Service in Florida

Exactly two weeks ago, I returned with ten others from a Wartburg College service trip in Florida.  I've been reflecting a lot about my experience with the students these past couple of weeks and felt I should share some of my thoughts.

First and foremost, our trip was spent serving the community of Immakolee, Florida.  Immakolee is located just 45 minutes inland from Naples, Florida.  The drive from Bonita Springs--the community we stayed in--to Immakolee, exhibits night and day differences.  Naples and Bonita Springs are filled with beautiful homes, fancy cars, and a healthy economy, where Immokalee sits occupied, but in poor conditions.  Immokalee has an incredibly high poverty rate as the many citizens who live there work in the fields picking produce throughout the year.

When we arrived, we could definitely see ourselves fulfilling a need.  For a couple of days time, we served at the Guadalupe Center, assisting in the Early Childhood classrooms.  We put up bulletin boards, played with the kids, and assisted where and when needed.  It was fun walking into the classroom a couple of days that week and having the kids run to you shouting, "Mr. TJ!"  For the other part of our stay, we worked with Immokalee's Housing & Family Service organization; an organization striving to provide decent, safe, and affordable rental housing with supportive social and educational services for farm workers and other low-income families.  We worked with one of the main housing complexes called Sanders Pines assisting with gardening, picking-up trash, painting, and installing park benches and picnic tables.  

Overall, it was a busy and hard-working week (one day, I sweat through two complete outfits--disgusting!), but I wouldn't have traded it for the world.  Not only did I really get to know the nine students and one advisor I went with, but I also learned just how important it is to help one another in our own local communities.  Granted, in this instance we were clear across the states assisting a community and developing a partnership, but there are plenty of needs in our own backyards.  We just need to take the time to seek out those opportunities and assist.  

So that's my challenge to you.  Find a time in your schedule to drop what you're doing, reach out, and lend a hand.  It's amazing what you can do in just a short amount of time serving others, and you won't believe how grateful others will feel.  The little things make a HUGE difference.

Holding the sun is a challenge.  :)  This shot was taken on the beach during our last evening in Florida.

Just another shot of that amazing waves-crashing, sunset.