“But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary.’”
I actually wrote a Lenten reflection on the Solemnity of the Annunciation last year too. I talked about how scared Mary must have been yet how admirable it is that she said yes to God. At the time, I had a lot of choices to make and was very scared to commit. Now, a year later, I reflect on those decisions and the fruit they bore. Of all the opportunities I said yes to, I am most grateful for having said yes to student ministry.
I wasn’t sure I was going to come back after last year. I was honestly very drained from issues in my personal life that I didn’t see myself fit to serve for another year. Even if the desire to minister was in my heart, sadness and insecurity clouded my mind. I thought I was too broken to serve and would not only be hurting myself by giving more when I had nothing more to give, but that I would also be hurting a community I knew I loved. So when I was asked to be a SM Co-Advisor, I was terrified…yet unexpectedly excited. I decided to put my trust in God to work through me, in the people I would be serving alongside with, and said yes. It felt like there was something greater to hope for through ministry, I just didn’t know what yet. I went in blindly and let my faith guide me.
It has been an insane roller coaster of an experience to minister this past school year. I reallyreallyreally struggled in my position but learned sososo much from it too: learning to be accepting of change, taking things and people as they are, recognizing my shortcomings and leaning on God to fill in the gaps, how to fill out TAP forms (heh), and not being afraid to put my whole heart into service.
As my time as a student minister is wrapping up, I feel intense appreciation for this community and everything it has given me: my most important friendships, a greater understanding of self, a deeper relationship with Christ, and babies!
With gratitude beyond gratitude, thank you Newman Community for being my home.
– Lily Valdrez