Joshua Wilson!

Here is a picture of me on the left and my associate Pastor on the right when I took him duck hunting this past season. I have since shaved the beard. Hopefully it will be back in some form for the start of the trip and it will be grown out throughout the trip for sure!

1. Your name, year, school, and major AND other fun stuff.

My name is Joshua Alexander Wilson. I am 21 years old and I go to the University of Louisiana in Lafayette, LA! I am currently a senior in college, but a junior in Chemical Engineering. I work at an engineering consulting company in Lafayette. My hobbies are golf, tennis, hunting, fishing, smoking (pipe/cigars/hookah/the occassional cigarette/etc.), BBQ with friends, drinking while BBQ with friends, drinking to celebrate things. I just really enjoy a good drink. Haha! I also love to dance, camp, hike, relax, shoot guns. There are a lot of things I enjoy. 

2. If you could spend one day doing anything, what would it be?

Since we are all Catholic, I'll skip all the Catholic stuff that we would all do on a given day. Let me tell y'all what one of the best days I had this year was...and I think it was one of the best because it contrasted with how hectic last semester was for me. I used to be in seminary and during the Mardi Gras holidays, one of my buddies from seminary called me and invited me to this camp with him and some of my other really good friends from my time in formation. I accepted, of course, and literally all we did was pray the liturgy of the hours when appropriate, drink, smoke, eat, fish, and play cards. It was one of the most glorious couple days. But aside from that, I would want to be with some of my best friends camping and having a great time in the outdoors. Hopefully duck hunting would be involved. Who knows. 

3. What kind of music do you listen to?

I listent to a good variety of music. I think it would be easier for me to tell y'all the music that I don't listen to. I don't listen to mainstream country, simply because it isn't country music. I don't listen to extremely hardcore ghetto rap. I don't listen to Taylor Swift. I guess that covers what I don't listen to. I listen to a lot of alternative music. A good bit of older country (Garth Brooks and George Straight). I listen to rock music. I listen to a whole lot of chill stuff too. My favorite bands off the top of my head are The Head and the Heart, City and Colour, and I can't think of who else right now. 

4. What inspires you?

Integrity, passion, and the will to do good inspire me. You don't have to be holy in any regard, or the most intelligent person in the room, or even successful. If I can see that you are a genuine person with fire and with a desire to become more than what you are, then I am inspired by you. I am inspired to help you reach that goal. I am inspired to do whatever it takes to help you get there. Something I often remember is a quote by Ernest Hemingway, "There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self." And then of course, aside from all that, I am inspired by certain saint's lives that I have truly looked into. I am inspired by my grandfather. And most importantly, I'm inspired by the fact that in God's grandeur, He has something so specific he is calling me to do, that no other created human being on this Earth is capable/fit to fulfill that need and complete that mission. 

5. What countries have you traveled to/lived in?

I have been to the United States, and a territory of the United States known as Puerto Rico.

6. Do you prefer sunrise or sunset and why?

Sunrise for sure, because I am most definitely a morning person. I cherish my sleep sooooo much haha! Plus, I see a sunrise every single time I go duck hunting (unless it's overcast) and those are some of the most perfect mornings I could ever have. 

7. What is your favorite passage in Scripture?

Isaiah 43:4 "Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you..."

The Father's love for us is something that we can never afford to doubt. Ever. 

8. What are you most excited about with this mission trip?

I'm most excited to go mission! But I'm also excited to travel, gain experience and insight into parts of the world I haven't seen yet. I am excited to grow more and delve deeper into my relationship with Jesus Christ. I am excited to meet all of you, and make memories that will last a lifetime.