Service Day

Remember those good ol' days where I would post more often like every other day. Yeah, I miss those days, too. Kinda feel like I'm shut up.

Yesterday was Service Day, one of the few extra cirricular days I don't boycott. But sadly, others did. I can't complain too much, since I have skipped out on some school days on purpose, but in a way, this is different. With Service day, you grow spiritually. I really can't see that in Arts Day, All-school Social or banquet. It's like what an English teacher says about reading the Spark Notes instead of reading the actual book: "You're robbing yourself of a great experience." As a born again Christian, there is some kind of undescriptable joy inside, knowing you have done what the Lord Jesus has asked of you.

I went to Manna on Main Street......for the second year. Yup, both service days at Dock and I was both times at Manna on Main Street. Manna on Main Street is both a soup kitchen and a food pantry. It's not so much for the homeless (of course, they are invited) but other people too. It's for anyone in finanical trouble and don't have a lot of money, and with little money they have, they need to use to pay rent and/or utilities bills. They can come to Manna on Main St. to get the food they need.

In the beginning I made snack bags that were going as a gift for a fundraiser walk. Mrs. Adams (the teacher with us) wanted to make sure every bag was equally full with the same thing. So she went into this huge math problem to figure out how much (in number of pieces) each bag needs of each snack food. She told us "5 of every piece." When we finished the 300 bags with her math specifications (which were time consuming), we had only gotten through a third of the resources. We told her and she replied, "Do it again with 5 more pieces." We shook our heads and started throwing handfuls in. I think one bag I just put in a bag of crumbs.

In the meantime, another part of my group was making tacos. We were allowed to take part in that for lunch. After lunch, I did what I did best in a kitchen: wash dishes, dry dishes, put dishes away. I did that until the end of the day. I found out that most of the time the kitchen was an escape place to not do work and to use their cell (by the way, had bad reception, or so they told me). That also made things harder to work in the kitchen. Mrs. Adams made everyone socialize, but I didn't. I want to make it clear I didn't socialize because I didn't want to talk to them, but the fact I don't like to socialize people at all. I avoided talking to the classmates in my group. Truthfully, I sometimes want to avoid conversation at school as well. And I also didn't avoid it not to do work. I was working a plenty, and things were getting done. Dishes were getting cleaned, dried, and put away. I enjoy servicing on the Lord's behalf, but I prefer to do it behind the scenes.

For everyone who volunteers at Manna on Main St, they get to write there name on the walls of the building. I noticed some names I knew, from other people at Dock to a few old friends from elementary school. Heck, I found out that someone put down the number for Chiaro's Pizza! I signed my name right next to where I wrote it on October 15, 2004 - the last CD Service Day. Of course, Evan and Big Mike, being the preschoolers they are (despite being seniors) had to go wild and write everywhere stupid comments, with some things that could be described as "un-christian." Michelle tried to intervene, but unsuccessfully, she had to get Mrs. Adams to do something. Evan called her a few names and walked away disgusted. What disgusted me is what he said in response to her, "She is a party pooper. Don't be like her when you're a senior. Go wild 'have fun'". Yeah, I was peeved at that comment. That is the worst advice to give to underclassmen. Freshmen, sophomores, juniors, don't listen to that. It's bullshit. "Have fun" in an honorable and respecting way. Respect your teachers. Treat all your classmates equally and fairly. Obey the covenant. Respect the campus. Do your homework and projects thoughly. Don't spread rumors. Listen to the chapel speakers. Represent Christian values wherever you go and in whatever you do. Grow up and mature. This is will allow you to have a good last year experience with your friends, classmates, and teachers. If "having fun" means disrespecting students, teachers, property, or your body, then don't have fun.

I enjoyed service day because I got something out of it that can't be seen on earth, but only in heaven. I did a job that is time-consuming and not always wanting to be done by someone. It's one less thing they had to do. It's good to know that is possible for high schoolers to something that can build up the human, and not put them down. Maybe we should spend more time looking after other people's needs, instead of our social wants.


P.S. On the senate survey, I voted against candy canes and carnations!