... To The Convent

One month ago I was packing my bags full of white shirts, black shoes and stockings ...preparing to move halfway across the country. I will say, it has been a whirlwind, but not a tornado.
I'm adjusting to many things: new house, new classmates, new wardrobe, and a new schedule. And these have led to another "new" thing: a new outlook. Or maybe just fresh perspective.
We have been learning about St. Mary Mazzarello, the woman who, with St. John Bosco, founded the Salesian Sisters. She was a very ordinary woman of extraordinary faith and strength.  After she fell ill to the Typhoid fever, she decided to take up sewing to develop a skill that she could excel in, even without her former strength and knew she could use this skill to reach the girls she wanted to help in the community. I've been reflecting on how she decided to make "every stitch an act of love for God" and encouraged others to do the same. What a beautiful spin on her life being dramatically changed by a deadly disease. And just think, this can be applied to anything. Especially those tasks we don't particularly enjoy. Wash every pot, scrub every floor, patiently wait at each red light, attentively listen to each person, ... as an act of love for God. How beautiful each day can be if we look at all these little contradictions as opportunities.
It's been one month since I arrived here in New Jersey, following God's call to join the Salesian Sisters as an Aspirant.
Here are a few of the new things I've learned in the past month about life in the convent:
1. Living in community is fantastic, there's always someone around to ... pray with, talk to, laugh with, take a walk, ask questions, help with homework, paddle boat on the pond, and be an ecouragement.
2. Microwaving popcorn can result in fires ...
3. If you're playing volleyball, be on Sr. Ramona's team.
4. We love to laugh here ... a lot, its good for everyone.
5. You're not "leaving" your family, just adding to it ... 14,000 sisters around the world.
6. The high school girls may not be super awake first thing in the morning, but if your greeting is awkward enough, they will smile and it's hard to ignore someone who knows your name.
7. You can play sports, chase turkeys, scrub pots and mop floors in a jumper ... good thing the navy is dark!
8. Taking classes from Sisters, (in your own community), gives a whole new meaning to wanting to do your work well, and not complaining about homework, studying etc.
9. It's amazing how difficult the notes you can sing easily in the afternoon, are to hit at 6 a.m.
10. How beautiful it is to do everything with a community of people who are all striving to live their lives for the Glory of God through the service of Youth.

This is a picture from our "Medal Ceremony". Friday night we were officially accepted as Aspirants into the community. Pictured here are my Aspirant sisters, l to r: Me, Shannon, Chelsea, Sr. Karen (our provincial), Kristen, Katie and Sr. Phyllis (our formator).