Midwest Missions

Shabbat Shalom!

Following our week of formation in Denver, the missionary pilgrims road-tripped for three weeks across the Midwest, all the way to Pittsburgh! During this time on college campuses, we met with students, gave talks, celebrated Divine Liturgy, and grew as a community through the long hours of travel.

These past three weeks blessed us with many opportunities to share our testimonies with students and for them to open up to us in turn. We are so thankful for the time we spent with them and for this gift of encounter!

Taylor giving a talk about the grace of community to a sorority at UNL

Not only did our road trip allow us to encounter students, but also our tightly-packed cars enabled us to spend quality time with one another. Living as community has given us a real sense of how to love one another with all our strengths, weaknesses, and quirks.

The Immersion crew enjoying a cemetary picnic while on the road

One of the primary focuses during our trip was to share the beauty of liturgy and the diversity of our Catholic faith with students through Divine Liturgy. Divine Liturgy is a Byzantine Rite form of the Mass, which is celebrated by many cultures and communities around the world. This different experience of the Mass allowed the students and us to contemplate the symbolism and mystery of the Church and thus come to know Christ in a deeper way.

Celebrating Divine Liturgy in Pittsburgh

Another experience we were blessed to share with students during our travels was Israeli dancing. Israeli dances allowed us to share joy and life together, and to "let all [our] being bless His holy name" (Psalm 103)!

Learning an Israeli couples' dance with students in Madison

We had an exciting three weeks, but we were also able to share some downtime together. We spent a few days near Madison at a lake cabin owned by the family of a former pilgrim. They were gracious enough to give us a tour of their winery! We were touched by all the hospitality we experienced during our journey, as well as the beauty of God's creation.

The team exploring Wollersheim Winery

After three long but blessed weeks our adventures in the States have come to an end. Stay tuned for an update regarding our brief layover with the Community in Switzerland, and for updates on our time in the Holy Land!