Mission Trip Analysis

In our book groups we discussed two essays “The Connection Between Strangers” by Miles Goodwin and the essay “The People Who Love You When No One Else Would” by Cecile Gilmer. In my group we said that “no matter how big or small your act of kindness is, it could change someones life” was demonstrated in both essays. In the first essay, “The Connection Between Strangers”, shows this because this little girl walked up to this solider and congratulated him. Little did she know, that the small action had changed the soldier’s life, as he said in the essay, “That girl undoubtedly has no memory of what happened years ago… It doesn't matter why she gave me the magazine. The important thing is she did” (Goodwin 83).

Through these experiences, my moral compass shifted from one that lacked empathy to one where I could find appreciation for others, which birthed inside me a strong desire to help those in need. Now, as a senior, I am able to observe how my judgments can be used for something beneficial, rather something

At church, in addition to my participation in the worship services, I volunteered at our church’s soup kitchen, medical camps and elementary school for underprivileged children. These experiences opened my eyes to the deprivation of love and care in the world and a dire need of God’s grace for people at large so they could receive forgiveness, healing and restoration in their lives.

Acts of service always created a desire in me to help make people’s lives better. People often put forth their best when

For example when I became friends with people from my soccer team they showed me something that I am forever thankful for. I was never a person to go to church. I never understood it. My father is a catholic and my mother was religious to an extend. Since my father didn’t stay with us it was me and my mom and it seemed like we never had time to go to church. When I made friends with my soccer team-mates they brought me with welcome arms to their church. Now this is my church. I’ve learned kindness in a different way now. I treat others in a different light

In 2012, General Dempsey states “Mission Command is fundamentally a learned behavior to be imprinted into the DNA of a profession of arms.” The way Mission Command has evolved through the past years is indicative to the US Military adjusting to a new threat. The concept of Mission Command is not new, what is important is how General Dempsey states “Education in the fundamental principles of mission command must begin at the start of service and be progressively more challenging..” The General emphasizes the need for education at the start of the individual’s service. Additionally, this highlights the United States Army’s doctrinal adjustment to the new threat. During the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, the US faced an enemy whose creativity and adaptability are two of its greatest assets. The fast-paced situation changes in both of those AOs required tactical level leadership maintain the autonomy to “exercise disciplined initiative.” This type of initiative historically leads to mission success, specifically in fast-paced situations where a key to success is forcing the enemy to react.

During the week in Chicago, I grew closer to God, learned how to be a better leader, and learned to put others before myself, which is what helped me become a better person. Serving others that had situations worse than I could imagine was life changing. The idea I could make such a tremendous change in someone’s life while doing activities I enjoyed, opened my eyes to the potentials of serving. After the week ended and I returned home, I wanted to do more for the people around me who were less fortunate. Going into freshman year, I made the decision to volunteer at Urban Vision. I help kids who have newly immigrated to Akron and the United States find items at a holiday shop for their families and themselves. Many of these kids went directly to the necessity aisle, (i.e. toilet paper, laundry detergent, and soaps) to get these items for their families, even though there were plenty of toys for the kids themselves. These kids helped me realize I should be grateful for everything in life, from shelter over my head to the clothes on my

Poverty hits children hardest in the world. When I was younger, the Armenians had faced the hard facts of poverty after they break up with the Soviet Union, war with Azerbaijan, and a devastating earthquake. My family moved into our motherland Armenia while our nation was going through these huge dramatic changes. Furthermore the poor economy and inflation destroyed numerous hopes and futures. In the novel, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie, Arnold Spirit, describes his hardships involving poverty living on Spokane reservation. The people on the reservation are stuck in a prison of poverty. They are imprisoned there due to lack of resources and general contempt from the outside world, so they are left with little chance for success. Like Arnold, I also went through hardships regarding poverty and education.

Alexie, in his essay, talks about how his life was growing up on a Native American reservation in Washington state. A lifestyle that most Americans never know. Life as a Spokane Indian surrounding by a growing American society had its hardships, as Alexie explains. According to Alexie, most Spokane families living on the reservation lived a life that we in modern American society would label poverty, but the Spokane call it “middle-class.” Growing up, most of the food brought to the table in Alexie’s home was that of government surplus, thanks to federal sanctions on Native reservations, but his family managed to scrape by like any other Spokane, usually through a minimum wage income.

Similar to Eve Tuck, Ramone McBride, a Pine Ridge author that wrote, “Our Native Children Are Not Poverty Porn: If One Succeeds, a Hundred Are Coming After,” aims to re-educate people on the way indigenous accomplishments are viewed. He states, “no longer should the public solely believe that Native kids are victims and that they don’t have a chance”. Instead, the public needs to reconsider the idea that hardship is the main part of the indigenous story and realize that there is also “beauty, hope and spirituality” in the mix (2). While McBride isn’t trying to force the idea that there is no dysfunction on tribal lands, he is trying to get the point across that the Native are powerful people who are able to retain hope and resilience even in the toughest of times. Instead of focusing on feeling sorry for the Native youth, the public instead needs to take time and use it to help cultivate the indigenous people’s talents and prepare them for the world and their future. The rest of this paper is going to address various questions through the strength-based lens of Eve Tuck and Ramone McBride in order to analyze and hopefully bring about change in regards to the way

Reservation life was difficult. When the Seminoles got to the reservation there was barely any tents this was tough because the season was winter When the Seminole arrived at the reservation food was scarce. There was not enough blankets to keep them warm since it was the winter. There was barely any shoes so they had to walk barefoot the whole way to the reservation. There wasn’t enough winter clothes to keep them warm or other supplies they needed. There was heavy rain and snow. The weather conditions were tough to live in

I found this chance to help people a way to get to know the people in my youth group, but I learned so much more than I thought I would. What amazed me the most out of everything on this trip was the willingness of kids my age to help those around them. During that week in Denver, I also had the chance to meet some of the other youth from other cities in Missouri. A lot of them whom had remarkable stories. Their reasons for helping out during this mission trip were much greater than my own, I was astounded. They had told me about their past, the struggles and valleys that they had gone through that lead them to help those who are going through the same situations or worse. One story struck me the most. One about a boy and a past fight with drug abuse. He said that one day he felt this indescribable jolt and he just lost it. He broke down and asked himself what he was doing with his life. After asking around and seeking help, he went to the local church one Sunday. That was when he met the youth leader that helped him through his

Overall, the book gives an incredibly unique outlook on such an underserved community and exposes the harsh economical and social realities these people face under the ruse of “family” and “community.”

The community service that changed my outlook on life is my missions trip to Haiti. When I saw how the Haitians lived day by day, I realized that my life in America is extraordinary compared to theirs. My dream is to send musical instruments to anyone who wants to play in their church.

The Yakama people in White Swan refer to themselves as the invisible city, because even though they exist in a fairly well off county in America, one of the richest countries in the world, their harsh poverty goes unnoticed. Their description of watching fancy cars drive by on Route 97 without anyone ever stopping to help is a tragic reality for the people in White Swan, and an accurate image of American’s ignorance of Native poverty. For my area category, I am going to be researching poverty on Native American reservations, in order to shed light on an issue that is important and even existence is often disregarded. While researching poverty among Native Americans on reservations, and specifically on the Yakama reservation I am learning of