Hopped off the plane at MDY...
...And we were greeted by amazing servants of the Lord in a land far away from home: Chicago, Illinois.
While we were in Chicago we were able to visit some classic landmarks like the bean, the face fountains and sample some classic Chicago cuisine. We also were able to go to a Polish church housing a myriad of relics, especially our very own patron: Pope St. John Paul the Great. All of us Louisianan's even managed to take on the metro and the subway!
We were continually steeped in prayer, mass, the sacraments and interactions with the Lord's beloved, making this trip one of immense privilege and joy.
Coming off of ECHO NOLA, we knew the Good Lord had some amazing plans set for ECHO Chicago. The souls we encountered in Chicago were desiring our Lord's sacred heart in a particular way. The hunger for knowledge and for things that are redeemed as true, good and beautiful was so evident in the eyes of the young adults and teens we had the privilege of experiencing this week with.
With God's graces comes the enemy's attacks, and they were not in short supply during our adventure to the north. I think before we fully surrender to the Lord's plan, sometimes we can doubt whether or not we are enough for the job or whether we are adequately prepared for the journey the Lord has called us on.
Working with the team in Chicago provided us with the unique opportunity to collaborate with all of our gifts, talents and strengths. Being able to watch both teams integrate and lean on each other throughout the entirety of the camp shows how much the Spirit is so intricately woven in each of our unique stories.
My beautiful missionary brothers and sisters have the following words to describe their interactions, experiences and journey through ECHO Chicago:
"It was beautiful to worship and learn about the faith alongside the Catholic community in Chicago."--William
"ECHO Chicago taught me that God is not just in the small city of Slidell. He is the God of the universe and is in every single human heart around the world." --Caitlyn
"I had many moments of struggle and difficulty at ECHO Chicago, but through the example of trust and surrender by those present around me, I have been able to grow in incredible ways. I was taught how to be stretched to receive an even greater outpouring of God's love and grace."--Michael
"Throughout Echo Chicago, God invited me to allow myself to be stretched and to pour myself out into relational ministry more than I usually might have. The funny part was that it was not until after my later, and even final interactions, in the week with particular people that I focused on. Giving myself to this relational ministry, God showed me what great things He had at work in those interactions. It was very humbling to see the Lord working through me in ways that I did not even realize He was until after the fact."--Matthew
"It was such a powerful experience watching ECHO Nola join forces with ECHO Chicago to provide an encounter with the lord for young adults and teens in Illinois."--Caroline
"At ECHO Chicago, I was able to share my testimony and help paint a banner of the Divine Mercy. It was specifically in these moments that the Lord continually affirmed me through others just for who I am as God's beloved, and not for what I do."--Mary
"It was an inspiration to be with the newfound ECHO Chicago community that is on fire for John Paul II’s teachings; they are clearly participating in the Church’s new evangelization."--Tyler
With only a couple weeks left until the end of our missionary expense we continue to ask humbly for prayers and invite ll of our mission partners, friends and family to join us in interceding for ECHO CENLA coming up at the end of July from July 27th--August 1st.
If you feel called by the Holy Spirit to aid our mission through prayers or financial assistance to equip the rest of our mission, please send us any prayer requests or intentions and submit any financial donations here with the missionary's name whom you are supporting included in the 'additional comments' section!
Be Not Afraid!
Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the Easter people and hallelujah is our song. --JP2
St. Thomas Aquinas, Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Joseph and Pope Saint John Paul II PRAY FOR US!
Below are some pictures from our time at ECHO Chicago:
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