WYD part 1

Rooted and built up in Jesus Christ,
firm in the faith
Colossians 2:7

That was the theme of World Youth Day this past week in Madrid.

I'm at quite a loss as to how to describe/condense my experience into a blog post(s) but I'll give it a shot.

From my notebook in the air on the way there:

Of course, as soon as I begin writing we hit some turbulence. The trip is going fine so far. I was worried about my backpack being too big to carry on - with my sleeping bag and foam roll both inside but it was fine. Interestingly, they were more concerned with number of bags rather than size. Two girls who had been in Budapest for Sziget had some trouble because they had sleeping bags and bed rolls separate from their carry ons - they each had about three things. Wizzair is very particular about having one item.. including purses/laptops/etc that most other airlines allow in addition to one carry on. I had everything in my backpack and just took things out on the plane before putting my bag up.

There is at least one WYD group on board. The priest traveling with them is sitting directly in front of me. I always feel much better about a flight (not that I usually feel bad) when I know there is a priest on board. Probably even more so than if I knew there was a doctor.

One of my goals on this pilgrimage is to actually interact with other people and not just stick to myself. That is such a challenge for me. I'm hoping that being alone - without a friend/group to find behind - that will be easier.

Speaking of friends, I'm curious to see if I run into anyone I know. When I was a volunteer in Cologne, a girl on the other volunteer team working with mine had been my babysitter when she was going to college. She came to WYD from her home in Kenya. That's the crazy type of thing that can happen at these. I do actually know one person who's here. A girl I went to school with our first time in Hungary is on the Hungarian social media volunteer team. I haven't talked to her in years but I've seen things she's posted on Facebook.

I really hope there is someone at the airport to pick me up. I called the volunteers at the parish that is hosting me and told them what time and from where I'm arriving. Hopefully they automatically knew which terminal to meet me based on my coming from budapest. If not, I've got my phone. Which I really hope is not the reason we're going through so much turbulence. I don't use it much so I forget about my phone all the time. By the time I remembered it was turned on, my bag was in the overhead a few rows ahead and we had started taxiing. Must be better about remembering that!

I hope this doesn't turn into a lonely trip. The group next to me is having a blast. I miss traveling/going to events with a youth group-type thing. If they weren't all a big group, I might be able to screw up the courage to talk to a person or two but alone compared with a group it's extremely hard. I'm such an introvert. Sigh.

(This next bit was written Tuesday night)

Just a quick note before I fall asleep. Got in fine last night. A volunteer picked me up at the airport. Spet the evening with a grad school group from Alberta. I was suppsoed to stay with a host family but we got back from "dinner" too late -- this is Spain -- we didn't start getting our food until 11:20 - so I spent the night on the floor with that group.

This morning I had to spend a few hours getting paperwork sorted out. Will have to finish in the morning because I'm exhausted => you'll see why soon.

Quick note

Just a short post to say that Madrid is awesome! Christ is so present! Got to see Papa Ben last night and I'm about to watch Stations of the Cross on the screen in the huge "home center" for English pilgrims. I've been hanging out with a group from Alberta, CA who have made me an honorary Canadian for the week. Had a horribly embarrassing run-in with Peter Cardinal Erdo of the Esztergom-Budapest diocese... talk about a slice of "humble pie"...


Gotta run because there is a line for the computer!!

More when I get back!

Today's the day!

I still can't believe that I'm actually going to World Youth Day in Madrid... today!!

Now that all of the little details are worked out (paying, where I'm staying, my worries about finding a flat for next year (my landlady offered me a discount for a second year so I'm not moving), etc.) I feel I would be remiss to not write a little about WYD itself and my personal reflections before heading to Spain.

A brilliant "brain-child" of Blessed John Paul II, WYD began in 1985 in Rome. JP invited the youth of the world to gather to join him in a period of prayer geared toward the young Church. Following that, every two - three years, there has been a gathering in some part of the world drawing thousands of Catholic youth and young adults.

I have had the privilege of attending WYD twice in the past: 2002 in Toronto and 2005 in Cologne. Toronto was simple because it's pretty much the backyard when compared to the whole world. Cologne wasn't much harder because my family was moving to Europe only a few weeks later so I went early. Both were incredible experiences. I desperately wanted to go to Sydney in 2008 but the flight alone was more than I could afford.

I am thrilled to be able to go to Madrid. Actually, thrilled doesn't begin to describe what I'm feeling right now. I found this video while looking up some WYD info and stopped to watch it.

Honestly, I cried.

I can't believe I was going to stay home. Especially when I am so close this time. WYD is unlike anything else I have ever experienced. Even the hugest Steubie conference is like a birthday candle when compared to the forest fire that is about to blaze in Madrid.

How can one describe the feeling? Surrounded by 100's of thousands of young adults all gathered for the same purpose: to unite in our common faith and love of the Lord. AND, to have Papa Ben there will us. Joining with pilgrims coming from literally, the ends of the earth: Alaska to Afghanistan (OK, I can't say with 100% certainty that there will be any Afghans ... but with 200 countries represented in Cologne, it really wouldn't surprise me!). And, it's different from a vacation. Honestly, I haven't taken a single minute to investigate any of the (I'm sure, amazing) sights in Madrid. No, this is a pilgrimage. We are going to meet Christ in Madrid. And His vicar: Pope Benedict. If there was ever a sign that the Catholic Church was instituted by God Himself, it has to be the papacy. No merely human office could have lasted 2000 years through so many wars, scandals, plagues, etc. Yes, there have been heart-breaking divisions. But the papacy remains. In Papa Ben, we see the representative of Peter - still holding the keys Christ gave him in Matthew 16:19. That's who is waiting for us pilgrims: Christ and His "right hand man" Peter.

How did I almost not go!?!?!

Will try to update but I'm making no promises until I see what the internet cafe situation is like. I'll be praying for you all. Please pray for me as well!

Getting closer :)

Two major things accomplished today in my WYD scramble...

1. I picked up the backpack I'm borrowing from Deb

AND

2. Heard from a volunteer at the parish where I'm assigned to stay... which means -- I've officially got housing and have an address to go to from the airport... YAY!

Also bought a rain poncho, sunscreen - it's supposed to be 90-100F all week, and some plastic painting drop-cloth stuff for sleeping outside on Saturday night. I wanted to get a plastic pool air mattress but the Tesco where I looked only had kids Disney ones and they were really expensive. I'll check at another Tesco tomorrow and might get a camping mat if they don't have the air mattresses.

On a not-so-pleasant note, I still have no place to live after August 31st. I looked at a room this afternoon but there were a bunch of things that weren't great -- one or two I could have handled but it was more than that. It's frustrating... last year, I saw ~18 apartments in August. This was the first one I've seen this year. For some reason, people just haven't been getting back to me. Please pray that I find a place to live!!

2 Days!!

Paid!

I just checked my registration online and my payment went through for WYD!

Now I'm just waiting to hear where I'm staying. I really hope that going by myself will force me out of my shell so that I have to interact with people I don't know.

T-minus 4 days!

Sorted out... I think?

I got an email from my credit card company warning me of suspicious account activity.

Well, I'm sorry that the conversion from Euros to Dollars and the fact that "Archdiocese of Madrid" was in Spanish made it look odd. I assured the automated message system (through g-mail phone calls -- a lifesaver! -- although I have to use my vpn to access that now) that I did, indeed, authorize such a transaction. Hopefully, that means it will show up on the WYD website in the next day or so and I can find out where I'm staying.

YAY for (hopefully!!) not sleeping on the streets of Madrid!

Also, I'm borrowing my friend Deb's backpack (she has an actual "backpacking" one) for the trip so that should be much easier to carry than my Jansport one... plus, I'll have a new backpack once I get to Madrid :)

5 Days!!!

Prayers appreciated

Just a quick note with two rather important prayer requests regarding Madrid...

1. I checked on my registration this evening and it still has the payment pending... that's worrisome for two reasons - first, the fact that I've already bought my plane ticket and the second, while they are still taking registrations, as of this evening, you can't request accommodation anymore. I'm praying that it goes through and that I have a place to stay because sleeping on the streets of Madrid for a week is a little to exciting for me!

2. I had saved next week to finish all of my summer work which still needs a good bit of work. Now, I'll be scrambling to get it done in the next few days before I leave. I've procrastinated quite a bit because it's hard to be motivated after an experience like this.

Besides these worries (just a chance to trust God, right?) I'm super excited for Madrid!!

6 Days!!

And now, for a Picardy Third for the summer

If I had made this decision earlier it probably would have been cheaper but no matter...

I'M GOING TO WYD IN MADRID!!!!!

Beyond excited! Gonna hang out with Papa Ben and a couple (just looked it up ... more than 4!!) 100 thousand of our bffs!

I <3 our German Shepherd!

I soooo need this after this summer -- kind of like a Picardy third after a piece firmly set in a minor key. (Yep that's my music nerd coming out!)

OK... time for bed... I'm working this week so I have to be up early. But, really... how can I sleep when I'll be in Madrid in less than a week?!?!?

AHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! SOOOO EXCITED!!