My Gospel Roads Experience
by Paul Neira
On Saturday July 12, I arrived at Saint Thomas More Church in Hauppauge, Long Island for my first Gospel Roads. As soon as I arrived, I was welcomed with such joy and happiness; I felt like I was home. After a fun two days of getting situated, we were ready to carry out our mission.
Our mission for the week was to help people and follow in Jesus’ steps. Splitting up into our work groups, we set out early Monday morning to our designated work site. My first location was Miraculous Medal, a place that assisted people who were in need of food and clothes. Our task that day was to organize all the donated food. On Tuesday, the second day at this site, I was able to hand out the food to the people. It was a more direct experience. The next day, we went to a nursing home, and it was a lot of fun. To kick off the day, we had the exhilarating task of cleaning wheelchairs, walkers, and the workout room. After lunch, we got the chance to talk to the residences at the home, which was my favorite part. I met a woman who is 96 years old and full of life. We had so much in common and had a great time talking about the past (even if her time on earth was a little longer than mine).
On Thursday, all the groups went to the same workplace to do some gardening. This workplace had three separate gardens that needed to be attended to. At the first site, we did some weeding and cleaning up around the plants. At the final garden, we had to clear what seemed to be a wall of weeds. Deep in the depths of this wall of weeds were a sign and a bench! All the work we had done during the day actually called more attention to the public than we thought. People, noticing what we had done, would pass by and honk their horns. It felt great for people to appreciate what we did. I also really enjoyed bonding with my new friends. The last day I went to a school for underprivileged kids. We played kick ball, soccer, and jump rope. It felt really good to bring joy and happiness to those kids’ lives.
Gospel Roads: Long Island ended with a day on the beach. It was a lot of fun, and a great way to end an amazing week, the best week of my life; I never felt happier. I got so close to the new friends that I made. One of the guys on Young Team moved me in a deep way. After a day or so I opened up, but mostly to him. After all the activities we did, I felt like we could relate. When I was having some troubles throughout the week, I asked him for advice, and he helped me out a whole lot. I am very happy that I was able to find true friends, friends who I could talk to and relate to.
Throughout the whole week I experienced the power of God. I experienced it the most during prayer, Mass, activities, and making new friends. The power of God was there. At the end of the week, I felt like I made long lasting friendships. These friends that I made are understanding, and are there when I need them. They are friends that I can trust. My first Gospel Roads was amazing! I wish it was two weeks, and I could not have been happier.
Our mission for the week was to help people and follow in Jesus’ steps. Splitting up into our work groups, we set out early Monday morning to our designated work site. My first location was Miraculous Medal, a place that assisted people who were in need of food and clothes. Our task that day was to organize all the donated food. On Tuesday, the second day at this site, I was able to hand out the food to the people. It was a more direct experience. The next day, we went to a nursing home, and it was a lot of fun. To kick off the day, we had the exhilarating task of cleaning wheelchairs, walkers, and the workout room. After lunch, we got the chance to talk to the residences at the home, which was my favorite part. I met a woman who is 96 years old and full of life. We had so much in common and had a great time talking about the past (even if her time on earth was a little longer than mine).
On Thursday, all the groups went to the same workplace to do some gardening. This workplace had three separate gardens that needed to be attended to. At the first site, we did some weeding and cleaning up around the plants. At the final garden, we had to clear what seemed to be a wall of weeds. Deep in the depths of this wall of weeds were a sign and a bench! All the work we had done during the day actually called more attention to the public than we thought. People, noticing what we had done, would pass by and honk their horns. It felt great for people to appreciate what we did. I also really enjoyed bonding with my new friends. The last day I went to a school for underprivileged kids. We played kick ball, soccer, and jump rope. It felt really good to bring joy and happiness to those kids’ lives.
Gospel Roads: Long Island ended with a day on the beach. It was a lot of fun, and a great way to end an amazing week, the best week of my life; I never felt happier. I got so close to the new friends that I made. One of the guys on Young Team moved me in a deep way. After a day or so I opened up, but mostly to him. After all the activities we did, I felt like we could relate. When I was having some troubles throughout the week, I asked him for advice, and he helped me out a whole lot. I am very happy that I was able to find true friends, friends who I could talk to and relate to.
Throughout the whole week I experienced the power of God. I experienced it the most during prayer, Mass, activities, and making new friends. The power of God was there. At the end of the week, I felt like I made long lasting friendships. These friends that I made are understanding, and are there when I need them. They are friends that I can trust. My first Gospel Roads was amazing! I wish it was two weeks, and I could not have been happier.