Lessons from Washington, D.C.

I wanted to share tonight one of the very cool places I got to go this semester. It was called Alternative Spring Break through United Way Break A Difference. This meant that I would volunteer my spring break and help out with the Boys and Girls club for a week in Washington, D.C. I helped out in the teen room and every afternoon would talk to the kids about my experience as a college student and how they can succeed through education. I met some Amazing people from Universities from all over the country including this very cool group from New York University. During the mornings we had free time to roam around D.C. We went to the Smithsonian museum of Natural History and Art where I saw the famous Hope Diamond, the museum of Archives where I got to see the Declaration of Independence and Bill of rights, the Library of Congress, The Capitol, the Lincoln Memorial, and the Washington monument, and a few other cool places. Sadly, I did get to see the White House from a distance but I did not get to see it up close. I also was VERY sad because I did not get to go to DC Cupcakes in Georgetown! It snowed while I was there and we had to walk to the subways and I felt so cold that I wanted to cry like a 5 year old little girl but I survived! I had never met any of these people that I met on this trip but all of the were so helpful and never let me feel alone or let me get behind. I slept on these foldable cots from the Red Cross every night and had to bring my own sleeping bag and bedding. All of the volunteers slept in the Boys and Girls Gym. Let me tell you THAT was an experience. At the end of week a lot of people were crying and breaking down because they felt so moved by the children that they had encountered during the week. They were so happy to have been able to help them with their homework and tell them that they can achieve anything they want to achieve in life. These children came from poverty and were very thankful that we were there. While so many of my friends were crying and having an emotional moment I realized that I was stone cold. It wasn't because I didn't love been a volunteer or because I didn't think that what I was doing there was impactful it was just that I had lived a very different life. I understood that although education is important to having a better life, it isn't the only thing that matters. Don't get me wrong, I believe in Education and I am pursuing my bachelors degree at the moment but I know that the most important thing on this earth is to know Jesus! What matters most is that you get to heaven and that you take your family and as many other people as you can with you! I was a Senior Camp counselor for 4 years and those were some incredible moments in my life where I was praying and crying my eyes out for one of our young people that was struggling between church and the world. I know that the time that I have invested in prayer and in conversations about the world of God are priceless and are what makes the difference in eternity. I loved this trip for so many reasons but I think the best reason is because I came home with some new perspectives. I realized that I need to get back to my first love and get back to the things that Really matter. I have got to somehow get my life back involved in the ministry of our teens at church and use my life as a testimony. I need to take advantage of every opportunity that I get to tell someone about Jesus and let them know that yes, going to college and making good decisions in your life is important but there is not a more important decision than serving Jesus and putting a determination in your heart that you are gonna make it to heaven! Here are a few pictures from my fabulous adventure!! Enjoy and be blessed in Jesus! ~Lorraine