Overall, serving in Fort Worth has been a wonderful
experience. Some of my favorite parts include working at a food pantry, playing
with underprivileged and homeless children at a shelter, and bagging toiletry
items at a nearby church. Working in this area has really developed my
understanding of homelessness and how it impacts the community and everyone in
it. Even though the reality of homelessness is sad and upsetting, it brings me
great joy to see such a supportive group of churches and community centers
dedicated to helping their neighbors and those in need. This mission trip has
been filled with excitement, fun, and hard work. We’ve served at a different
location every morning, and we’ve met a variety of men and women with
interesting stories and lives. One of my favorite conversations was with a man
named Michael. He was from Forth Worth, enjoyed barbecue, and used to run track
at the local high school. Through this brief interaction, I found that Michael
and I were very similar and held many common interests. This really put his
situation into perspective for me. Many members of this community have hopes
and ambitions, but have been overcome by poverty, hunger, and homelessness. To
me, the work we did in Fort Worth was very meaningful, and it impacted the
community and the members of WUFPC positively. I am very grateful for this opportunity
to serve, and I look forward to next years mission trip and the experience and
knowledge it will bring.
-Emma, UPC
