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Peace and joy indeed! That is exactly what I felt. R.
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What fascinates me is that each encounter with the Emmanuel Community is an experience of joy, happiness, enthusiasm that we feel, and that lasts long after.; an experience of the sincerity, simplicity, and natural of the testimonies from people “who did not seem to need God in their life to give it a meaning” and who, nonetheless, by saying “yes”, let their life be transformed beyond their hopes. A.
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I was at the mission at the Actor's Chapel last week. I came with an open heart and mind, and with no expectations except that I would let God do what He wanted to do, in His own time, in His own way. I was content to "sneak" in and out, just to watch and pray. I spoke only with those who approached me first; otherwise, I tried to remain silent. I waited on God.
By Sunday, I felt that something had happened in me; no "big flashes of light" or "booming thunder;" just peace, happiness, quiet joy.
You know, so many groups rely on complicated "programs" to get their point across. Emmanuel seems to thrive on simplicity: honest witnesses giving testimony in the Spirit; kind words expressed in a spirit of friendship; beautiful art and music that help silence thrive; and, most importantly, the Eucharistic Lord exposed for an intimate encounter with all those who long for His Presence.
As I get older, I realize that the world holds very little for me. Without God, everything (no matter how "wonderful"), ultimately, is meaningless and empty. With Him, all things are beautiful – even our pain.
I am attracted to your life. I want to learn more. Warmest regards, A.
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One day, during the afternoon adorations, Hervé-Marie Catta approached a Colombian woman who was praying in the church. He kindly asked me to help her because she hardly spoke English. After my explanations, she put her intentions in the basket at the feet of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, and also picked up a word from the other basket. She stayed for a while praying. We then had a chance to talk outside the church for a while. I really felt the call of Jesus to go and listen to her; she looked pretty sad. The Lord gave me the words to cheer her up. She then opened totally and explained why she was so melancholic. The reason was her son, who apparently was not living the way she had taught him and had not finished his studies, etc. She was an amazing believer, but for somehow she was loosing the hope to see her son come back to the right way... Jesus inspired me to pray for her, and to let her know. So, I promised her to say a Rosary for her son. After this little sign, she was "touched" in her heart; so was I... Then, she spontaneously asked me to embrace me, which I of course agreed at once. At that moment, I knew it was not me embracing her, but Jesus...
Sometimes, we don't recognize that Jesus wants to really use us as "tools" or "wires" that brings His love to others. It's wonderful to discover this deep truth. Many thanks to the Lord!! Alleluia! T.
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When I heard about a mission in NYC I was excited, but pretty skeptical that it could actually work. Luckily, God likes to exceed my expectations because it overwhelmingly convinced me that God still lives and loves even in the middle of what I thought to be one of the most morally decrepit cities in the history of mankind. I was converted. I learned how important truth and love – by not complaining and not criticizing – are actions necessary to bring about fruitful relationships, and the fullness of life to all people. I was amazed at how well the missionaries worked together in a real spirit of joy and collaboration, even to the last minute. The fruit of this was that we became a magnet that attracted the people off the streets to enter into that same spirit, and ultimately discover Christ in a new way. Thanks. M.
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[…] Two days after a retreat, I got a surprising email from Fr. Thierry telling me about the mission in New York. He was inviting me to come because he remembered I was planning to attend a English-as-a-foreign-language course in Boston. I prayed about it. Then, two days later, another surprising email arrived in my mailbox, telling me that the class in Boston was cancelled! I was shocked of course because I had arranged everything. I prayed again, and asked God whether this was the right thing to do. I was thinking, “maybe God does not want me to go. “ Then, the organizers of the course invited me to come to Grand Junction, Colorado, to enroll to an equivalent course at the same period. I was hesitant and very confused. I had to make a quick good decision and it was not easy. I prayed over and over, and then decided that I wanted to do the course. I gathered all my courage, put all my trust in God, changed all my travel plans, and left Indonesia for Grand Junction.
Meanwhile, I told Fr. Thierry that I might not be able to go to New York because the course in Boston was cancelled. He just told me not to cancel that quickly and told me to pray about it. So did I. I had always wanted to see New York. I knew that it was a little desire of mine and, in my prayer, I was saying to the Lord, "Lord, may it not be my desire, but, if You want me to join the mission, I will trust You to take me there." God opened a way and there I was: I decided to go. It felt right. I was so thrilled!
This how I met all of you and joined the mission. It was truly a MEMORABLE and AMAZING experience for me. As I was struggling about my choices and my family's expectations on me [to leave Indonesia, our home country, to find a better life in America], I prayed a lot during the mission. Then, God asked me what I wanted. I told him that I wanted to end this indecisiveness in my life (whether to be in the U.S. or not to be in the U.S.) I just wanted to end it.
I was especially touched by Bobbie Ann's testimony that night when she said God loves her like no one else in the world. That testimony just opened my eyes, and realized again that indeed God loved me like no one else in the world. […] Then, to my surprise, during Adoration, someone read the passage of the woman who was cured from hemorrhages. It was for the third time I was hearing that text! For me, it was then very clear what the Lord wanted me to do: He needed me in Indonesia!
I just wept and wept; it was the answer I had been looking for, and for so long. I said “YES!”, and I gave my “yes” to the Lord, although going back to Indonesia would not be easy for me, as I had chosen not to live up to my family's expectations. I thought to myself, “the Lord said ‘Take heart, your faith has saved you’, so I don't need to worry, for the Lord is with me, and He will hold my hand to go through anything that will come my way.” Then the Lord confirmed me through Fr. Joseph's testimony about his life choices and how he became a priest; and also when he mentioned Mother Theresa’s words: "be where God wants you to be; if He wants you to be in the streets, be in the streets; if He wants you to be in a palace, be in a palace; as long as you don’t choose it, just be where God wants you to be."
Indeed the Lord is full of surprises, and without realizing it, my life – with and my dream of living in the U.S. – had been turned around. I just want to be where the Lord wants me to be; if He wanted me to be in Indonesia, so there I will be. Ever since that night, I have been feeling so joyful, liberated, and peaceful! I have found the truth! The true freedom is indeed the freedom to give our “yes” to the Lord. I have never felt so complete, so free, so alive, and so joyful. Alleluia, praise the Lord! E.
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