Would you agree that there are times in life when something just feels RIGHT? That is exactly how I felt when the Rectora for weekend #362 invited me to be proctor. I almost said “Yes” immediately, but decided that I probably should pray about it for a couple of days just to make sure that this is what God wanted of me. Three days later I officially said “Yes”. I was quite sure that God wanted me to be part of weekend #362.

I thought, this is going to be the best weekend ever for me!. At the very first formation meeting, I met the proctor for the Men’s weekend. As the weeks of formation progressed I found him to be such a pleasant man, a joy to work with and so helpful, already making my job easier.

I was being reunited with spirit-filled women I had met on a previous weekend, as well as meeting beautiful women I had never met. Team formation was going great! The food was to be “awesome”; the Palanca team was geared up to be super great warriors of powerful prayer, and the Rollo talks were going to be inspired by the Holy Spirit in a way never seen in the past. Yup, it was going to be a great weekend, for me…

My candidate had been unable to participate the previous year, but had readily said “Yes” this year. I was so excited for her….and me….

Not only I was going to be working the weekend with a current “groupie”, but I was also going to be working the weekend with one of my dearest friends and her deacon husband. This was a soul-mate-sister I had grouped with for a number of years. I was PUMPED!

Formation had been completed with the walk through. We were ready.

The Sunday before weekend #362 the sore throat started. I thought this was just going to be a cold and with rest and plenty of fluids I would be ready for Thursday night and the start of the Women’s weekend.

By Wednesday I was thinking, this is more than a regular cold, my temperature was 103.2. If this is strep throat, there is still time to get on antibiotics and be ready for the weekend, In spite of getting the flu shot I was diagnosed with influenza and told that I should not participate in the weekend.

I was crushed. I felt terrible having to notify the Rectora less than 24 hours before the start of the weekend. I felt such great anxiety at letting the team down. I even felt guilt, thinking that I should have warned her earlier in the week. Although I was very disappointed, I felt the “weight of the world” lift off of my shoulders when she was so gracious and kind despite the late notice. It was evident that there was great trust in God on her part. As we talked, the Holy Spirit was already leading her to a solution.

As I recuperated over the days of the weekend, a number of times I asked, “why?”. Everything in the planning for the weekend had gone so well. I did not understand, but I did let go and I felt at peace as I accepted God’s will. My written Palanca had been delivered, but I was being given the opportunity to add to Palanca for the candidates and the team. This made not being there much easier. I may have not been physically present until the Closura, but I was spiritually present the entire weekend.

At the Closura I was introduced to the candidates and invited to sit with the team. This was a very moving experience for me and I can’t begin to express how humble I felt to officially be a part of the Closura.

An insight that I gleaned from this experience was my reflection on the words, “It is not about you” which is found on the cover of the team manuals. All of the plans had fallen into place for the weekend so beautifully. I came to understand that this was not to be a memorable experience so much for me, but rather for those lovely, beautiful candidates who had said “Yes” to God’s invitation.

Once again we see how God can bring great things out of adversity.

Mary DeWitte