comments in this space, and also to ask you to pray for me and those I minister to.

I bless the Lord for his abundant Providence, in sending me all of you, my dear friends and family, to support His work that He has called me to do. Your enthusiasm for the mission encourages me, helps me to lift my head in the morning and walk the rows in the Lord's vineyard day by day. Your incredible generosity converts my heart as God demonstrates to me His plentiful love. I hope the stories and thoughts of this journal will bring you much joy, as it does for me in its reporting.

God's blessings be with you, and especially the prayers of St. Hedwig and St. Margaret Mary Alacoque.