When I was leaving India, Fr. Thomasiah Reddimasu asked me “What will you do when you go home?” Back to work I said, “Is that all?” was his response. Only half of the work we do as missionaries is done in the field. Often the most valuable part of our work is how we share our field missionary experiences with others.

Fr. Steve Heina from the Diocese of Salina requested that Hand of  Help send me to speak about my experiences (as a missionary) with the elementary school students at St. Francis Xavier Grade School Junction City, St. John’s Grade School Beloit, Tipton Community School Tipton, St. John’s Grade School Hanover and St. Andrews, Abilene. I was more than happy to comply as I have found memories of speaking to the older students in the Diocese last year.
What a joy it was to meet the future missionaries of our Church!

The staff and students were most welcoming and engaging. Our theme for this year was “How Can You be More Like God?” The children shared ways they show their friends and family their love of Christ. They spoke of sharing, helping, praying and showing kindness. They asked lots of questions, tried on saris, ate rice with their fingers, and figured out how to take a bath in a bucket. They wrote wonderful thank you notes expressing their appreciation of my visit to their classes.

I also want to thank the families that hosted me and welcomed me into their homes. There are good old fashioned values to be found in Kansas. Folks spoke about their desire to serve God in their everyday lives. To give back the love Christ had given them, to make certain that their children and grandchildren understood that we are all called to be Apostles of love and service.
I am so blessed.
Helena Moniz

They all told stories of how they share their faith with others. For some it is a bake sale on behalf of relay for life, for others it is helping at school or at home with siblings or elderly grandparents.

I was warmly welcomed by the CYM at St. Leo’s in Horton. I especially want to thank Fr. Earl for sharing his love of his parishioners with me as well as his home. By the way, he is a wonderful cook!

From Horton I traveled to Sacred Heart High School in Salina and was greeted by Nancy and her staff. The students were engaging, using their imaginations as they walked to the well to get water for bathing and doing their best to wear a sari.

I spent the night at the home of Becky and Mark. Becky has done missionary work in Guatemala; initially traveling there as a chaperone for the children of Sacred Heart and in the process she opened her heart to the children of Guatemala, as well.

My next stop was St. John High School in Beliot. Their teacher had been in the Peace Corps, so they are blessed by his experiences. They collected mittens and gloves and graciously offered to send them to me for the poor and cold in India

Wednesday afternoon found me at Tipton Catholic High School, a charming brick building which housed the students. The cooks told me about the personalities of the students. They are a caring and compassionate group. Fr. Damian, the local pastor, teaches in the school weekly. He wants to be more than the Sunday pastor. He wants the students to have a relationship with him.  By his example the students will learn to live their faith.

Then on to Thomas More Prep in Hays. All of the students I had the pleasure to meet on Thursday had questions, so many questions, which I love. They inquired about the life style, educational process, and daily life in India. We had an interesting discussion on the movie Slum Dog Millionaire.

The young people I met in my travels are amazing! They looked in their mirrors and saw more than their own reflections; they saw the reflection of Christ looking over their shoulders. They recognized those in their community that were in need and performed all sorts of works of mercy; they took a stand for life, collected items and served food to the poor, to name but a few.

My final stop was in Junction City, home of St. Xavier Catholic School where we started our day with morning Mass. Here, as in the other schools, the students were willing to sit on the floor, turn off the lights, use very short pencils, and participate with questions and activities.

The students were excited to share with me their experiences in sharing the love of Christ by volunteering in nursing homes and with youngsters in the Biddy Basketball program. By their remarks I knew that like most missionaries, they received much more than they gave . . . the nature of the work

I could talk all day about the bright, energetic, enthusiastic and just generally wonderful young people who are saying “Here I am, Lord . . .”, but I do not know how I can possibly convey the light in their eyes, the joy in their hearts, what those who follow Christ find, and give to others because they just cannot keep it to themselves. Without preaching, they are reaching so many others with the love of Christ and that makes my heart sing!