First Week of Totus Tuus!!!

Hey Everyone!

My first week of Totus Tuus training in Lincoln Nebraska is officially over! It is definitely bitter sweet.  I have learned so much about the Church and God's plan, gotten to know so many wonderful people, and had great nights of growing in my prayer life.  It has been really rewarding, but I am ready to go out their and finally teach the students!

Each week my team and I (1 other girl and 2 guys) go to a new parish and teach about the Sorrowful mysteries of the rosary (Agony in the Garden, Scourging at the Pillars, Crowning with Thorns, Carrying the Cross, and the Crucifixion) and Salvation History (Old testament: Noah, Abraham, Creation...fun stuff!).  The kids are split up between grade levels and my team trades off teaching different groups each week.  We get the kids excited about the week and what they are learning by singing A LOT of silly, fun songs (which has been fun and embarrassing getting to know this week), playing games, and having a lot of energy and enthusiasm about what we are teaching.  We stay with different families each week and have dinner with many other families throughout the week.  We teach the grade schoolers during the day and high school at night covering all of the same topics but tweaking them as needed to fit each age level.  Finally, at the end of each week we have an all camper water fight and the class that was the most well behaved and energetic that week gets to pick a teacher and make an ice cream sundae on their head! Hopefully that is not me the first week, but knowing the boys on my team I wouldn't be surprised if they convinced all the kids to go against me! 
Here is what a typical day looks like for our team:
8am- team prayer and rosary
9am-Kids arrive and start teaching
11:30am-Mass with everyone
12-3pm- Lunch, teaching, and fun games, and everyone leaves
4-6- team break, and then dinner with family
7:30-11pm-High school night

A little about my Team:

Team Leader Ryan Kaup: 

• 23 years old and it is his 3rd year with Totus Tuus
• Just graduated from St. Gregory the Great Seminary and will be attending St. Charles seminary in Philadelphia to finish his education
• grew up in Lincoln Nebraska
• Just came back from a 12 day pilgrimage in Europe, visiting the many places that St. Mary has appeared.

Murphy Lierle:

•  20 years old and 1st year with Totus Tuus
• He went to school 2 years at University of Nebraska Lincoln and this fall will be attending St. Gregory the Great Seminary
• Grew up in Hastings, Nebraska with 2 older sisters

Mikayla Wagner:

•  20 years old and 2nd year with Totus Tuus
• She goes to the University of Nebraska Lincoln and is studying to be a high school math teacher
• She grew up in Lincoln and has 2 older brothers and a younger sister

All of my teammates have been so great this week, and I can't wait to get to know them even more throughout the summer!  This week we will be going to St. Peter's Parish in Lincoln where 150 kids will be attending! We have 2 other teams with us to help out so hopefully it won't get too crazy.  I will keep you posted on how it goes and who ends up getting the sundae!