This is Ainsley...Serving Others
I have always loved to help others. It started with helping my family and friends; now I've grown to be able to help others across the US. I've had several opportunities to serve on "Service Road Trips" with my church's youth group. This summer will be my first opportunity to serve outside of the United States. I hope to be able to attend a service trip to Baja, Mexico. Acts of service ultimately reflect our love of God. This is shown in Matthew 25:40. Below is just a glimpse of my service to others. I'm excited for my future opportunities to serve others and I am looking forward to my next Service Road Trip to the Chicago area in April 2017!
Abbeville VBS - 2016Last summer, a few members of the youth group traveled to Abbeville, Alabama. After the last night of our VBS, we packed up our decorations and we traveled to Abbeville to put on a VBS for their church. While we were there, we set up the activities and decorations in addition to conducting plays and lessons for the kids. This may not seem as impactful as a mission trip; however, this was an important trip because it allowed us to evangelize to kids in a way they had never experienced before.
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Give Kids the World - 2015 & 2016
I went to Give Kids the World in both 2015 and 2016. Give Kids the World is an organization located near Orlando, Florida that provides services for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families.
While I was there, I volunteered by carrying trays and washing dishes in the kitchen, driving a train ride around the facility, and interacting with the kids in multiple locations. This was not only a meaningful opportunity for the kids I interacted with at Give Kids the World, but also for me. It was a humbling experience to serve and spend time with kids and families who are living with an illness that changes how they live. I am very grateful I was able to volunteer my time there. We were also grateful to ride out Hurricane Matthew safely on our last visit! |
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Lincoln Village 2012 and 2014In 2012, I went on my first Service Road Trip with my youth group to Alabama and Georgia. We stopped in Huntsville, Alabama in a community called Lincoln Village where we worked with an inner city community school. While we were there, we tutored children in an after school program in addition to helping with classroom repairs and moving furniture. We also spent some time working on houses that were being renovated to improve the quality of life in the community.
Within the first few days of starting the trip, I realized that everyone we were helping had a different need. Whether it was landscaping, teaching kids, or feeding kids supper after the after-school program (since some families cannot provide food for their children), I realized that there are so many in need. This was one of my first experiences helping to serve in an area of poverty. Additionally, it was also one of my first experiences in teaching younger children, which contributed to my dream of pursuing a career as an elementary school teacher. |
Ice Storm - Crossville, Tennessee 2015
For our annual Service Road Trip in 2015, my youth group traveled to Crossville, Tennessee to help with the damage caused by an ice storm a few months prior. While we were there, we helped clean yards affected by the storm and removed branches, trees, and other things littered around the yards.
We also volunteered at Good Samaritan where we packaged food and helped organize their supplies. Despite it raining a few days we were there, we were still able to serve and help those in need. Not only did we do that serve, we were also able to witness another member of the local youth group be baptized into Christ! This trip made an impact on me because it showed me that even though we hadn't traveled very far from home and we were serving in a way that seemed small, I can still can make a difference in the lives of others even with small acts of service. |
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Restore the Shore - 2013In 2013, our Service Road Trip took us to New Jersey. We had planned to leave on the first day of spring break; however, due to a sickness that spread around Lads to Leaders, we were forced to wait another day or two to leave.
During our time there, we made a church in Tinton Falls, New Jersey our homebase. We were close enough that most of the time we could see New York City. Our main goal was to clean up damaged houses and pick up trash where houses once sat before the storm. Hurricane Sandy left devastation along the coast. It was sad picking up items that used to be people's possessions. We found many toys, as well as things like picture frames and teddy bears. As we moved debris, we found photographs. We gathered these and returned them to the local police station, where they had set up a lost and found for pictures. |
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Unfortunately, most of the youth group was still sick and we left our trip early, but the experience was one I won't forget. It was a rewarding experience to be able to serve others after all of the damage done. Although the hurricane was devastating to many people, I was able to see how some the people we met were keeping positive attitudes due to their faith. One man was so moved by our group's work that he ordered pizza and shared with us the story of why he lived on the coast and how he witnessed 9/11 from his house. I believe he wasn't sure what to make of these kids from Kentucky who made his yard look less like a disaster zone.
Newborns In Need - 2009-2011
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One of my first experiences in serving was through a program called Newborns in Need in my hometown. I was inspired after learning how many families did not have the necessary blankets, diapers, and clothing to take a newborn home from the hospital. I sat with my mother during the meeting and felt like I had to do something.
I began making blankets. I asked teachers at my school to donate money or items to this program. I made flyers and hung around the teacher's lounge and then collected items to donate. This service was an important part of my life because it marks the point when I was beginning to realize my love for helping other people. P.S. Please excuse my hat. I didn't know any better at the time. |