Doing a year of mission work. Feeling discouraged. Could use prayers/advice

[catybug]

Hopefully this is the right board. I leave for a year of mission work in roughly two weeks, plane and bus tickets are booked, everything lined up. Or should be. There’s still soooo much to get done, and things I want to do before I leave, people I want to see, and I dont know how i’m going to do it all.Right now is one of the times I feel I simply /cant/ and maybe i’m in way over my head.

A little background on this. I’m 19 years old, and had a bit of a rough time this parts semester of school. So I decided I would take a semester to a year off. I talked about doing mission work during this time, as I have done many many times. My boyfriend then was like " You talk about it all the time, maybe you should look more into it, and do something?" and he was right, and it seemed right. In everything I’ve ever wanted to do, the root of it is I wanted to help people, and bring people closer to Christ. This conversation happening in late may, man y summer mission spots were already closed and I didn’t think I could wait a whole nother year. So i applied for a Salesian organization whose applications closed in a month. I jumped through hoops to get this application done, and I did in record time apparently. Training starts July 19th, and ends mid august. I will end up either in the US or Mexico. I was at peace when it was all done, there were stumbling blocks, but things just ended up so perfect in the end.

Untill july started drawing closer. I’m becoming rather anxious, and I dont know where to go in all this. I dont know how to pack for a year. They gave us a guide, but it isn’t very helpful. I’ve never been away from home for so long, even though i’ve been wating to get out and do something for a while now. The most stressful thing is figuring out how to spend time with the people I care about. I just spent the last week with my brothers family, which was great, but I didn’t get to spend much actual time with my brother as we was working. I’m trying to figure out time to spend with some cousins I’m close too, but our work schedules keep conflicting. Trying to see my sister, but she has a bunch of teacher training to do. There are friends I want to see, friends who are supposed to be good friends, but they say we will hang out before I leave, but then leave it at that. We never plan dates, or anything and I almost feel as if they dont care. I’m running around trying to get more travel friendly clothes. Trying to work as much as possible to sustain me through the next year. I had a paycheck from my old job that I quit in February I didn’t realize was never deposited to my account show up, thats been invalid for 30 days, trying to plan a short trip with my dad for the last time, trying to spend as much time with my bf as possible. And though I’m trying to spend all this time with different people and take care of all these little things, I feel as if I’m not able to make time for the person who really counts, Jesus. I go to Sunday mass sure, of course but I used to go to daily mass almost every day unless I was working, but it just seems i’m too busy lately, I havent been to confession, which I used to do bi-weekly, because confession times just conflicted with things. And it just hurts, because i’m doing this for Him, and because of Him. i feel really lonely and sad because of this. I’m rather certain this is the will of God, when I started out, things just fell into place so perfectly, but I’m doubting now.

Prayers are really needed. And advice on how to pack, as I said, they gave us a guide but it isn’t very helpful. 1 checked bag and 1 carry on is all I can afford. and advice on time management. Any advice in general, actually. i kinda feel like a chicken running around with its head cut off at the moment.

 

[Irishmom2]

Take a deep breath and let it out. Repeat as needed.

Go onto Pinterest for great packing tips. There was actually a woman that went on a mission of some sort and told how she packed.

One of the things that you are experiencing unfortunately, is finding that some people in your life are not as close as you thought, or it is only you interested in making things work to see them. Take it as a learning experience. Prioritize the people in your life that you need to see most, like your dad. Your friends that are not attempting to see you are showing their true colors. Don’t worry about them. Think of this as a wake up call and get on with what you need to do.

Make time for God as you truly want and the rest will get done. It appears to stress you out to not spend time with Him as you want, so put hHim before your friends. If they really care, they will see you. If they don’t, it is their loss.

God bless you and keep you safe. I hope you have a wonderful year, perhaps you can update if you have time when you are away.

 

[YinYangMom]

In everything I’ve ever wanted to do, the root of it is I wanted to help people, and bring people closer to Christ.

I’m with Irishmom2. Breath in, pause, breath out. Repeat.
Focus.
What do you want to do? - help bring people closer to Christ.
Why do you want to do it? - I couldn’t see this in your post, but, let’s assume it’s something you feel a calling to do. That means it would stem from the Spirit.
It’s possible, however, that you chose this away from home mission experience to run away from something - whatever was troubling you this past semester. That doing this trip is more about escaping than serving.

Even so, the wheels have been set in motion and you are going on this trip, so I would assume however you got to this point, it was directed by God. That means all energies should be spent in prayer and consecration so that the most good for others may result.

You seem anxious about being away from family and friends, but this is but a year in your entire life. You will see them again. You will hear from them. I should hope you’d be able to blog about your activities on down time, or at the very least keep a journal that you can share upon your return.

In a way, though, your instinct is correct. You may see them again, but you, and they, will not be the same. This experience will change you. Your absence will change them. But this is as God plans.

Take the book “33 Days to Morning Glory”, by Fr. Michael Gaitley, with you to read during your travels. It will put you in the proper frame of mind and spirit to be His instrument on this mission. You will be amazed by the peace and grace you will receive in the process. It is tangible, it is lasting, it is sustaining.

You will be in my prayers. God bless.

 

[JamalChristophr]

But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

:juggle:

Pax Domini!