Kendra Cobb
English 101
Pre-writing/Post-writing Essay
December 9, 2016
English 101
Pre-writing/Post-writing Essay
December 9, 2016
Missions Trip
There are some people who are not able to go home to a family, sit at the table and eat dinner. Some people may not even have a family to go home to at all. There are many people who are too busy with their own lives to worry or care for these people. I have always wanted to help these people, and it just so happened that my church, along with several other churches in the area, were going to Denver, Colorado on a missions trip. They were going to care for the people who do not have the same privileges I do such as: having a place to call home, food on the table, ways of transportation and many more, and many more. I take what I have for granted, and the missions trip to Denver changed the way I look at my life and other people.
On the way to Denver, all the students were divided into groups and were given a certain task that had to be completed in a week. I was in the group that had been given the task of repainting the inside and outside of a food pantry. This project seemed impossible, but the group worked hard as a team to complete the task we had been given. We would section off the room into several parts and cleaned them and then got right to work painting. We also helped the volunteers that worked at the food pantry to restock the shelves and hand out the food to the less fortunate members of the community we were in.
As we got to know the volunteers, we all became well acquainted and close each one of them. These volunteers were not as privileged as we were. They had to walk to wherever destination they needed to go. They had the biggest hearts, loved helping people, and loved making people smile. While the other people and I were painting the building, the different volunteers would ask us questions such as: why we were they, why were helping them, and when we were going to have to leave. The volunteers would tell us every story they could think of to tell us about who they were and where they came from. We would tell each of them why we were painting the building and about who we were. While listening to their stories, I realize that I have everything I need, and I need to be grateful for that.
After we finished our projects, it was time to go back to Missouri, we said our goodbyes and started the rough ride home. The trip was life changing, and I learned that I need to be grateful for what I have and not take the things I have for granted. As we were driving back to Missouri, we noticed that the van was not blowing out cold air. The air conditioning was leaking water, and a couple other people and I were trying to soak up the water with blankets, sweatshirts, or anything that would absorb the water. All of a sudden we heard a popping sound: the same van had lost a tire. We pulled over and waited for another van to pick us up so we could replace the blown-out tire.. I was so grateful that there were other vans and people on the trip. If there had not been other vans, then we would have been stranded in the scorching sun, in the middle of Colorado, for many hours on end.
I realize that at the end of the day I am able to go home, sit at my dining room table and eat dinner with my family. I am privileged that I have a family who loves me, meals to eat when I go home, and I do not have to walk to where I need to go. This trip showed me that there are others in this world who are not as privileged as I am. With that being said, I am thankful for everything that I have. I have more than I could ever need or want. This trip made me be more appreciative of what I have, and helped me see people for who they are, even if they do not have the most expensive car, the nicest clothes, or the greatest home life. The volunteers at the food pantry may not have they luxuries that I do, but they do have the biggest hearts.
On the way to Denver, all the students were divided into groups and were given a certain task that had to be completed in a week. I was in the group that had been given the task of repainting the inside and outside of a food pantry. This project seemed impossible, but the group worked hard as a team to complete the task we had been given. We would section off the room into several parts and cleaned them and then got right to work painting. We also helped the volunteers that worked at the food pantry to restock the shelves and hand out the food to the less fortunate members of the community we were in.
As we got to know the volunteers, we all became well acquainted and close each one of them. These volunteers were not as privileged as we were. They had to walk to wherever destination they needed to go. They had the biggest hearts, loved helping people, and loved making people smile. While the other people and I were painting the building, the different volunteers would ask us questions such as: why we were they, why were helping them, and when we were going to have to leave. The volunteers would tell us every story they could think of to tell us about who they were and where they came from. We would tell each of them why we were painting the building and about who we were. While listening to their stories, I realize that I have everything I need, and I need to be grateful for that.
After we finished our projects, it was time to go back to Missouri, we said our goodbyes and started the rough ride home. The trip was life changing, and I learned that I need to be grateful for what I have and not take the things I have for granted. As we were driving back to Missouri, we noticed that the van was not blowing out cold air. The air conditioning was leaking water, and a couple other people and I were trying to soak up the water with blankets, sweatshirts, or anything that would absorb the water. All of a sudden we heard a popping sound: the same van had lost a tire. We pulled over and waited for another van to pick us up so we could replace the blown-out tire.. I was so grateful that there were other vans and people on the trip. If there had not been other vans, then we would have been stranded in the scorching sun, in the middle of Colorado, for many hours on end.
I realize that at the end of the day I am able to go home, sit at my dining room table and eat dinner with my family. I am privileged that I have a family who loves me, meals to eat when I go home, and I do not have to walk to where I need to go. This trip showed me that there are others in this world who are not as privileged as I am. With that being said, I am thankful for everything that I have. I have more than I could ever need or want. This trip made me be more appreciative of what I have, and helped me see people for who they are, even if they do not have the most expensive car, the nicest clothes, or the greatest home life. The volunteers at the food pantry may not have they luxuries that I do, but they do have the biggest hearts.