Any type of journey has its ups and downs, a distance to accomplish, but most important, a purpose. My journey to WYD so far has been very exciting and emotional. From fundraising to spiritual retreats, it all has made me realize that I need God and he needs me as well. What motivated me to participate in WYD was after my older sister had the honor to experience WYD in Madrid three years ago. She had told me it was an amazing experience and one that I just had to live as well. She had mentioned how she had the opportunity to meet thousands and thousands of young adults from many different parts of the world, many in which she had no idea Catholicism was practiced in some countries for one purpose to strengthen their relationship with God. Immediately, I was anxious to go too, I would look at YouTube videos of WYD and it would make me cry. I decided to make research and find a local group of people who were planning to take part of WYD in Brazil. I found a group in Fort Smith, however; they never responded or gave updates of anything so I was discouraged. Then, a month later, I hear that the priest from Conway and a group of UCA students were planning to go, I immediately contacted him and I was in. From that day on, the hard work began. We would go to restaurants and send letter for any donations, we began flocking houses which was very fun but a lot of drama when some of the flamingos were stolen and made newspaper highlights. Also, Father Melnick and some of the participants in our group also took part of a marathon. Moreover, one the fundraisers that took the most work was selling YouCats. We would go to many different communities and sell YouCats in every Mass. Although I still have YouCats, I am selling them to the young adults that I recently lived a retreat with. Some of the ways that I am preparing myself for this journey is by praying and participating in church more often. So far, I lived a spiritual retreat called Encuentros Promocion Juvenil, this retreat has changed the way I think. It is a great way to find answers to what God wants from you in this life. For example, I believed I heard the calling of God to become a Nun. I would be around Nuns and as they talked they would reference to me and say maybe I was going to be a Nun and so forth. I also felt that my life would be amazing and filled with joy if I were to become a Nun. However, when I lived the retreat, I had told God to give me clues to what he wanted from me. And on a Saturday night, I dreamed that I was older and I was not a nun, in fact, I had given birth to a child. Something that I had never dreamed before, others had told me that in their dreams I was also pregnant. Even though I had that dream I still ask God for guidance and more clues, but in Gods path there isn't any coincidences. There is always a reason for everything. Also, I had given a presentation of a reading from the bible in my churches youth group. And I am recently preparing another presentation so I can present to the circle of pray of adults and family. This has helped me learn so much about God as well as my religion. I am also using the YouCat to organize my data and research. I am very excited to take the journey to Rio De Janeiro, Brazil this July and desperate to enrich my faith and relationship with God.
                                                 Ruby Alvarez