I really can't express in words just how beautiful this city is. Yesterday, I spent a few hours at the Vatican and St. Peter's Basilica. It is the single most astounding piece of art that I have ever seen. After taking some pictures for a while, I moved into the Basilica and actually started to tear up when I realized where I was and what it meant to be there. I was literally standing on the spot where the church was built. The past week I've been struggling with finding my time to spend with Christ and here I felt more full than ever before. I then experienced a top 5 moment of my life. While in the square, I had met an Italian couple who spoke a bit of English and spent some time conversing with them as we were taking pictures (Side note, it is such a joy to hear someone else speak English when not with other students..its so overwhelming to not be able to speak to anyone on the streets). When inside St. Peter's, I ran into them again and they asked me if I wanted to sit at Mass with them. Now, I've never actually attended a Catholic mass so I had no clue what was going on to that respect. To make matters even worse, it was all in Latin so I had no idea what was even being said. Regardless, just to stand there and pray inside the walls of such a historical church was a moment that I'll never forget. One could feel God's presence sweeping through the room as hymns were sung and His word was spoken at a level I've never experienced before. Needless to say, it was the blessing I needed more than anything to finally feel comfortable in this new home and reminded me that even as I feel lost and scared, God is just as near here as He is back home in the states. I pray that I keep myself mindful of this fact for the next 4 months and allow myself to sense Him wherever the journey He has laid before me goes.
And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
