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Chari
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| Posted: July 09 2009 at 12:51am | IP Logged
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Some of you may know that my 18yo son Matthew is traveling to Switzerland for a year's exchange, with the Rotary Youth Exchange program.
He leaves in the beginning of August......no sure date yet. BUT, I DO know, we have about one month left with him!
And, oh, the TO-DO list JUST for HIM is quite lengthy......nevermind getting his sister off to college and the other things that HAVE TO happen in summer.
there are SO many details.......overwhelming at times.
Could you please pray for us to get it all done in the timeliest manner?
And, that he can pass his German test on arrival? very unlikely  But, he is good at memorizing........so, maybe he can pull it off.
Also continued prayers for his knee to heal......he will be walking and biking lots in Switzerland....just to get anywhere.
Please pray that his host families are GOOD people. The first family seems very nice......they are "Roman-Catholics who do not practice much"
and, they also said: "Do not worry about finances....you have family in Switzerland now and we will take care of you." Wasn't that sweet?
Please pray the other two families are Catholic, too.......practicing would be nice
Please pray for Matthew's strong faith to remain intact and that he can be the "light" for the others.....
Matthew is strong, but having seen and read some of the stuff on facebook from some of the host kids...the best I can do through no knowledge of German  ....they are more into pop culture than we are (I am not sure we are even in it at all )........please [pray he stays strong.
I have been reading about "culture shock".........please pray he does not suffer much from this.
I am sure I have more.....but I have to go now!
THANK YOU! You all are always in my prayers......even if I do not get to post..........esp, in these next couple of months..............as I lay low trying to get them out the door!
Lotsa love!
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Chari...Take Up & Read
Dh Marty 27yrs...3 lovely maidens: Anne 24, Sarah 20 & Maddelyn 17 and 3 chivalrous sons: Matthew 22, Garrett 16 & Malachy 11
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Sarah M
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Be assured of my prayers, Chari!
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guitarnan
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Praying with triple empathy...as a former exchange student, host parent and now as a mom who puts her oldest on airplanes every summer...
It's true that people in that area of Europe are generally more, uh, relaxed, about certain things, but there are plenty of conservative teens too. He won't see too many teens at Mass, I'm guessing, but he might just inspire some of them to check it out.
The hardest part for me as a student was trying to defend my country when practically everyone had something negative to say...try explaining "Billy Beer" when you're 16, LOL!
I'm sure he'll have a great time. Please remind him that around Week 6 he will have a huge wave of homesickness engulf him...he needs to stick it out and he'll soon make the adjustment and start enjoying things again.
The Rotary program is great - dh's best friend did it after college...he loved it.
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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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Carole N.
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Praying for you and your family, Chari! I hope that you survive these next few month!
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 Carole ... in Wales
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Ruth
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Praying for all your intentions, Chari!
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Ruth
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hylabrook1
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Praying that all goes well, Chari.
Peace,
Nancy
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Booksnbabes
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Praying for ds and his exchange experience! Also praying the to-do list will be completed in a timely, stress-free manner! 
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Wife to wonderful DH, mom to SIX beautiful gifts from God!
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wamegomom
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Praying for everything on your list, Chari, and for wisdom and energy for you as you do so much to make it all happen!
Pray to Matthew's Guardian Angel. He'll keep him safe. And I wouldn't be surprised to hear that Matthew was instrumental in bringing that "not too practicing" family back to the Church. A family in our parish hosted a Brazilian student this past year, whose family went to Mass at Christmas and Easter. She didn't know why the Church taught about the sacredness of all life, as an example of her lack of formation. She went back to Brazil last month after getting a lot of exposure to family prayer, Mass and the sacraments, devotions, from this American family. We pray that she will keep up her practice of the Faith and involve her family as well.
Hug Matthew for the Phillips family. We just loved him when you came to visit.
Warmly,
Mary Alice
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Nique
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Whoa! Lots on your mind! What an exciting time for everybody in your family! When your son leaves, he will never forget what you have taught him..and when he begins missing his loving family in America, he WILL cherish the traditions you shared, including your Faith!
When I went away for a year to work in another country, my Mom told me to find a Roman Catholic Church in time for Sunday Mass..which I did:) Honestly, I went 98% of the time (bad weather, scheduled to work~even tho I asked for Sunday mornings off, sickness ~ makes up the 2% I wasn't there).
One thing I would say to him before he leaves is, God is giving him this once in a lifetime opportunity, that very few kids his age are privileged to receive. As his way of thanking God, he should go to Mass every Sunday (or Saturday)
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I had always thought that once you grew up you could do anything you wanted - stay up all night or eat ice cream straight out of the container. ~Bill Bryson
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mariB
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Praying for ALL of these intentions!
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Mackfam
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I'll be praying that Our Lord will make clear the way.
St. Paul was quite the traveler - he seems to be a good traveling companion. His strong personality seems well suited for your son. Has Matthew chosen a saint as a traveling companion that we can go to regularly?
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Chari
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| Posted: Aug 08 2009 at 1:35am | IP Logged
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Thanks for the good idea, Nique! I shared that info with him and my dh.........they both agree.
Thanks, Mary Alice.......I know you all have a special place in for Matthew. I sent you his swiss address if you want to write.
Thanks for the advice, Nancy...........I shared it with him. BTW, where did you spend your year? You did not go with Rotary?
Jennifer, I have tried for months to get him to pin a saint down.......but nothing has cliqued for him, I guess. Saint Ignatius is his saint for the year........so, I guess we will go with that for now.
Tonight is his last night at home........we leave for San Francisco in the morning...........and will be staying with friends two nights, as he leaves on Monday am, early.
Could you all please pray for safe travels for us and for him? And, anytime you think about it, for his year away from home? I am so jealous!!
As for that to-do list...........some things got done.....but he still gets to go
Thanks everyone for your prayers.......all of your intentions are mine, too.
With love, in the sweet heart of Mary,
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Chari...Take Up & Read
Dh Marty 27yrs...3 lovely maidens: Anne 24, Sarah 20 & Maddelyn 17 and 3 chivalrous sons: Matthew 22, Garrett 16 & Malachy 11
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guitarnan
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I went to Ireland for a semester. The principal of a school near Dublin that was run by the same order of nuns that ran mine (SHCJ) called our principal and asked if there were any students who wanted to do a term-long exchange. I lived with Christine's family for the fall term, and she spent her spring term (plus a month of the summer) with me and my family that same school year.
Being an exchange student changes you forever. Expect your son to come home with a much more global point of view. He may even come home with an accent! (I did...don't worry, it will wear off.)
PS - Your inbox is full.
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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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aussieannie
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I will pray for those safe travels Chari, may God bless his year enormously!
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Mackfam
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Praying as he travels, Chari! I'm excited for him...it sounds like such a great opportunity!!
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Jen Mackintosh
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Wildflowers and Marbles
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Chari
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well, he left this am...and will be in Zurich in about 2 hours.
as I said on FB tonight: I miss Matthew...what was I thinking?????.......I have sender's remorse.
Thanks for the prayers...do not stop! :)
Thanks my friends!
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Chari...Take Up & Read
Dh Marty 27yrs...3 lovely maidens: Anne 24, Sarah 20 & Maddelyn 17 and 3 chivalrous sons: Matthew 22, Garrett 16 & Malachy 11
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MaryM
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Chari wrote:
| as I said on FB tonight: I miss Matthew...what was I thinking?????.......I have sender's remorse. |
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 - praying for you. It will get better.
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mariB
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Dear Chari praying for him and for you....
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stefoodie
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How could I have missed this thread? Well anyway, I have been praying for Matthew and his trip, didn't realize it was today. Prayers for you too, Chari!
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Mackfam
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Sending prayers, Chari! And big  !!!!!
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Jen Mackintosh
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4Real Forums : We Pray to the Lord
Topic: For my son's exchange travel update 8/10
