I am a sophomore at Hofstra University and can remember the day I heard about the mission trip to Ecuador from the fabulous Rosie. My first thought was, "I must go!"
I have only recently become more active in church related events here at Hofstra and when people ask me why I simply respond with a smile, "Because it's like an addiction. But the good kind!" I got this saying from Brother Diego, one of the CFRs in Patterson NJ. I visited the CFRs about a month before we went as a mission team with two other members of our team (Rosie & Jonathan) and two other Hofstra students. After about ten minutes of being there and being filled with the contagious spirits of the friars I fell in love with the place, the brothers, and most of all the feeling that took over me. Like I said, it's like an addiction, and that feeling is really remarkable and on that day it was unavoidable because the love and spirit that the brothers had was outrageously contagious. After the awesome lunch they cooked us Maryann and I were talking with Brother Diego about how prayer, worship, praise, and adoration are all so overwhelming, so great! Whether in a huge beautiful church or in the small chapel we were in that morning the feeling is remarkably the same and as Brother put it "addictive". It really stuck with me from there on out, that prayer is like an addiction, but as I always like to add (especially on a college campus) the good kind of addiction! I certainly didn't want to leave that first day that I met the friars and when I was planning to go the second time with the Ecuador mission team all I kept telling them was, "These guys are so awesome, you're going to love them!" I was very excited to see my mission team friends being filled with the same contagious spirit that I was when I first went there. As Kyle and KK have both exclaimed, that retreat day with the CFRs was an amazing day of labor, togetherness, and prayer.
This past Tuesday the entire mission team met with James, a guy from Family Missions Company who will be going down to Ecuador with us. He is a full time missionary and will be guiding us through our journey. After hearing him talk about where we will be staying and some of the things we might be doing I got so excited. And I know excited is such a cliche, dull word but it's all I could find. I am filled with excitement to go on this mission to meet those in Ecuador who we will be praying and working with and to grow a deeper bond with the members of my mission team. So I guess my words for now are excited and addiction which sound kind of weird at first but they do work. Prayer is like an addiction but the good kind, and I am filled with excitement for the upcoming mission trip that I am going on in just a few short weeks. KK said it really well, being a missionary is as constant as breathing!
To the friends and family of our mission team members - Please continue to pray for us and think about us as we mentally and spiritually prepare for the amazing experiences we will have in Ecuador.
To the Ecuador Mission Team Members - I can't wait to see you guys again on the 5th (or 6th!). Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and remember to keep praying (because it's addicting!) Love you guys! =]
-Danielle Natorski
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