Today we went to DC Central Kitchen and helped prepare the food for lunches. After that we went to the National Arboretum to do devotions and while we were there we walked through the Bonsai Gardens and saw the old columns that held up the Capitol dome. Next we went to our final day at VBS, the message being ‘God will lead me. I will follow.’ We played a game where we reviewed all the messages of the week. Later our group did our urban plunge, like the other group we had a limited amount of money and had to figure out how to find food for everyone and one other homeless person. However, challenging both groups succeeded with even a little money left over. After that we debriefed at the FDR Memorial and Kera guided us and explained the symbolic meaning of each part of the memorial. Finally we debriefed by the river and finished off the week by sharing what we learned and how it changed our views on poverty and the city, all of us hoping to comeback to continue the work started this week.
-Rachel J
Friday blog-
The last day of the week also could be considered one of our longest. Previous late nights to what seemed like early, eight to eight thirty morning wakeups had not prepared us for the sleepy hard ships of this morning. Waking up at five thirty, and out by six ten, we started our day on our way to work in what was much more then a food kitchen. Arriving at So Others Might Eat (SOME) sleepy eyed yet eager to serve we dressed in identical lime green aprons, and were assigned different jobs before the rush of men and women a like came in for their breakfast. The people passed on their way as we studied them, wondering about their stories, startled and touched every time they made their faith apparent with a, “thank you, Gob bless you”. We prepared, served, cleaned and repeated for a total of seven hours. After snacking on the days leftovers we headed to the last day of VBS. In remembrance of the lessons we have learned in the previous week we relaxed and played games. The kids recited the things we had thought they never heard, showing us they actually do listen, we actually had touched them. At the end of VBS we headed to a place close to home to learn about Vietnamese culture, and then to the FDR memorial for debrief. Mesmerizing as it was nothing could compare to the closing we shared together upon the river front. We shared the ways God had touched us this week, and the ways he had shown himself through out the things we had experienced. Discussing how we have grown closer with god, and the things we had built spiritually rather then physically on our trip. We finally closed in a prayer asking god that the lessons we had learned, and they yearn to serve we had gained would continue beyond this week and beyond this trip.
-Gabby and Samantha
Friday Blog
Although it was sad to have to say goodbye to all the ADORABLE kids and all the people we’ve met and started relationships with, we know that this has been one of the most memorable days. In the morning my group went to S.O.M.E. I was amazed to see all the smiling faces and the warm greetings from those who are in some of the worst situations I’ve ever seen or heard of. These people have so little, yet they have so much trust in god. They have touched me forever. We served both breakfast and lunch, and were thanked continuously through out both meals. As we traveled to VBS for the last time, I looked back on the week. I realized how big of an impact we have had on these kids lives, and more importantly, the huge impacts they’ve had on me. As “lil Richard” (the small 2 year old boy with whom I’ve become friends with) ran towards me with a smile on his face and his hands reaching up in the air, squealing “Up! UP,” I thanked god for everything he’s given me. Richard and I played the whole time and he FINALLY learned my name….although he pronounced it “Hanned.” I thank everyone who has been praying for us and supported us through our trip.
God Bless,
Hannah Berlin
Friday Blog
As this week comes to end, I can truly say that I’m going to be sad to say goodbye to the place that we have called home for the past 6 days in downtown Anacostia. This trip has made an impact on the way I view things and the spirituality of the people who surround me, whether they be strangers that I meet or my closest friends at Floris. Today while serving at S.O.M.E, I felt a strong willingness to serve and to love those who I encountered. For the first time this week, I was completely unafraid and extremely comfortable around those who I would have never even glanced at before this trip due to my old stereotypical fears. At the beginning I met someone who told me that it was okay to leave my comfort zone and go outside my personal “square”. I took his words to heart and went through some of the hardest mental transformations I’ve ever had to endure. He wasn’t the only one who impacted my life. In the bible Jesus tells us to be like children in order to enter into the kingdom of heaven. This week a certain heart showed me what that meant. “Lil Robby”, was the troublemaker of the group, the one year old boy who people had a hard time handling. His long eyelashes and wild hair was God’s way of calling me to take on the challenge. Four long days of chasing, screaming, kicking, and being made into a human coloring book, I couldn’t have enjoyed myself anymore. He taught me that God can show himself in any form and any place. This mission trip has showed me so much and I won’t leave the same.
In his name,
Marie Meador
Friday Blog
At the lovely hour of 5 a.m. my alarm clock (aka Aunt Patti) jumped on my bed and woke me up to get ready for the long day ahead. Our group enjoyed serving breakfast and lunch to the working poor and homeless at S.O.M.E. After the smiling faces at our morning activity, we then went back to our VBS location and hosted another fun day for the kids in Anacostia for the last time. The saying “Time flies when you’re having fun” was shown when the kids at VBS suddenly had to go home after 2 hours of activities. Our day came to a close as the sun started to set. We began to debrief for the day as well as the week and I really started reflecting on our mission trip. Spending a whole week serving in DC taught me a lot about the realities and causes of homelessness. I also realized the amounts of people other than the homeless that need help in what is basically our backyard. I definitely want to pursue serving others through our church because I realized how much I enjoy serving through all the soup kitchens, elderly homes, and other activities we participated in. We have to come back next year to CSM as well!
God bless,
-Katie Athearn
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