Last weekend... I haven't updated for a while

This last week has been very interesting. I went home on Tuesday and spent Thanksgiving with my brother and my dad, cooked the whole dinner and left them with a loft of left overs. Hopefully, they are still eating them.
But most significantly, I went to the youth conference in Goshen, IN.

That was amazing!!! God has worked in every single way, even ways I never expected. I went into it praying that God will open my heart for a possibility of marriage. And he did. All the talks that we've heard, every single minute was significant. From Father John talking to Vladika Petr, everything that I heard has strengthened my faith. I found out things about Orthodoxy that I didn't know that didn't necessarily pertain to marriage. Wish people I've met, What a blessing!

The most amazing moment of the weekend (well, there were two).
At Vespers on Saturday night (the service was longer than usual) I sang in the choir, and right after going to confessions I went back to sing, and there was this one moment when I got choked up. I was overwhelmed with joy that the Lord has for me, that he picked me up when I was lost, that He gathered me here to worship, that He directed me when I was struggling with my faith, collected my pieces and showed me the path for salvation and life ever lasting. Just for those moments, I'm ready to pray every day. And although every day prayer doesn't always feel the same way, the moments like these is worth living for.

The second moment was during the Liturgy. I also sang in the choir (alto part by the way). And when we started singing the Simvol Veri, and the Altar Men came out and joined us plus the whole congregation, I got choked up again (twice in 2 days) The singing is so powerful, the praise is so powerful. I felt strong, not strong in my own way, but strong in Him, like nothing can take me down. God was present among us. He was leading us. Indescribable! I pray fervently that everyone around me will experience that moment. It's these moments for which it's worth suffering in our lives!


All the young people were wonderful! I was full with joy to see other Orthodox young men and women to have that much passion for the Lord. Leading radical lives is hard, but so worth it!

I'll close with part of the speech from Father John. He quoted from 1 Corinthians 13 4-8.

Charity suffereth long, [and] is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether [there be] prophecies, they shall fail; whether [there be] tongues, they shall cease; whether [there be] knowledge, it shall vanish away."Fr. John said that St Paul wasn't romantic that his definition of love is of hard work and dedication, long suffering and love. Only then, you and your spouse will achieve salvation together. How wonderful it is!!!

God Bless,
Darina