Signing up for the International Youth Forum with Communauté de L’Emmanuel as well as World Youth Day 2023 a couple of months ago was truly embarking on uncharted territory but I just knew that I was supposed to go. Getting to Coimbra was an ordeal in itself: from train rides to late flights and everything in between.With so many inconveniences, my day traveling from Strasbourg, France to Coimbra, Portugal was long to say the least. When I arrived in Coimbra, I checked in for the forum and honestly as tired as I was, I was looking forward to resting as much as I could before the start of the forum. Well hold up a minute! Not so quick. 

When I arrived at the door of the stadium, I could not enter because my name could not be found on the list. I wish I could tell you that I kept my cool and prayed through the obstacles but in my humanity I was annoyed and frustrated. People were checking the sheets, making phone calls and after much time waiting, they realized that I was not supposed to arrive that day but the next. This is why they could not find my name. What would I do?  At this point I was beyond exhausted because I had been up all day. They agreed to let me sleep. What a relief! 

When I got in, I realized that we were going to be sleeping in a stadium during the entirety of the Forum. Though I had my sleeping bag with me, I was not mentally prepared to lay down as such. Not only was I not prepared mentally, I also was not prepared physically. I did not have a towel either to shower because in my wildest dreams, I had not fathomed that this is exactly what pilgrimage life is all about. Go figure! Once I settled a little bit and figured things out, I remember going down and facetiming a dear friend of mine and telling her about how upset I was about the situation and what had happened besides other things. I proceeded to tell her that I did not have a towel. For some reason when I was packing, this had not crossed my mind.  I kid you not: she proceeded to reply suggesting that I may as well ask the Lord to send me a towel. What??? You must be kidding! But she was not joking, not even a bit! As the conversation ended, she prayed for me and we parted ways. 

Where and how would this towel show up? I didn’t know to be honest. Would it come down from Heaven like God provided Manna for the Israelites? The following day, I got up early because I wanted to be one of the first to shower. Soon after I was freshened up and ready for my day but there was no towel to be found. I was still the only one who had arrived from my group since one of my teammates had missed her flight. When she arrived in Coimbra that morning, after she checked in, I began updating her about the logistics which were not fitting for her.She looked for alternatives: we researched and finally she found a place that was doable. 

We took an uber and when we arrived, it was the wrong hotel. What a bummer!However, one of the staff agreed to let her book a room at this hotel and gave her discount. Praise the Lord! The Lord is never outdone in generosity! Back to the story: my teammate casually said to me that I could share the room with her for the entirety of the time instead of going back to the stadium to sleep. I had not asked her for anything but the Lord saw my need and provided lavishly for me. Not only did the Lord provide a towel but He provided a hotel room for me freely. 

I say it again: Be not afraid to ask Jesus for what you desire; He is never outdone in generosity. 

See you in the Eucharist, 

Sourire