A look at year one of the Xavier Mission Team
I thought I knew what it meant to “be great in little things”. Making even the most minimal tasks ways to holiness, for both ourselves and others.
But after a year of letting uncooked chili run down my face and watching high schoolers get excited over running over a snowman with a car, I have redefined my definition of “little things”.
These past nine months, driving to all corners of the diocese, sharing with teens the love of Our Lord, and growing in community with five teammates — to the point where I can tell who has entered a room solely based on their sneeze — has been quite the adventure.
What ‘mission’ looks like
Going into this year, I thought I had a fairly good picture of what this year of mission would look like — standing up in front of a group of teens, talking to them about the faith, leading various games and activities, growing closer to my teammates, and working perfectly in sync with them.
As I pictured what the year would look like, there were some dazzling lights and hopes of feeling constant happiness.
Thank goodness Our Lord had a different even more beautiful picture in mind.
Without a doubt, there have been some “dazzling light” moments throughout the year.
There were times in which I witnessed true love and beauty pour out from my teammates and teens coming to see a glimpse of the Lord’s love for them; times where we had beautiful talks and lesson plans; times that were only possible because of Our Lord.
To say that there weren’t difficulties, or times that weren’t “dazzling” would be a complete lie.
As I said, going into the year I had a “perfect” picture of what I thought mission would be like. In some ways, I had a “perfect” image of what I would look like on mission.
In many ways, this year has forced me to really come to terms with my own weaknesses and self-reliance which can be a painful yet necessary process.
There were times in which after a long day I would be exhausted, and my teammate would “step up to the plate” for me and I would do the same for them in return.
Relearning humility was not in my “perfect” image of what this year was going to look like.
Luckily, Our Lord’s idea of perfect is very much different from our own.
Being on mission and being a missionary is not about being “perfect” or obtaining “perfection”.
It’s not feeling 100 percent all the time. It’s not about the hours spent driving, spent talking, spent planning.
Certainly, we want to do well in those things, but it’s simply being a witness to God’s love and obedience to His will.
I say simply but obedience can be difficult, almost impossible at times.
One of the beautiful things about living in community and having a leader is growing in obedience, being able to be flexible, and placing others before yourself, not always getting what you want.
While not always flashy and comfortable, following the Lord’s will is the only way we can find fruit in our mission and in our own lives.
The year’s ‘favorites’
One of my favorite things about this year of mission, besides the kids, has been watching my teammates and all the individuals who helped in many big and “small” ways throughout this year.
My teammates reading this might roll their eyes because I tell them this often, but one of the greatest joys this year was watching their witness, their gifts and strengths shine through various events we’ve hosted, the beautiful words spoken and written for speeches and lessons, and all the small organizational and logistical work done beforehand.
I know I wasn’t the only one inspired by their work.
Everyone who has helped in our mission has contributed to this beauty, and if I could, I just want to say, “thank you”.
Coming back to being “great in little things,” Xavier Mission Team is a beautiful evangelization apostolate in our diocese.
It has amazing potential to profoundly change the lives of the youth in our diocese.
It doesn’t have to just stop with Xavier. Being “great in little things” applies to all of us, regardless of if we have the title of “missionary”.
All the times spent changing diapers, teaching kids, having cookouts, checking people out at the store, every aspect of our life can be offered for the conversion of hearts — making our daily tasks and duties means of sanctification.
Those “little” things that each of us has are made “gigantic” things through God — even those things that seem like obstacles become ways to grow.
In short, the year has been filled with unexpected surprises, beautiful moments, and some long nights; filled with new friends, learning experiences, and challenges.
For myself, Xavier Mission Team has reconvicted me of my own need for growth, to not underestimate the “little” things, and to not doubt that Our Heavenly Father uses all things to draw us closer to Himself.
If I could leave you with one thing: We’ll never fully know our level of impact on others and the world until, by the grace of God, we stand before Him in Heaven.
But one thing that is certain is that nothing is too small to be impactful — a word, a hug, a listening ear, letting chili run down your face.
Sometimes we’ll never see the fruit, but that doesn’t mean the seed hasn’t been planted.
“Be great in little things.”
Molly Schoepp is a member of the Xavier Mission Team for the Diocese of Madison and a recent graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.