What can I say about my journey to the beautiful city of Rio de Janeiro! There are no words to describe the happiness that overwhelms my soul after I experienced Gods demonstration of his love in this year’s World Youth Day. From the beginning to the end of my journey, I loved every single minute of it, I brought with me beautiful memories, and the friendship of wonderful people.
God blessed me in so many ways, I have no idea how to continue to thank him. I believe that he personally called out my name and sent out the invite for me to go and participate in this World Youth Day, because He had something wonderful and fantastic awaiting for me. And boy was I ever surprised in what I experienced.
To see that there is a hungry youth for our Gods love, and wants to know him in a deeper level, helped me strengthen my faith. To walk with 3.5 millions of youth from all around the world, singing and praising our Lord, opened my eyes to another world. A place where I don’t stand alone, where I have brothers and sisters like me who are trying to speak and shout about how amazing our God is.
In Rio I was able to see the strength of our Church, a young, and alive Church. My faith was strong, but within a week in Rio it strengthen more and more with every passing day. The Lord’s voice seems impossible to ignore now, and I don’t want too. Furthermore the words of our beloved Pope Francis, wow! What a feeling it was to be in his presence, to hear his message and to know that he was sending each one of us the message to go out there into the world and scream out loud Jesus’ name! To not be afraid to love our God, to follow our God, to love our God!!Most importantly he reassured us that the Church is with us, that HE, the Pope, is with us.
WHAT A FEELING!! Just to reminisce on everything. The rain did not stop us, the cold did not stop us, the long waiting, and uncomfortable situations did not stop us. Our love and want for God was stronger than any of it. And now our job when we come back to our homes is to share all this wonderful love and blessings we received with all those around us, as well as those who want to listen! like our Pope Francis said: “LETS NOT BE AFRAID!” I WANT TO FOLLOW JESUS!” Thank you for taking the time to read this, and God bless!
Daiana Barboza
Member of Shalom’s Prayer Group in Toronto