Better late than never right-Brandon Veyette

1) Brandon Veyette, Junior, Colorado State University, Physics
2) Active or relaxed as long as I am around people I love.
3) I picked up my music taste from seattle so alternative rock/inde.
4) My siblings,  they knew what they wanted in life and never looked back.
5) Traveled to aruba, italy, canada and mexico
6) Sunrise, start of a new day.
7) Cliche but matthew 19:26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
8) To look back on what I have been given in my life, how thankful I am for it, and where I want my life to go.

Fresh

Maybe you will see this before we leave...

1. Your name, year, school, and major

My name is Robert Froeschl and I am going on my 3rd year as a FOCUS missionary. I am currently working in Indianapolis at IUPUI. I graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a degree in mechanical engineering.

2. If you could spend one day doing anything, what would it be?

Wake up, breakfast, pray, Mass. Then: Basketball, swimming, card games, poker, drinking, good conversation, board games, skiing, hiking, napping.

3. What kind of music do you listen to?

I like a lot of music. I don't care for country or poorly done Christian music.

4. What inspires you?

My friends inspire me. People that are filled with a contagious joy. 

5. What countries have you traveled to/lived in?

Lived in America. Traveled to the Philippines.

6. Do you prefer sunrise or sunset and why?

I cannot decide. Sunrise is good because I know that I have my whole day ahead. Sunset is good, because that is usually when friends gather to unwind from day.

7. What is your favorite passage in Scripture?

Philippians 2: 5-11

8. What are you most excited about with this mission trip?

I am excited to work with the Malaysian students to learn from them how they evangelize. I am excited to share success stories and stories of hope. I am excited for greater conversion in the lives of all whom we come in contact.

Sunog!

Hey ya'll! I have spoken with each of you and am super stoked to get to meet all of you. I feel very honored to serve as your mission director for this crazy trip to SE Asia!

1. Your name, year, school, and major

My name is Frank Magnetico and I'm a 4th year missionary currently in the Missions Dept. (doing what we're fixin' to go and do is my full-time job. Rad huh?) Previously served at Vanderbilt University. I attended Adams State University and Texas Tech University (Wreck'em!). Majored in Cellular & Molecular Biology and Chemistry.

2. If you could spend one day doing anything, what would it be?

Check this: Early morning fishing off the coast, then some rock climbing on the cliffs over the water, followed by some surfing, then a Rosary walk in the tide under the stars, and finally good conversation and laughs around a bonfire with people I love...otherwise I'd have to say: same people, but at a good ol' Texas-style gathering with good times, music, two-steppin', BBQ and all the usual suspects to go with it...simply known as a "throwdown". Mass is a given in both!

3. What kind of music do you listen to?

Pretty much every kind. Rock, (Texas country, baby!), salsa/merengue/bachata/all manner of ethnic types, country  classical, chant and so on...you name it, I probably dig some of it. Seriously.

4. What inspires you?

Talented and passionate people striving to live out holiness, someone fully living their vocation/Vocation, people who haven't lost their child-like sense of awe and wonder, Saints, and beauty manifested in God's creation; animate or otherwise.

5. What countries have you traveled to/lived in?

Traveled to: Japan, Guam, Dominican Republic, Haiti, El Salvador, Peru, Mexico.
Lived in: Panama, The Philippines, all over the U.S...Oh, and the Republic of Texas of course ;)

6. Do you prefer sunrise or sunset and why?

If I had to pick, I'd say sunrise. I love the early morning and watching the sun set the sky ablaze with color and light. To me, it's reminder from God for us to "begin again."

7. What is your favorite passage in Scripture?

I'm terrible with "favorites", so here are three of them: 
Psalm 144:1 - "Blessed be the LORD, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle..."
Luke 9:62 - "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God."

Sirach 2:1-11 - Read it. It's good.

8. What are you most excited about with this mission trip?

Are you kidding me?!...everything! Meeting all y'all and getting to know each of you more. Being fully present in the mission. I've had the privilege to serve on 4 other FOCUS mission trips witnessing and experiencing what happens when you leave familiarity and comfort behind and come face-to-face with Jesus Christ, who you are, and who you're meant to be. I'm excited for the unknown results of those encounters in SE Asia. There's gonna be some serious Holy Spirit hot fiya.

Theresa O'Loughlin

Above: That's me in the center with two of my best friends and roommates from college.

Hi Everyone! I have loved reading the blog posts so far, and I am so crazy excited to get to meet you all in person and share in this incredible grace-filled trip with you all!
So, here goes me....
1. My name is Theresa O'Loughlin and will be serving my second year as a missionary at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse this coming year. I graduated from Colorado State University with a degree in Early Childhood Education in 2012.
2. This is a tough one...there are so many things! I guess I'd say exploring the outdoors with my family, watching the sunrise and sunset...all that fun stuff. 
3.  I've gotten really into Josh Garrells lately.  If you haven't heard of him, you should look him up! I'm definitely a Mumford and Sons fan also. Typical.
4.  Jesus! Our Faith! The New Evangelization!  Maybe it's just because I've spent the last 5 weeks being trained with 300 other Catholic missionaries, but I'm super inspired by those living out their faith in a radical way.  
5. I've only lived in the U.S. but have traveled to Mexico for a mission trip and to Spain for a pilgrimage and World Youth Day.
6.  This is also a tough one...I'd have to say sunrise just because I see way fewer of them, but when I do pull myself out of bed there is nothing more satisfying that watching the sun rise!  
7.  While it seems to change weakly, lately this has been my favorite: "'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Cor 12:9-10
8. I am pumped at the thought that we will be sharing the Hope of our faith with young people on the other side of the world, just like the saints have done in the past.  What a privelage!

Can't wait to see you all in less than a week! I'm praying for you!!

Meet Joel Brummer

Hi everyone! My name is Joel Brummer and I am from St. Cloud, Minnesota. I am currently going into my senior year at North Dakota State University as a mechanical engineering student and have a minor in mathematics.

If I could spend one day doing anything I would have to say it would be spending a day in northern Minnesota four-wheeling, swimming, biking, fishing, relaxing in the forests, and camping. I love the summers up here and always look forward to getting some quality outdoors time.

For music I seem to like almost everything (that is decently appropriate). Recently, I have been listening to a lot of country along with Linkin Park, James Blunt, and Green Day.

I feel like I am inspired by many things. Some of the biggest ones for me are nature, God's love, and music. In nature I really enjoy being in forests, because I find God in their strength and beauty.

I have traveled to Germany, Austria, and Canada. I grew up in St. Cloud, MN, and now feel like Fargo, ND is a second home for me.

I definitely prefer sunsets. There is something to me about the calmness that seems to come with a sunset that I truly enjoy. I also have a lot of memories of sitting on a dock or in a boat fishing as the sun sets on past family vacations and feeling completely content.

My favorite passage would have to be Psalm 23. I have tried to live my life by the idea that if I trust in God there is nothing that I need and I need not fear with Him by my side.

I am most excited to get to know everyone and to experience the special something that God has planned for each and everyone of us (truly I am really excited to find this one out!).

In the picture above I am on the right and my good friend, fellow engineer, and roommate Eric is on the left. We are standing in line for the now repeat (going three-peat?) NCAA Division I-FCS National Champions (Go Bison!).

Maria

Hi! My name is Maria Millan and I recently graduated Northern Arizona University in May 2013 with a Business Marketing degree. 

If I could do anything I would travel with my family. I love visiting new places and hanging out with my family. 

In Europe I have been to London, Madrid, Barcelona, Paris, Rome, Venice, Grecce, Prague, Amsterdam, Lisboa, Berlin, and Vienna. I also studied abroad in Florence for the summer. 
I have been to Mexico many times because my dad is from Mexico. We go and visit his family during the summer. 

My favorite kind of music is Country. I love Luke Bryan, Blake Shelton, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Brett Eldredge, Brad Paisley, Florida Georgia Line, Kenny Chesney.....You get it, pretty much any Country song. 

I would have to say that my parents inspire me. And like everyone else mentioned stories about different Saints. 

I prefer sunrise because there is a day new day ahead to look forward to. 

My favorite passage is Eph 2:8: For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.

I am most excited to learn about a new culture and meet new people. I am also excited to grow closer with God!

Can't wait to meet you all in a week!

Meet Rachel Zuroski :)

My older sister Katie, my younger sister Sara, and me at my high school graduation.

 Hi everyone! I am so excited to meet you all and to go on this wonderful adventure that God has planned for us! 

 

1. My name is Rachel Zuroski and in the fall I will be a sophomore at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. I am currently studying Biochemistry with hopefully a Spanish minor. I have absolutely no idea what I’m going to do with that but I’m sure God’s got it all figured out. :)

2. If you could spend one day doing anything, what would it be?

This is a tough one. I think I’d spend it out on the lake with family and friends. Or, like Hannah, I’d take a road trip. I really like driving.

3. What kind of music do you listen to?

I listen to different types of music depending on what mood I’m in. I’ve found that Disney music is great for studying! I grew up listening to Classic Rock with my dad and I still really like some of it. I like a lot of Christian music and a little bit of One Direction :). My 3 favorite artists though, would have to be Mumford & Sons, Train, and Matt Maher.

4. What inspires you?

Hmmm… this one’s kind of hard too. A lot of things inspire me: little kids singing songs about how much they love Jesus when they can’t even begin to comprehend His love for them, people’s testimonies, stories about saints, places in nature that look like no human has ever touched them, dogs who really really love their owners, and people who have turned their lives around.

5. What countries have you traveled to/lived in?

I grew up in Rochester, Minnesota so I’ve only every lived there and in La Crosse. The only other country I’ve been to is Mexico for a vacation.

6. Do you prefer sunrise or sunset and why?

I prefer sunrises, definitely. I never really considered myself a morning person but I really like being up before everyone else. My "happy place" is sitting on my deck watching the sunrise with a warm cup of coffee in my hand. There is something really serene and hopeful about the beginning of the day. I always feel like I can do anything when I’m watching a sunrise.

7. What is your favorite passage in Scripture?

My favorite scripture passage is Philippians 2:3-8. It’s my favorite because it states in such simple terms how we are to live as followers of Christ.  It’s a reminder for me to try every day to serve others and to follow the example that Jesus set for us during His time on earth.

8. What are you most excited about with this mission trip?

Like Martha, I’m most excited about being pushed so far out of our comfort zones. I’m excited to be so lost that the only one I can turn to is God. It’s so easy to get comfortable in my life here and to think that maybe I don’t need God as much as my heart says I do. I’m also super excited to experience Catholicism in a different culture!

9. So now about the picture. I’m the one on the right wearing the super cute cap and gown. My older sister, Katie, is on the left and she is going into her senior year at the College of Saint Benedict in northern Minnesota. The goofy one in the middle is Sara and she will be a freshman in high school this fall. I love my sisters. A lot. And even though they are two of my best friends, they are the two people that I struggle with the most. We hardly ever agree on matters of faith or on social issues. I’ve found that sometimes those closest to you are the hardest to accept as they are. I want such wonderful things for them but I don’t always know how to express that. Whether we’re getting along or not though, I have learned some great life lessons from these ladies. They are the first ones to tell me if I’m not being as excellent a person as God wants me to be; they keep me humble.

This is my favorite picture of us because it shows off our personalities really well. Sara’s always in the middle and is always making a funny face. Katie is the one who makes sure we look put together. And I’m the one giving a thumbs up, just happy to be there.

Well that’s it for me! I’m excited to learn all about the rest of the team and to meet you all in person next week! You’re in my thoughts and prayers. God Bless!

--Rachel