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However, her faith was still intact-- she walked ney from absolute disbelief, to a place where I couldn’t
around praying her rosary every day. I watched so fathom how anyone could deny God’s existence. For
many clients scream and cry out in mental pain in that the first time in several months, I felt truly blessed and
alley because of their situations; however, I’d still see at peace with my faith.
them praying together. I watched a drug deal go down While I’ve always criticized the saying, “God gives
between two clients in that alley, yet the next day they’d his toughest battles to his strongest soldiers” for being
talk about how they were still blessed to even be alive, beyond cheesy, I now realize that it couldn’t be more
how their living was a sign from God. true. We’re all going through something, big or small.
While all of these situations were crucial in my reali- My LASTing Project has definitely allowed me to
zation that God certainly was recognize that-- I see the world
real, and that he’s protecting I broke down in tears. That statement through a much different lens
us all in different ways, there sealed the deal in terms of my faith. now. In addition to that, I have
was one encounter I had with I had come full circle on my journey returned back to Mass every
a client that sealed the deal from absolute disbelief, to a place weekend and am getting more
in terms of my journey back where I couldn’t fathom how anyone consistent about praying the ro-
to the Catholic faith. As I was could deny God’s existence. sary. Without my service, I have
serving lunch to the clients, no idea where I’d be in terms of
I noticed there was a man in my faith, but I’m so grateful for
the back of the cafeteria crying and clearly in a mental the lessons I’ve been taught and for whom the LAST-
state of distress. I wanted to know if there was a way ing Project has allowed to become.
for me to help, so I asked if I could have a word with
him. I worriedly proceeded toward him and he looked
up, confused. I told him I was worried- he seemed
so distraught compared to the rest of the clients. He
explained to me that he was at such a low point in his
life, dealing drugs, homeless, and questioning God’s
existence. I responded to him saying that I too was
struggling with my relationship with God; however, it
was likely that he was in a situation where he needed
God and the saints’ intercession much more than me.
That said, I handed over the small but mighty St. Jude
medal I always carry in my pocket. As the patron saint
of lost causes, I felt that St. Jude could be exactly whom
he needed. I placed it in his hand, and he insisted that
I take it back. I refused. We both cried, exchanged a
handshake and a hug, and promised we’d pray for each
other. Though our lives were so different, we both
wanted the other to stop struggling and to find inner
peace with God and ourselves.
The sharing of that moment made me realize that you
don’t need a huge, dramatic miracle or experience with
God to come to the realization that he is real. It was
that day where I realized His existence is so prominent
and so real. A few weeks later, word got back to me
that the client had signed the lease for his new apart-
ment.
I broke down in tears. That statement sealed the deal in
terms of my faith. I had come full circle on my jour-

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