Whirlwind Week - Dylan

 This week was a whirlwind. From food banks to food pantries in the Hood. The Boys and Girls Club and gardening, we had a mix of all sorts of different types of service. In my group was Isaiah, Alex, Riley  girl and Andrew. The other group with us was Landon, Sean, Erik, Adakus, and Bob. Our first day was simple, we went to a food bank that feeds over 200,000 people in Pennsylvania. My job was boxes. I would say at the end of the end of our 4 hour shift I had made about 600 boxes. This is all I did for the first day. The second day rolls around and I’m feeling good, I’m ready to work and feeling motivated. We are told we are going to a food pantry. As we are driving, we go further and further away from the city. We arrive and we are genuinely in the hood. 85% of our group has never been to the hood so I knew I was in for a treat. Mrs. Vicky is our site coordinator and she might be one of the best people I’ve ever met. She is vibrant and full of energy. Later she tells us that she is 71 and she is working in the food pantry every week. This day was 101 degrees and 70% humidity, the hottest day of the trip. Not once during the day did I complain or break but was fully locked-in for the day. Early that morning I had asked for strength and endurance during this day, later I realize that God had answered me in one of my greatest times of need. The next day was a rough morning. I was tired and didn’t want to work, but again I asked for help. We were to go to a community garden. I wasn’t thrilled but I was willing to do the work. Once we get in the car we are told of a change of plans. Instead of the garden we are going to the Boys and Girls Club. This was a huge relief, the club was great, the kids were amazing. It was a blast, the kids were so friendly and just getting to spend some time with them was extremely restorative. On the last day we went to a garden. We helped weed, mulch, and water. I taught the other kids how to mulch and that if you aren’t dirty after gardening, “you ain’t doin’ it right.” After about an hour and a half we journeyed to our next destination. We arrived at a park and we were told we would be met there and would pick up trash. When we got there, no one was there and more importantly no trash. There was legitimately half a bag of trash, but we had to really look for it. The park was nearly spotless, after 30 minutes we decided to leave because our other leader, Bob was cooked. We ended and went to the YMCA to shower, finishing off my third mission trip.