When I came into the bus station to see the French 14 year old girl staring right at me and laughing, I was not looking forward to this trip. Did I have to do 11 hours with this family?
Of course, God came through setting me up with some more wonderful people. I sat down and looked at the man next to me. I started my friendly chat asking him where he is from and where is he is going. "I'm going to visit a church in Panama for a mission." "I'm a Priest..."
Oh thank you Lord!
I look to the right and there is a nun.
He asks, "Would you like the window seat? " I say, "No, I'm fine here." I was focused on the seat to the right of me. The nun with the bible sitting in her hands-later on in the journey it was an Ipad in her hands-ha. Nuns deserve to participate in the technology trend too.
As for my priest, I share my mission with him to believe in others, assist them through the church, spending time with the poor and needy, feeding them, and caring for their being. We had this discussion about being a missionary, which I was questioning this trip. He shared with me that he travels around Central America staying for certain periods of time. He has been a Catholic priest for 30 years and each day he "wakes up with passion"(his quote). I could tell that this man was just dedicated for life and there was no questioning his faith. He has never married or had kids. He doesn't feel the need to and wants to just live in his religious world. I am asking all these questions because I am always curious about the life of a priest and nun. This priest seems a bit more conservative as some priests are a bit more on the edge.
The nun was focused on the bible, her Ipad, and book. She looked over and gave me an occasional smile. When we stopped for food, we snacked on some rice and beans together. He was my bus buddy and I was thankful to have him near me. He kept me calm, safe, and preoccupied for some time.
When we stopped, he bought me some fruit and we were shopping around for hammocks. He would hold the hammock with the guy selling and let me sit and swing in it. When it was a cheap one, my butt would hit the ground. When it was a decent one, I stayed above ground with a chance of the bottom stretching like it might bust. When it was a good one, I was able to contently sit and happily swing back and forth.
This priest made up for the negativity I experienced and he helped me focus back on my mission and reason for travel. The reason did not involve trying to make French people happy with me.
Of course, God came through setting me up with some more wonderful people. I sat down and looked at the man next to me. I started my friendly chat asking him where he is from and where is he is going. "I'm going to visit a church in Panama for a mission." "I'm a Priest..."
Oh thank you Lord!
I look to the right and there is a nun.
He asks, "Would you like the window seat? " I say, "No, I'm fine here." I was focused on the seat to the right of me. The nun with the bible sitting in her hands-later on in the journey it was an Ipad in her hands-ha. Nuns deserve to participate in the technology trend too.
As for my priest, I share my mission with him to believe in others, assist them through the church, spending time with the poor and needy, feeding them, and caring for their being. We had this discussion about being a missionary, which I was questioning this trip. He shared with me that he travels around Central America staying for certain periods of time. He has been a Catholic priest for 30 years and each day he "wakes up with passion"(his quote). I could tell that this man was just dedicated for life and there was no questioning his faith. He has never married or had kids. He doesn't feel the need to and wants to just live in his religious world. I am asking all these questions because I am always curious about the life of a priest and nun. This priest seems a bit more conservative as some priests are a bit more on the edge.
The nun was focused on the bible, her Ipad, and book. She looked over and gave me an occasional smile. When we stopped for food, we snacked on some rice and beans together. He was my bus buddy and I was thankful to have him near me. He kept me calm, safe, and preoccupied for some time.
When we stopped, he bought me some fruit and we were shopping around for hammocks. He would hold the hammock with the guy selling and let me sit and swing in it. When it was a cheap one, my butt would hit the ground. When it was a decent one, I stayed above ground with a chance of the bottom stretching like it might bust. When it was a good one, I was able to contently sit and happily swing back and forth.
This priest made up for the negativity I experienced and he helped me focus back on my mission and reason for travel. The reason did not involve trying to make French people happy with me.
