It has been a very difficult summer for the Church with the revelation of misconduct and abuse by a former cardinal and the shocking grand jury report released a few weeks ago by the attorney general of Pennsylvania. As a young priest, I was left shocked, confused, frustrated, bewildered, heartbroken, and deeply saddened by the systematic cover-up of clergy sexual abuse by the so many leaders of our Church. However, amidst this time of crisis we need to remember that the Church is not just an institution of fallen men in need of God’s grace, but also a servant. The Church is the Church only when it exists for others. As a community of faith, this is something we have done during this summer in West Virginia and Guatemala. As missionary disciples, we took care of those on the margins of life. These outreach ministries were opportunities to bring the joy of the Gospel and hope to the least in the world. During challenging days, we tend to forget our identity, mission, and vision. Let us remember Jesus’s call to be the servant of all if we want to be the first. It is amazing to see the pictures and memories from Appalachia and Guatemala. What a humbling experience. Sometimes we think we need money, power, and status to live a better life, maybe to be a better disciple. The poor in Preston County, WV, and Guatemala teach us to live in the moment, not to worry about tomorrow, and to have faith in God who always provides for His children. Through every moment of these trips, I could see God working and His presence among us. Going to these places is more than fixing a roof or building a house for a poor family. It is about sharing our gifts and abilities God gave us –big or small- and using them to further His kingdom. It was great to see that He was the center of everything we did. He was there at daily Mass, in our work site, during meals. As we formed relationships with those on our team and the residents, we saw how God used them in miraculous ways. A welcoming every morning, the joy of a kid getting a soccer ball, the humility of people and the love and generosity of our people showed us that God was among us. He is still with us, with our Church. These summer adventures in Appalachia and Guatemala definitely took us out of our comfort zone, opening our eyes to so much more and transforming our lives. I know that these experiences helped us forward in our walk with Christ even more. We learned that every day of our lives can be a mission field. Whether at school, at home, at work, in West Virginia or Guatemala, God can use us in great ways when we unconditionally trust Him.