Act Of Kindness Paper

Service is defined as giving up your personal time to help those who are struggling and in need. For this extra credit assignment we were asked to do an act of service that involves interacting with people, and making connections with them. For my act of kindness I chose to do something with my service project crew that involves serving families food, providing shelter for them, and bonding with them afterwards. I participated in this with my Appalachian Service Project crew where we are able to bond with each other, and help those in need. This experience changed my outlook on how I view our society today, and it gave me a closer relationship with God.
Before I talk about how the service project shifted my outlook, I will first give some background information on it. This act of kindness involves a group of people going to a church that has a vast floor space where families are allowed to sleep. Then groups of people set up mats, blankets, and pillows to make the ground more comfortable for the families to sleep on.

Then we proceed to the kitchen where we start heating up the food, while some of the younger students here set the table. As the families walk in we have a greeting section to welcome the families in towards the tables. Before they go to the tables, they drop off a bag or blanket to secure their floor mats from others. When everyone is seated we bless the meal because everyone there is a catholic or is converting to be one. Then the helpers pass pre-made plates out to the families, and while we are doing this we bond with the community. After dinner there is a clean up, which most of the older women do while the younger students play with the children. After everything is done the helpers communicate with everyone, and have dessert with each other. I had an amazing time there helping out, and I loved meeting the families and other people in the community.
After doing this I realized how I lucky I am that I have a house that I am able to sleep in every night, and three meals every day. The people I met here were struggling to get back on their feet from losing a job or house. I take a sturdy house over my head for granted because I never thought that it would not be there. I also take for granted the ability to go to a fine school like Fenwick High School too, while some are not even provided with a grade school education. Although it is not only me who take these things for granted because so many students at Fenwick are lucky enough to have every necessity in life, and some things things that are not even needed. I hope that students will see that some people in this world are not as lucky as us, and they hope to make a difference in their ways of life.
Not only did this act of kindness change my outlook on life, but it also helped me form a better relationship with God. It states in Romans 12:1, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” This bible verse talks about how God loves the way his sons and daughters go out and protects one another, and tries to help any of those that are in need. While doing this act I remembered what my grade school religion teacher told my class one day. She said that God loves us when we dedicate ourselves to him in prayer, but he also loves us when we protect our fellow brothers and sisters. I knew that I was doing a good thing during this process, and I thought that God would be proud of everyone who participated in it.
Not only did I feel a closer bond with God, but I also formed a better relationship with his son. In Acts 20:35 it states, “In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” This bible verse talks about the many ways Jesus Christ helped those in need by performing miracles on them, or even speaking to them. I know that what my group did was not as amazing as what Jesus performed, but we followed his teachings. Throughout this act I formed a closer bond with both Jesus and God, and I believe I did this by listening to their message. Jesus’ message is to spread the word of God, and care for our brothers and sisters. I completed a part of the second claim of Jesus’ message, and some of the first claim by praying with the families that were present.
Doing this act of kindness makes me want to participate in more service projects that can help our community.

Right now I participate in the Appalachian Service Project, and my first year was this past summer. It is an organization where a church sends down a group of adults and teenagers to help repair houses near the Appalachian Mountains. Over the summer it was my first time down there, and it was remarkable. I learned many new things about construction, and the way of life down there. In some areas of Kentucky, Virginia, and West Virginia they are poverty-stricken. It was very emotional to see how much they struggle, and some houses did not even have a roof to protect themselves from rain. I had a wonderful time down there, and made many new friends down there. I am thrilled to be part of it again this year, and I cannot wait for summer. I am also interested in other service projects, but right now the Appalachian Service Project is my

favorite.
Taking part in this act helped me by giving me a new look on our society, and helped me form a closer relationship with God and Jesus. I look forward to complete in another service project like this, and I hope that all of those who were there are living a happy life.