Day 2, March 12, 2024,Denver

Hi all, Tess reporting for duty here! Today started off bright and early with morning prayer at 6:30 in Our Lady of Guadalupe Church. After breakfast and a few house chores, we were off to the streets to meet the homeless of Denver, the many friends of Christ in the City. My team walked 20th street and met Marcus, a man with a passion and talent for sketching, and especially portraits. Our team missionary, Olivia, brought him some chalk, which he was happy to accept- we learned that chalk is his favorite medium! (Seen in the picture sketching a chalk portrait of Mason, one of the Kansas seminarians). 

Following street ministry was mass at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. Praying at mass, this verse kept coming to my heart- “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me… For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30). Over the two days we have been here, my favorite part of the day has been walking the streets and talking with the homeless. It has been much easier than I expected- I am increasingly in awe and admiration of their humility, vulnerability, and gentleness of heart. I feel that not many people instinctively want to work with the homeless, (including me before this trip) and yet the fruits I have received from getting to know and love them are much greater than anything I could have imagined! Truly, the Lord’s yoke is easy. The world’s yoke of self-service, the path of least resistance, is indeed not easy at all! 

The afternoon’s highlights included a talk on mercy given by missionary Fintan, debriefs on the day, and spike ball games in the park! As the result of an unfortunate series of events, the ball ended up in the storm drain. Shortly after we rescued it from there, it somehow got lodged 17 feet up in a tree:/ Following multiple rescue attempts and methods, we were finally able to get it down and the game continued. 

The evening included a nice dinner of turkey soup, and a community movie (ft. Hercules) and karaoke night! Then came night prayer and afterwards a stop at the famous Little Man ice cream, the perfect end to our second full day in Denver!