“Take this, all of you, and drink from it, for this is the chalice of my Blood, the Blood of the new and eternal covenant, which will be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this in memory of me.” I bowed as Father lowered the chalice back to the altar. I had heard these words thousands of times, but this time they carried a different meaning: Christ wasn’t only asking us to celebrate the Eucharist regularly at Mass, but also calling us to pour out our lives in love of others as He did for us. I had already decided to serve as an international missionary for at least a year and was discerning which particular organization; these words were an affirmation: “Yes, I have called you to pour yourself out in radical service in my name.”

My name is Rebecca and I’m a cradle Catholic from Arvada, Colorado. I graduated from Colorado School of Mines with a degree in Civil Engineering and I have been working for a general contractor for the last year. For as long as I can remember, I had a desire to be a missionary in a third-world country, but I thought it was merely a desire, and not an actual calling; I figured I was just seeking adventure or running away to a life where it would be “easy” to love God and others, so I didn’t pay much attention. But when the Lord calls, He doesn’t give up. As I was approaching the end of my time in college, I was stuck with the questions: If not now, then when? And why not now?  I realized it was about time that I acted on this prompting. So, I prayed that I would find the right organization and entrusted my late-night Google searches to the Lord. Eventually He led me to Con-solatio and I will be serving with them in Costa Rica for 18 months.

I see this mission not just as a time to give myself to those most in need of love, but also a time to convert my own heart and gaze, to learn to encounter others with the eyes and heart of Christ, so that when I return, I may bring that same love home to my family, friends, and coworkers. The Lord may not have called you to pour yourself out in such a radical way, but I know He has asked you to love. So, I encourage you to consider the ways that you can pour out your own life. If that means supporting me and this ministry with your prayers, I would be so grateful. The lord knows I need them!