Oh Boy...

So as Patrick has said...it begins. This crazy adventure we have talked, joked, and prayed about is coming to be. This weekends summit was packed full and at some points was almost overwhelming, but it was so incredibly needed. Prior to this weekend my nerves were starting to get the best of me. What are we doing? Does it make sense? Are we just being crazy idealists? Well the truth is...maybe we are idealists, maybe it doesn't make sense and we are definitely crazy, but we know what we are doing. The summit was an affirmation of God's hand in this discernment process and the qork being done by GK. Gawad Kalinga is an incredible movement powered by hope and love. It is an organization that truly lives faith with a consistent ethic of life. I hope that it will continue to flourish and serve as an example to the world what love, faith, and hope in God and people can accomplish. GK is committed to restoring dignity to the poorest of the poor through ministries of presence followed by assisting villages in the developement of communities they can take pride in. Communities of shelter, productivity, health, and peace. It is an honor to be a part of. The core of GK encompasses all that I believe in and what Christ has called us to. Another exciting element of the weekend was recieving our job assignments. Each project really asks us to use our skills, gifts, and expertise to move GK along and provide the best care to people possible. The projects ask quite a bit more from us than I think we anticipated. I thought that being a part of GKare, the health care portion of the program, would entail visiting villages to give immunizations and do health care teaching and it might, but they have asked more than that. They have asked me to assess the villages and determine 10 villages with the greatest health needs and compile funding proposals to address those needs. I have also been asked to initiate relationship building with the nursing schools in the areas so that someday they may adopt villages to work with as part of their curriculum. It is a pretty incredible assignment...I can't lie...it made me cry a little. It is more than I imagined for myself, but it really excites me and I think that it will really challenge me. This entire experience is going to challenge and push our faith in ways I have never experienced before. We must keep God as our foundation and focus. Be with us Lord.