Mass effect

Captain’s Log: 13 June 2010

Today was a pretty layed back day.

Mass wasn’t till 11 so I got to sleep in and get some good rest. As I woke up I started to get a little nervous about going to this church with Katherine and Billy (the two players you will meet today). I mean a freaking Prince and Princess were going to be there… I didn’t pack a just in case I meet a prince outfit—when will I learn!!! As we walked in the super hot morning Billy and Katherine explained to me what I should expect and how to behave in mass.

“Can I say amen really loud when he says something cool?”

“No”

“Awwww! Why not?’

Turns out because mass is boring!!!!! Just kidding about that. No, mass was a really cool experience. It might be because I was spoiled by this mass. The ambassadors of England and Canada were at this service. A Prince and Princess were also in attendance. Fourteen priests including two arch-bishops were also there. Did I mention I sat directly behind the Prince and Princess and two seats from the ambassador? Yeah, I shook their hands and said “Peace be with you”. I am kind of a big deal now.

All that aside, the service was pretty. The singing and the structure of the service was really interesting to take part in. My feet sure are tired from all the standing, but I really did enjoy it. After service they served champagne and I tried some. I am no connoisseur, but that stuff tasted super expensive—even drinking it out of a plastic cup. I have never had alcohol at church before… kind of weird.

As we walked home I had tons of questions for Billy and Katherine and they indulged (tee hee) my curiosity. Billy is a student from UT and has quite the potty mouth haha. That is the only negative thing I can say about him though. He is really amicable and friendly. Even though he isn’t from Texas Tech, he has fit right in and been really fun to hang out with. He definitely knows why he believes what he believes and was one of my comrades in yesterday’s debates. Katherine is a really sweet girl. She is super nice and really mellow and quiet. She isn’t shy at all, but just chill. It is actually really hard to get a read on her because she always smiles. She actually kind of intimidates me because I don’t know if she thinks I am an idiot or not. I mean, I am an idiot—but I just don’t ever know what she is thinking. (Assuming women can think!!! Burn).

So she and Billy enlightened me about Catholicism and clarified some misunderstandings I had about the Catholic faith. I was also able to enlighten them about Protestantism and why we are better than them. Especially Kyle. Just kidding, I got to tell them what we believe and practice and how we go about certain things. This actually lasted for about 2-3 hours and finally ended at the end of the stairs just next to my room. Of course after that I talked to Ryan, Will Utterback and Billy for about 4 hours. Nothing deep but just talking. Various players walked in and out of our conversation and we met some people in our dorm. I mean, we were sitting on the stairs so we saw everyone who walked by. We eventually moved our conversation to a Chinese restaurant and then back to the University. I have literally been talking for 2 days straight. I am going to lose my voice. I haven’t had so many good conversations in such a close period of times ever. It is literally iron sharpening iron right now. I am learning and growing so much and all the while trying to share my faith. Interestingly all my conversations have been really respectful and delightful. Academia is such a hard place to be a Christian in, but God has really blessed me this trip. I seriously have no more words that I can use right now. I am at my limit. The mass amount (pun intended) of words that has had a strange effect on me for sure.

 See you all tomorrow. I love you and keep praying that I will find the words to say or the restraint not to say anything lol. Love you all.

End transmission.