Erin: For the past two years I have spent my spring breaks serving in other parts of the world, such as Guatemala and El Salvador with my high school. I signed up for Alternative Spring Break because it seemed like the natural thing to do since it was I had done for the past two years...yet, I had no idea what an impact this trip would make on my life. I never expected to grow so close to people who just a week ago were total strangers and I certainly never thought I would experience what I did in Utah, such as eating dinner with Mormons and getting to attend an intimate Navajo ceremony. I also could never thought that my heart could be stolen so quickly by the students and teachers of Bluff Elementary School, who work so hard with so little, which is beyond inspiring for me to apply to my life. This trip and the relationships I made will be carried with me to Columbia and put to good use.
Brooke: This experience has been beyond anything I could have ever imagined. When I was first told that I would be going to Utah I didn't think very much of it but after this week I can't imagine having gone anywhere else. Picking a moment from the week to say was my favorite is honestly impossible. The smiles on the children's faces as we walked into the school each day, picking up rocks to put around a sundial in the front yard, meeting many amazing people that I may never have gotten the chance to meet, that was my favorite part about the trip. I know that our group has forever changed those children's lives, and they have forever changed ours.
Kelli: This trip it is hard to jam in all into a few short sentences. Going into this trip I was unsure of this entire thing, because I was going to Utah. I mean what is there to do in Utah? News flash! A lot. This week has been the best week I have ever experienced and I am so grateful to be given the opportunity to serve in the amazing state of Utah. I have learned to serve and be served by the amazing children of Bluff Elementary.
Meredith: I am so thankful for this opportunity to volunteer at Bluff Elementary through Mizzou Alternative Breaks with my crew. This trip has been incredibly inspiring and I enjoyed every minute working with the students of Bluff and getting to experience and learn about new cultures. This trip gave me perspective and opened my eyes. I can't imagine spending my spring break any other way. Bluff Elementary will always have a special place in my heart, and I will never forget their motto: we can do hard things!
Calli: This trip was very eye opening and mind opening. It showed me so many things about myself, people around me, and different cultures. Working at Bluff Elementary School was a great experience because I saw how we served the children, but also how they gave us something in return. The children gave us a new perspective on Native American culture. I learned so many invaluable things on this trip and I would not trade it for anything.
Uliana: This was truly an extraordinary experience for me. I could write a book about what happened during this one week and it still would probably not be enough. My horizons expanded dramatically; the places I saw, the people I met and feelings that I felt all of this forms into one of the most amazing adventures of my life.
Kyrie: This past week in Bluff had a tremendous impact on me. The experiences I was able to be part of blew away all expectations I had before leaving. From the bonds I was able to create with the children at Bluff Elementary to visiting a Navajo family on the reservation, this trip changed my outlook on the world. It was heart-warming how the children and others were able to open up and share their stories with me in just one week. Whether it was no running water or a missing father figure, they all had something to share. I loved being immersed in the Navajo community, and learning about their culture. I will never forget their stories or way of life. This trip has challenged me to reach out more to the community of Columbia, and learn about those who live around me.
Kate: If I had to describe the trip in one word it would be "indescribable". There were so many things that happened this past week that affected my life in ways I could have never imagined. The fact that they all happened in one week baffled my mind. From the students at Bluff Elementary to the people we encountered on the road, my mind and life feel completely altered. I now am working really hard to find ways to keep service a part of my daily routine, and I am seriously considering changing my career goals. I cannot describe how great this week was for me, but I'm hoping that the things I bring back to school and my life will show others how much I was impacted by it.
Lyndsey: Pinpointing my favorite moment of this trip is hard to do because there are so many moments that stick out to me as being impactful. The bonds I made with the students at Bluff Elementary in just a short week are so heartwarming. Those kids will forever be in my heart and they impacted my life in the most positive way possible. Also, getting to learn more about the Navajo culture made this trip even more impactful then I could ever had imagined. The lifelong friendships that I made on this trip are what stick out most to me. I know these are people that I could come to with any problem I may have and I feel so blessed to have met them.
Julia: This week has been so incredible that I cannot even begin to put into words what it was like or what my favorite part was. First, all of our participants were absolutely AMAZING! We had our ups and downs and definitely had to "Be Gumby" along the way with different obstacles such as not having a kitchen for a few days, moving housing in the middle of the week, and not entirely knowing what we were doing when we got to Bluff, BUT our girls were troopers and just went along with everything trusting that we would get where we needed to. I am so proud of each and every one of them for being willing to chip in where needed, facing their fears, stepping out of their comfort zones, being such great role models for the kids at Bluff Elementary and for the passion that each of them developed for the kids and for learning more about the Navajo culture. Throughout this week I spent a majority of my time in the 3rd, 4th/5th, and preschool classrooms. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to spend time with these kids getting to know them and assisting them with their schoolwork when they needed it. But even more than getting to see them succeed on their schoolwork I really enjoyed getting to learn more about the Navajo culture and seeing them excited to tell me what they know about their culture. Having the opportunity to be immersed in a culture that I was not familiar with was such an amazing experience and I really enjoyed getting to learn from everyone that I encountered. Finally, I enjoyed the experiences that I was able to share with all of our participants and watching the relationships among our group grow and develop as we served together and shared our stories. If you want to know more, please don't hesitate to ask me about our trip, I am more than willing to share!
Much Love,
Utah Crew!
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