When I first heard about Medjugorje in 2010, I was living in Denver, Colorado at the time, and a pilgrim returned. She talked about it, and I was like, “Eh, maybe it did happen, maybe it didn’t. I don’t know.” I was skeptical. I wanted to experience it for myself. 

I didn’t do any research prior to coming here. I didn’t want to be biased one way or another, positive or negative. I wanted to experience it for myself. 

My mom paid for my trip to come here, and she has been asking me for many years to come. This is her third trip here. 

I’m flying across the ocean, and somewhere around Greenland, I said, “What am I doing? This is either going to be the shortest ten days or the longest ten days of my life.”

It’s so fast. I don’t want to leave. One word: peace.

I came here. I hadn’t met anyone else from the pilgrimage. I was on a different plane from my mom and the group because I live in South Carolina. They all live in Iowa. Some got their planes delayed and messed up. 

So for the first day, I was here by myself without knowing the pilgrims. I got to explore the city by myself after never being in Europe. This is my first trip to Europe. 

I didn’t know where the church was. I hadn’t met with the pilgrims so they never gave me a pamphlet or directions to the church. So here I am running on the path, not knowing where I’m at. I could see it so I just kept on going. By the time I got to Mass, I was late so I sat in the back in the entrance.

I was sitting there, and it just happened. Even though I couldn’t see because of the pillars, it didn’t matter. *tears pouring out* My heavy heart ripped… I felt everything from my head to my toes, ripped open. It was four hours after I was here.

I felt the real presence, Our Lady here, and holy ground.

It tore everything up. Not like a little knick or crack, it ripped. I felt it. 

More people need to come here. As Americans, we we hear things, but we don’t listen. We hear, but we don’t listen. Big difference. You need to come here. Be silent. Listen, listen, listen. 

The talks have been incredible. The testimonies have been incredible. The other pilgrims that I met have been awesome.

There is not a doubt in my mind with Mirjana. When she spoke, it was truth. I knew it. I’m a police officer. I know when people lie. I knew it was true. Her her words, her message. And I haven’t read any of the books. I wanted to come here blind. 

I’m a realist. I wanted to feel it and experience it for myself. And I did.

It’s peace on earth right here. I don’t want to go back. 

My mom came back three times since 2019. Now I understand. And I want to bring more pilgrims over here. That’s on my heart.

It’s so beautiful here. Physically because I like to hike and I love nature. But it’s peaceful. It’s not noisy. It’s not a lot of traffic. There’s no television. I didn’t get the international plan for my phone. I completely unplugged. The only time that I get the internet is when I go back to the hotel and get Wi-Fi and check in with people. Other than that, uninterrupted. That’s the type of freedom that people need very much. 

There’s a lot of people here that I’ve noticed, even on our pilgrimage, that are seeking. We’re all on our own journey, and everybody is on their own spiritual path. They’re all seeking, and they’re all looking. They’re all hungry for the Lord, and what better place to do that than here? 

Of course you could do it back in your home parish. Of course you could do it in the States. Of course you could find a mountain or the ocean, the beach, the woods, your backyard, your garden, wherever you’re living.

But when you come here, it’s holy ground.