1. By Joseph Leonor Mapleseed's Blog. N.p.

2. Physical, Emotional, and Psychological Health/Developmental Challenges To assist in situations exhibiting symptoms or issues that force people to live with challenges. Some of the most difficult challenges are relating to others, creating relationships, and accepting their conditions. God also calls us to be servant disciples in these situations, recognizing his presence in the challenges and becoming signs of his presence ourselves through our service. The Leonard Carmichael Society. N.p.

3. God’s Presence in the Situation The sacramentality of this situation allows us to recognize God is present even in challenges. We recognize our need for God’s grace and love when we relate and form friendships with special needs people with the heart of a servant disciple. Those we serve are sacramental signs to us of God’s mercy in the courage they express through living. The Global Genes Project. N.p.

4. Visible Signs of God in Those Involved “Above all, let your love for one another be intense, because love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining. As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace” (1 Peter 4: 8-11). Love and Gifts, N.p.. Volunteer with Us. N.p. Other volunteers serving with me show the same compassion as Christ, and are signs of God’s grace, making me more aware of my own sacramentality. Special needs people whom I serve take joy in our activities together, and that joy reflects God’s love to me. Together, we live out Jesus’ message to love one another, becoming Body of Christ, a visible, continuing presence of Jesus in the world.

5. God’s Grace in Weakness/Disability “Three times I begged the Lord about this, that it might leave me, but he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.’” (2 Corinthians 12:8-9) Weakness. N.p. God’s grace is enough, and I am an instrument of God’s grace, receiving grace in my companionship with those whom I serve.

6. God’s Presence in Me I know that by serving people with these challenges, God will give me the strength, love, and patience to help me be the visible sign of Christ in my mission. Through this mission, I will increase in character, grow my perspective of the world around me, and live out my vocation to be like Christ. Whitney Davies. N.p.

7. Works Cited The Catholic Youth Bible, 3 rd ed. Winona, Minnesota: St. Mary’s Press, 2010. Print. Love and Gifts, a Study of 1 Peter 4:8-11. Digital image. Love and Gifts, a Study of 1 Peter 4:8-11. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Sept. 2013. Mapleseed's Blog. Digital image. Mapleseeds Blog. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Sept. 2013. O Most Holy Night - Easter Vigil. Digital image. The Roncalli Center. N.p., n.d. \ Web. 13 Sept. 2013. Special Needs ~ A Definition. Digital image. The Global Genes Project. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Sept. 2013. The Leonard Carmichael Society. Digital image. The Leonard Carmichael Society. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Sept. 2013. Volunteer with Us. Digital image. Volunteer Opportunities to Help Children with Special Needs, Autism and Other Behavioral Needs. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Sept. 2013. Weakness. Digital image. Sodahead. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Sept. 2013. Whitney Davies. Digital image. Whitney Davies. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Sept. 2013.