For the car (INDIA 2018)

<<< 09/30/2018 I went to India seeking a direct and personal encounter with God, to gain strength, clear all my doubts, and recharge my faith 100%, but as the song says, "when I want to control my life... I'm foolish." The only thing I had to do was let myself go and trust in God, who knows best. A trip that has changed my life. Not so much my life itself but the idea and way I had of living it. It’s not about leaving everything behind and changing your lifestyle; it’s about continuing to live the life of a normal young person, but hand in hand with the one who died on the cross for me. It’s about knowing for sure that He is here, with me, holding my hand. Knowing that when I give up, He will be by my side so I can keep going. I’m the first to live a busy life; I don’t stop to think about everything I do. On the contrary, I get overwhelmed by every situation or moment of the day. I do everything without thinking about what I’m doing, finish, go to bed, and the next day is the same, day after day. Many days I don’t even pray; I might go to bed without remembering Him for even a second. But today, during one of the holy hours of the trip, I fell. I fell because I clearly saw that the life I was living is not the one I want, that this life where I sought happiness in going out with a perfect guy, or with my friends, or having plans at night, or in my grades... is not the life I want. It’s not about that. Of course, it can be important but not essential. None of this will ever give you the happiness that knowing He is by your side 24 hours a day for everything you need and that He can do everything gives you. If I “prayed,” it was at most 5 minutes to ask for this and ask for that and ask for that... but it was in a tumble in India about Prayer where my life clearly took a huge turn and I learned that praying fills you, that praying relaxes you, that praying helps... That praying is not asking and thanking an almighty God whom we believe is unreachable and see as something distant. Praying is believing without seeing, loving without feeling, wanting and wanting. It’s talking to your best friend, laughing with Him, sharing good and bad moments, venting, it’s something incredible, it’s pure love...!!!!! Truly, I have experienced that change between asking to I don’t really know who and talking, being, and sharing everything with my best buddy. Of course, there will be moments when you sit in front of Him and don’t know where to go or how to start, but as they told me in that tumble, sometimes just sitting in front of Him and repeating “I love you, I love you, I love you...” is more than enough; I’ve tried it and I do it almost every day since then, it’s AMAZING, goosebumps! Until before the trip, “My poor Crazy One” didn’t quite convince me, but now I realize that He really is our poor crazy one, in love with us, with each one of us, who wanted to carry all our burdens to understand us, and He is CRAZY IN LOVE!! But after realizing all this, I can only say thank you, for this incredible month, because I have learned from each one of you, and because it’s amazing to take trips like this!!!! It’s impressive, wonderful, a pleasure, how from minute zero, everything was already prepared, the rooms assigned, a chapel with a special charm, the volunteer groups, everything, everything arranged. And I hope I can learn to reach my maximum, because I have seen them, and I have seen them exhausted but with a smile, and a look that shows the presence of Christ. I have seen those who despite the heat and tiredness, went into the chapel to play the guitar and help the rest of us pray, I have seen them handing out songbooks and little blankets with a smile; I have seen them sitting in the front row and singing as if it were the first day; I have seen them staying day after day at the hotel to prepare food for 200; I have seen them carrying suitcases on the buses with enthusiasm beyond the norm. I have seen them praying a rosary at 7 in the morning, having slept only a few hours, their faces showing tiredness, voices just waking up, but you could feel enthusiasm and eagerness to be there, more than one spent the entire rosary on their knees, or the whole holy hour! It’s impressive. I have seen people opening up like never before, letting out everything they had been holding inside for a long time, I have seen them reach such a point of humility that you could see in them the seed of Christ’s love. I give thanks for having met people who teach you that in life you have to bet on great ideals. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to live this experience, and thank you for making me feel more than ever that You exist and that You love me. >>>