Day 7: Cia

Wednesday, the 22nd was our last day of service on our trip. We started the day by rushing to clean up and pack up the apartment we were staying at. By the time we were on the road, we were late for our lunch shift at the dinning hall. Instead, we were asked to work at the Union Rescue Mission's warehouse, sorting donations such as clothes, shoes, and other (sometimes random) items into bins. After our shift there was done, we drove to Disneyland. We settled into our hotel and had dinner at a Mexican place in downtown Disney. Then, we went back to the hotel and watched the fireworks from the deck. When that was done, we had a final reflection and everyone cried their eyes out. We got to bed at about 1:30 am.
It was an interesting day. All the other service times, we had worked in the kitchen. We made and served food, worked directly in the neighborhood that we were serving, and saw the people we were trying to help. This time, we were both more and less disconnected from them. We didn't see them, but we saw the many items being donated. We saw what they'd be wearing and what they'd use. It also felt as though we got to know the kind of people who gave too. The items varied, but I noticed that the things that were there were often either very nice and expensive looking, barely worn, or they were ratty, stained, and old. Women seemed to give more than men (at least, I sorted more women's clothes). Also, there were a truly enormous amount of Bibles donated…
Most of the stuff donated was usable, but a lot of it wasn't. One of the instructions we were given was to think of whether we'd wear something, and sort by that. A donation isn't a trash bin that makes you feel better, and it seems people forget that. After the work, we went to Disneyland. We ate a nice meal, stayed at a nice place, and saw a truly beautiful fireworks display. After a week of service, it really made me feel how lucky I was, how blessed.
At the final reflection we went around in a circle and said our favorite things about each other. It was sweet and had us all in tears, and again I was struck by how lucky I was to be given an opportunity to be on this trip, with such amazing people. Some I'd never met before, but this trip has made us all great friends, and I'm proud I was a part of it.