JenniferParsons

Jennifer Parsons

Reflection #4

Alternative Spring Break

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Today we got to go to a new place. We went to Music City Mission. It was ran by the people of the Church right beside of it. It was a lot cleaner and more of the norm and comfortable than the rest.

It was different in that it did not allow the homeless to stay there over night, but they provided items that are greatly needed by the homeless and less fortunate. For example, they give away clothes, but also have a limit because there is more than the one or so families that happen to come in that day who are in need of similar items. I believe that is a good thing to do because you do not want people to take more than necessary when there are others who are in dire need of those items.

When choosing what to keep and what not to, they are generous in what they give. They keep a small percentage of what is donated to them and they themselves donate the rest to other similar programs. That way, the items are not wasted and can be distributed to those to need it and do not come to their facility.

It was rewarding to actually see woman and children, rather than just the man. Do not take that the wrong way. I am not saying that it is nice to see woman and children in that state of need, but so far, we have only encountered men who need this assistance and I wanted to see the woman and children who have to face these hardships, too. It was different to see them and it is unexplainable.

Something that I keep thinking about that happened today has to do with a baby. As we were moving things from upstairs to the Church basement, I could hear a child crying. Finally, I saw that there was a baby in her car seat that had been left in the explorer all alone. After noticing, I walked inside to look for the child’s parent. I saw her mother standing there. She was showing off her dog and I realized that she had been there for a very long time. With the temperature being so warm, I felt the need to tell someone about the little girl left outside. A girl with me walked inside and told Brother Bob about the child and he went to make sure she was going to check on her child. I found that very wrong of the mother to do. That is something I will not forget. It really made me angry and aggravated me that she was paying so much attention to her dog and neglected her child. The longer she bragged about her dog and ignored her child, the more angry and aggravated I became.