Love. If you think really hard about what you want most in life, for a lot of us, it's love. If you think about your role model in life, many of us would say they are our role models because they loved us. They invested in us. And if you really think about the thing we take for granted the most in life, I think it would be safe to say love could also be the answer for that question.
I don't think I always comprehend how significant love is. Sure, I tell my friends I love them when I leave hanging out with them. I sign off calls with my parents with the usual "I love you" and I definitely can say I love pizza. A lot. And those things are all important (maybe not the pizza - well at least as much as human beings) - but have you stopped to think what things would be like without that love? What would it be like to not hear that you are loved from your family and friends daily? Man, that's tricky.
For our Mizzou Alternative Breaks trip, we served at The Children's Shelter in San Antonio, TX. This shelter takes in kids from all sorts of situations - some of the kids are dropped off there by parents who don't want them anymore. Some are there while their parents try to get back on their feet. Every situation is different. But regardless, those kids are there, at a shelter, without their parents. Without familiar faces in their life who tell them they love them, care for them, etc. Some of them get visits from family members every once in a while. Some, not so much. And it was after serving at The Children's Shelter that I really realized the importance of love, especially as a kid growing up.
I came from a great family background. My parents have always provided for me, made sacrifices so that I could have it as easy as possible, and always expressed their love whenever possible. It was humbling to see how often I take that for granted. Hearing two little girls conversing about whether or not their parents had visited them was hard, considering my parents are just a phone call away at all times. And in those moments, I realized the significance our service was.
While at the shelter, we worked in the classrooms with the kids: playing, tutoring, laughing with them and most of all, loving on them. Even though we only worked with the kids for a day, we were able to show them that we cared. That we loved them. And to know that we might be the only people that had expressed that to them was crazy to imagine.
Throughout the course of our break, we all learned the importance of spreading love and always being thankful and grateful for the love in our lives. That's what Mizzou Alternative Breaks is about - spreading love and making a difference. Sure, we couldn't find the kids we worked with a home and a family who would take care of them forever. But we did love them. And that's what made all the difference.
I asked some of my participants on the trip what their take-away was from the week. And I was so happy to see how much of an impact this trip had on them.
"After a wonderful week in San Antonio, the biggest take-away I received was appreciation. Appreciation for my parents for giving me the basic luxuries in life that many people are not given. Appreciation for my friends for motivating me and inspiring me to greatness. Appreciaiton for Mizzou, for giving me the utmost skills, education and lifelong relationships. Appreciation for my group for inspiring me to be passionate about critical issues facing children in poverty, discovering a new perspective in life, making me a better person through school, work and my relationships, and inspiring me to move forward in life with kindness." -Sandy Patel
"I learned to be flexible, embrace diversity and listen to what people have to say, I learned to work well with individuals and not make generalizations when I first meet somebody -- because chances are, they are completely different from what I thought." -John Bell
"I further experienced how I can learn and benefit from those I serve just as much, if not more than, they learn from me. I learned that service should be a continuous cycle of humans serving other humans and raising them up through selfless service." -Mary Kate Kelly
"I learned to do what makes you happy and to not let anyone else influence what that is. I learned the importance of taking breaks and the value of the amazing conversations it brings about. I learned the meaning of the word family. We knew each other for less than a week and yet I feel closer to them than some of my best friends. Family is not based on the amount of time you spend with someone but by the impact they leave on you and the lessons they teach you. And next time things don't go your way or you're complaining about something meaningless, take a second and think about everyone out there who loves you and has impacted you. Realize that those relationships are what truly matter." -Matt McKeown
I am beyond thankful for Mizzou Alternative Breaks. Leading this trip with 11 other wonderful humans taught me how to love and how to receive love in return.
- Jackson Farley and the rest of San Antonio 2 crew
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