AkeyaCarterBozman

Akeya Carter-Bozman

Reflection Day 5

March 11, 2009

Sadly, today was our last day of service here in Nashville performing service. My day began with tutoring second level math (Algebra 1 and 2, Geometry and Trigonometry). I had a class of five wonderful selfless men with hearts so meek and kind. While the men worked on their GED study guides we discussed their dreams and goals upon graduating from the missions program. One man told us of his fifteen year addiction and his struggle to stay clean and sober. He told us how God and the directors of the mission stepped in helping him grow in life to become the man he is today. All week long I flocked to a man named Frank, when we met he said that he loved crack more than he loved his children and family at one time. Something inside me just couldn’t stop thinking of what he said.

Today as we discussed everything under the sun from religion to the economy that Frank was is some way like my biological father, because he too loved crack more than he loved being around for me. As Frank told me about his daughter Diamond who is my age, my expression turned from interest and concern to anger and hurt. I have never even told my mother about my feelings for my father, but here his man is in front of me that I barley knew and I’m opening up to him. Frank prayed that God would help me find peace of mind in my anger and that one day I would be able to forgive my father. He hugged me and thanked me for listening and I thanked helping me understand from an addicted father’s perspective.

I cried as I left the mission, not because I felt sorry for the men who lived their as I did on my first day there, but because they had given so much of themselves to me and the other volunteers. The men at the mission made a special dinner for us at the end of our day to thank us for all of our help throughout the week. The food was amazing but the friendships we made are priceless. As far as meeting Frank I am grateful for everything learned from them both about myself and them.