By: Cassandra & Siena
On Thursday morning, everyone was off to a much slower start. All
tired and still processing the events of the night before; last night's
reflection had been awe-inspiring. Having to respond to a prompt which required
we share an event that influenced much of who we are, it was during this
activity in which we broke down barriers within our own group that allowed us
to know and understand each other on an intimate level. By the time we'd heard
each other's stories, we realized how many shared experiences we'd had. Such a
realization only assisted in our ability to provide service and empathy to the
greater St. Louis community. We'd learned that involving ourselves in the
every day lives of the community members could foster a greater sense of camaraderie
between us and the community.
We fought through the tough Missouri winds as we made our way
over to the Kingdom House. Our task for the day, while relatively simple, was
one that had profound significance. We had been sorting clothing that was
donated throughout the Christmas season. Opposed to our previous notions, the
Kingdom House did not accept all donations with open arms. If we noticed an
item of clothing had a stain or tear of any sort, we were told to discard it.
This caused us to realize the true importance of donation centers, such as Kingdom House,
where they value not only the presence of those within their community, but
also their pride. They continually maintained the fact that each individual
deserved clothing of quality and care, not simply any items left over from
someone else's shelf.
Later on that day, we attended a Zumba class given to those
within the community. For the majority of time, the instructor had been
speaking fluent Spanish. Regardless of the difficulty on our mostly English-oriented ears, the class moved with a fluid harmony that diminished the
presence of any language barriers.
As the trip was now coming to a close, we adopted the mentality
that, opposed to our initial disposition, we each shared similarities with
those throughout the St. Louis community. If there was anything to be learned
on this trip, it is that this trip cannot simply be left in Missouri. As we
each continue the journeys of our lives, it is our duty to continue this form
of service within whichever community we reside. There are always improvements to
be made, and this alternative break has taught us that the fight for a better
world never ends.
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