East Villagers Essay Contest - Promt #1

Submitted by Amanda A. DeGirolano

 

                                   

 

            Through-out high school I have participated in many community service activities that have influenced my life and have made me into a better person. Perhaps, the greatest of these service opportunities was my first experience helping in my community at the

First Baptist Church of Lewes, soccer camp. It was here where I discovered a love for the people of my community. Children that would not usually come to a church activity flocked to this event with enthusiasm. Being a coach for some of these children required great effort and patience, but in the end an abundance of concern and love for these young people made the experience valuable.

            Preparations for a soccer camp take much time and hard work. Before the kids step onto the field, hours of planning and thought goes into setting up. Drills are designed, games are created, snacks are made, and skits and stories are rehearsed. Without the knowledge of how a day camp was run, I believe that I would have been completely ignorant to the process and would have taken it for granted. Not only were hours of physical arrangements applied, but weeks in advance groups of teens would gather and pray about the soccer camp. Praying was the most important of all the preparation work; yes, practicing drills and buying equipment was important, but without the help of a sovereign God, we would have not been as productive. In these prayer groups teenagers would ask for: an abundance of children, safety on the field, and young people that would have open minds to the gospel. Praying for my group of kids before

teams were even created was exciting, and a love for these children was planted in me before I even met them.

            Not only did the soccer camp require much effort, but it also required a patient attitude toward these children. Running, screaming, laughing, talking – getting the children to pay attention is a difficulty. I would try talk over them; I would yell and whistle, but nothing seemed to get their attention. Then I tried to think why my strategy was not working, I realized that I was not showing the right kind of attitude toward them.

Again, I needed to show love toward these young people and I needed to prove that I cared about them. One way of doing this was just talking to them and finding out what that particular child liked or disliked; during the drills I couldn’t just point out a child’s inadequacies, but I needed to highlight his strong points; once the kids realized that I loved them and that what we were doing was fun, I didn’t have as many problems with them not paying attention. Around this time in the soccer camp, I realized that the sport is not what is important, but what was significant was the relationships formed with the children.

            Next, as bonds were made with these young people, a concern for their well being came into focus. I would constantly count my group to make sure everyone was present, and when a child would skip a day of camp I would tell them how much the team missed them. Thoughts such as these would cross my mind: do they have sun screen on, did this child eat breakfast, or did this child get enough water? Not only was I apprehensive about their bodily well-being, but I would be worried about their spiritual security as well. The children needed to know that God loved them so much that He gave His only son to die on the cross for their sins. Some children accepted Christ as their savior, and all of them were able to hear the gospel which was such a blessing. Imbedding the fact that Jesus loved and cared for these children was important; because some of these young people had not come from loving homes, they needed to know that somebody cared about them.

            Before the soccer camp came to a close and before the children would go back to their normal lives, the coaches of each team would give an invitation to come to church, or come to a children’s activity on Wednesday’s during the school year, and of course we would invite them back next year for another soccer camp. Some of these children would start coming to the church, and later they would even begin volunteering at the camp as well. A heart of service and dedication to a community is contagious, and when a group of people get together to make a neighborhood a better place, great things happens. Not only are these new volunteers teaching children how to play soccer, but they are caring and loving the next generation and making our community a finer place.

            This volunteering experience not only gave me something to do during the summer, but it also presented me with a new love for my community. Helping others gave me a chance to get my mind off myself. Through the soccer camp I realized how much effort goes into the organization of a camp, and how important it is to have a group of people striving for the same goal. As I look back on what that group of people did for the community, I realize how blessed I was to be apart of such a dedicated group. Because of that body of people, the soccer camp continues to grow larger and larger as the years progress; the group collaborating on this project continues to grow stronger as well.

            Not only would I volunteer at the soccer camp, but I would also find other ways to serve in my church. The love for my community would grow as I began giving my time for the benefit of my local library. These prospects were only available to me because I had previously taken the initiative in getting to know my community better and realizing what I was able to give back to society. Every great opportunity or experience I have known has come from giving my time for the benefit of others. My community has done far more for me than that I have done for it, and I will continue to volunteer – showing love and care for this generation and the next.