I just returned from another life changing adventure courtesy of Pilgrim Fellowship, a non-denominational youth group made up of high school students from the Connecticut shoreline area of Guilford and Madison. 89 students and 21 adults gave up their spring break or took time off from work to be a part of this mission to help those less fortunate. This year we traveled to Jonesville, Virginia and partnered with the folks at Appalachia Service Project who provided us the opportunity to help folks in need throughout the Lee Country Virginia area.
The 89 students are broken up into 10 work groups and I, in addition to ASP Ambassador Jen Rickert, had the pleasure of guiding the 10 awesome members of “Group 3” as we helped a family in need of some major help with the condition of their kitchen. I could spend hours relaying stories of the specific efforts made, the challenges we overcame, the family we worked for and served throughout the week and the feeling of success when we achieved our goal on the last day of work. However, I want to take a moment to simply recognize the commitment each of the students made to work hard each and every day we were in Jonesville.
I can’t even begin to tell you how proud I am to be associated with Pilgrim Fellowship and the ways in which this group represents themselves, Pilgrim Fellowship, our host ASP and most importantly, themselves. They do so with class and a maturity one may not immediately expect from a high school student. They work well together, they support each other and they are present for all the right reasons while making sure they do everything they can do to help the families we are tasked to serve.
As a whole, the entire group of 89 helped 11 families in the Lee County area. Each project that each work group took on wasn’t easy. In addition, the weather during our work week was damp and rainy which added to the challenge. In the end, everyone left Lee County knowing that we made a sizable impact in the quality of life for those that we assisted. The work that we accomplished made each house safer as well as improved the condition well beyond from where we first found it.
When people learn that I was one of the 21 adults that assisted on the trip they almost always comment that they think it would be hard to travel with 89 high school students and their antics. I quickly counter their thought with the assurance that each student associated with Pilgrim Fellowship exudes such an energy and commitment to helping others that it is hard not to have that energy fuel your own enthusiasm and drive. I also say that I’m lucky to know them, to work with them and ultimately watch them grow on a variety of levels as they progress through the program during their time here in high school. It really is an honor and a privilege for me to be able to be associated with each and everyone of the students and other adults that make up this program.
I want to publicly thank each member of Group 3 for being such hard workers. You have a lot to be proud of and I enjoyed getting to know each and everyone of you. I also want to thank Jen Rickert for her guidance, patience, encouragement and for diving right in to be such a driving force in the success of Group 3! Another huge thank you to my own family, specifically Jamie, for allowing me to be away for just over a week so that I can take part in this adventure. I married way over my head on so many levels and I am thankful for that each and everyday.
Lastly, I leave you with the thought I conveyed to the members of “Group 3” during our last group meeting. I provided each with a small memento with the word “Give” written on it. I shared that giving shouldn’t also just be about writing a check to provide someone with money. Giving also shouldn’t just happen for 1 week out of the 52 each year. Each day we should find the time to seek out ways to give of ourselves through our time and our talents. These efforts each day will not only lead to great things but hopefully inspire others to do the same.
Thanks PF for a great and amazing week last week! It was another inspirational journey that I’m very thankful I had the opportunity to be a part of.
