Mission Trip Experience Essay

Every Wednesday and Friday, I served with the Last Call 4 Grace ministry. I helped provide meals for people who barely have a roof over their heads. First, the other volunteers and I formed an assembly line. Then, we packed food in to go boxes. On Wednesday of the first week, we packed pizza and brownies. On Friday, we packed hot dogs, potato chips, and cookies. During the following week, we packed burritos for the first day and rice with broccoli for the second. In addition to the main meal, we also provided bread, Halloween candy, and other sweets.

I have always had an interest in helping others, which led me to join the National Charity League when I was in 7th grade and stayed until I graduated high school. It is a mother/daughter charity organization with that aims to help local philanthropies. Throughout my six years of involvement, I was able to volunteer at 19 different charitable organizations throughout the Coachella Valley. The philanthropies I predominantly worked with were the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission and Gilda’s Club. The Coachella Valley Rescue Mission is a shelter for the homeless and I predominately did two things for them, serving/cooking food and fundraising. Often, when I would serve food to the homeless, they would talk to me about their lives and how they ended

I participate weekly in a club called Peanut Butter and Jelly Club, which is arranged on Wednesdays after school, which purpose is to feed the homeless, as well is the activity in which I consider is the most important I partake in which has benefited my community. Being, I am making a positive change in my community by feeding the homeless who are in great need of food as well combating hunger among various people through my actions. I am making my community a better place through food donations, fundraisers, and sandwiches for the homeless. as well it is a wonderful feeling when I hear the news that our food is able to reach and impact various homeless people, and is able to uplift their day. Furthermore, Peanut Butter and Jelly Club is a

I served as an officer for our Campus Christian Club at Lone Star College-North Harris for 3 semesters and I remain a member of the group these last two semester. Prior to attending Lone Star College-North Harris I served as a cook, and fund raiser with the Home-school program affiliated with Lindale Assembly of God. I also cooked for our Wednesday night services, or any special event that was held at the church. I served under the instruction of Pastor Randy and Jana Meeks. I also aided in providing perishable and nonperishable goods to the pantry and for emergencies such as opening the church for those who were fleeing Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Prior to this I served Pastor John and Gladys Greiner in Glorious Way Church. I aided in the children’s

The time I first experienced growth was when I went on my first mission trip ever, and it just so happened to be over the weekend of my 16th birthday. I did not know anyone in my group, yet we were united with a common goal to serve our community. Going into the weekend I thought I would inspire and help people, little did I know that in my own life I would be inspired. On our first day serving the community, we went to a neighborhood in Los Angeles, that had severe poverty, to help families obtain food and play with the kids. The apartments had broken windows, barely working doors, and bars to protect outsiders from coming in, yet the people were so humble and happy. All the other students in my group were either speaking Spanish to help the elders, drawing with the little kids, or playing soccer. My new friend Alec told me to join the soccer game, so I did. I was put on a team with my new friend Kevin, and two brothers named Diego and Jesse. Half way through the game my competitive side grew and i began to feel less restrained, so I kicked harder. I ended up kicking the ball so hard it hit little 5 year old Jesse in the head, I felt remorse. Jesse surprised me with a huge smile as to say,’

I have been involved with several service activities throughout my life. Some of the more recent services that I have participated in include: Helping set up and helping teach underprivileged children at the Children's Defense Fund Freedom School. Here I volunteered my time during the summer helping set up the classrooms and supplies, moving and unpacking and organizing; supplies, food, and donations the summer program. I also helped out this summer program by checking people in and out, guiding and directing people where to go, and unload and load the children onto the busses. During the summer I also volunteered a week of my time to be a “buddy” to a special olympiad at their Special Olympics Athletic Retreat. Being a “buddy” included self regulation, chaperoning on field trips one on one, assisted with self care skills when they where needed. Also this summer I volunteered my time for four weeks being a counselor in training at the Stowe YMCA. This included reading to the campers, helping serve meals to the campers, Chaperoning on field trips with the campers and being camp counselors to campers in grades pre-k through fifth grade. I also have been participating on my temple’s youth group advisory board. There I help determine, plan, organize, and run group activities and social events for the youth groups. I have been doing this for the past three years. This group also partakes in several community service projects throughout the

This summer I went on a mission trip to Minnesota, and it changed my life. I got to strengthen my relationship with God and my friends, all the while serving a community. While I was there, I was tested a few times, but my view of life was permanently affected. If I was asked to leave tomorrow for another trip, I wouldn’t even hesitate to go.

We assisted the parishioners of the church where we were being housed by helping them complete some of their own projects, including using heavy duty cleaning supplies to remove the mold in the kitchen, replacing the ceiling tiles and replacing the baseboards that had been removed for painting. At Memphis Union Mission we sorted donations of both toiletries and clothing that were to be given out to the homeless in the area. We separated items such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo and conditioner so they could be packaged up and disseminated to those in need. Once the sorting process was completed, we went downstairs to help the pastor serve lunch in their soup kitchen. When we were volunteering at the Refugee Empowerment center, we helped the children of immigrants complete their homework, many of whom were not fluent in the English language. Once their homework had been finished, we taught them a popular game called ninja. At Girls Incorporated we first helped the students to finish their homework and then played some volleyball and kickball with them, a gesture that was well

Unfortunately I see this conversation ending with Celeste and Jim both very upset and no solutions to the conflict being discussed. It seems that at the end of this scenario the conflict was beginning to spiral out of control, and communication was shutting down. It will end with Celeste and Jim blowing up at each other and not being willing to understand the others perspective about the situation. They will not talk for a while after this happens and Jim will hire Nikki as he intended to from the beginning. As a negative end to this conflict I see Jim and Celeste looking back over the conflict still trying to defend their position (retrospective goals).

Through being a Beehive, Miamaid, and Laurel class president, a member of the Viewmont High School Seminary Council, a seminary president, a chairman of the Centerville Utah North Stake Youth Committee, cheerleader, track runner, and Impact team member; I have been given many opportunities to involve others and make everyone feel like they have a role. As a seminary council, we have made it a goal of ours to make sure everyone feels included. We try to do this through small and simple things: leaving notes on peoples cars telling them they're loved, taking cookies to someone having a hard time, or asking for advice from someone who you know has gone through something. All of these things, show people that they're important to you and gives them purpose. Also, as the Priests and Laurels of our stake, we have started working on a project of putting together 200 meal bags for refugees coming to Utah. Through doing this, in an indirect way, it gives these refugees who feel as though they have very little purpose, something to live for. By showing that we care about people gives them a renewed sense of identity and purpose, and that can make a world of difference in someone's

When I was little, I heard stories of Third World countries where people lived in complete poverty. I would hear of how they had dilapidated domiciles, contaminated water, deadly diseases, and shortages of food. I was always told how blessed I was to live in a country where I was free of these situations, but I always took this truth for granted. I would go along every day, not worrying about where I was going to sleep or what I was going to eat, when people all over the world were facing these situations as problems. It wasn't until I was sixteen that I realized how blessed I was, when I was given the opportunity to visit San Jose, Costa Rica.

I observed and analyzed the design and delivery of an instructional unit in a Montessori school setting. I observed a classroom of grades 1-3 two times from 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. at the Kennebec Montessori school. I was asked to sit quietly and to not interact with the children so I could get a realistic view of the class day and the children would pursue their chosen work.

My goal in life is to be a great friend and wife to my fiancé. An exceptional and admirable mother that teaches her children not just right and wrong, but how to be healthy, happy, successful, responsible adults who can do the same for their families. I don’t want to lose sight of who I am and the person I am meant to be in the process. All the while, enjoying every bit of life and making every moment count.

Throughout life I have had many memorable events. The memorable times in my life vary from being the worst times in my life and some being the best, either way they have become milestones that will be remembered forever. The best day of my life was definitely the day that I received my drivers' license. This day is one of the most memorable because of the feelings I had when I received it, the opportunities that were opened up for me and the long lasting benefits that I received from it that still exist today.

In my second quarter, I volunteered at OLMA’s annual Christmas Tea Party. There, I helped set up the tables with hot water and sugar as well as helped serve food and dessert. I made sure everyone’s kettles were always filled with hot water and that there was enough tea for everyone. Additionally, I helped clear the tables and throw away people’s garage during the event. After the event, I cleared all the tables from the dross and tablecloths, along with the other volunteers. In addition, I helped to bring the cups and kettles that needed to be washed back to the kitchen. The week before I knew that the people running the event were in need of some student volunteers because they did not have many, so I was glad to volunteer. The people there were happy to have my help and I was more than glad to offer it. I felt closer to God as I gave up my time to help others in