"Before this retreat I always prayed, but I never listened.  Today I listened, and it felt amazing.  It was the best feeling ever;  I felt light, like I could float away into Heaven"

~Dylan C. 14 years old, Camden, OH.

"This retreat most impacted me at the end.  When we were all praying in the church, my small group leader put her hand on my shoulder to pray over me.  I never felt her hand leave, but when I opened my eyes, she wasn't there, so I believe it was God."

~Ashley R. 13 years old, Johnstown, OH.

These testimonies are just two of the many that we have received from the youth who have been on retreat.  Countless others speak of how their NET retreat impacted them to start a relationship with God and have helped them to see themselves as beloved children of God. More say that the part of the retreat that impacted them the most was the time of prayer that we had. We, the Cincinnati regional team, share these testimonies with you so that you may share in our joy at seeing the young people of our Faith turning to Christ!

As my team and I continue on our journey, we are constantly reminded by these youth about why we have chosen to sacrifice a year of our lives.  Simply put, it is for the love of God to be made manifest to them through us.  If we haven't showed the retreatants the love of God, then we as a team have failed in our ministry. 

With over 70 retreats under our belts, and over 4,500 youth ministered to,  my NET team and I have come to the point in the year where we have to fully rely on the Lord in everything.  We have had so many curveballs thrown at us this year.  As I had mentioned in a previous blog, one of the women on our team had to go home for health reasons.  This was back in December.  This February, another of the ladies on our team went home, as she discerned that NET was not where she was being called to be. She parted with us early February, and while goodbyes were amiable, they were hard.  We as a team rejoice that this women is following where the Lord leads her, but we also mourned losing someone so dear to us.  We also had a team member absent for a month as she had to go home in order to have surgery on her foot. Only recently has she returned.     

Throughout all of the transitions that have taken place on my team, one thing has been made very clear to us: Nothing that we do comes from our own strength.  The only way that we have persevered is through the grace of the Holy Spirit.  The stress of all the changes, late nights and early mornings, hard retreats--  We would not still be here if we didn't continuously surrender these to God. 

Philippians 4:13 says " I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."  Well, personally, I know this to be so true.  Day after day I get up and I think to myself, "How can I keep doing this? I'm so tired!"  But when I'm silent and listen, I hear God chuckling and saying "You can't, but I can.  Will you let me help you?"  And it's when I say yes that I feel so refreshed and ready for another day. God shows me that He truly is all I need.  

So, dear reader, how are you letting God help you?  Are you even letting Him get close enough to talk to you? What's holding you back?  Speak to Him this Lent.  Let Him love you.

Please pray for my team as we continue on this adventure that Christ has set out for us! Pray that God continues to impact the youth through us, just as he did with Dylan and Ashley (The youth whose testimonies I shared earlier). Please know that I am offering you all up to our beloved Savior.      

In Christ through Mary's Immaculate Heart,

Michaela Donovan