Personal Narrative: My Journey At Micah 6: 8 Camp

The purpose of life is “to serve, not to be served.” These words epitomize the lessons and experiences I encountered throughout my journey at the Micah 6:8 Camp. Every summer since 2012, I have spent one week at a camp in Milwaukee where volunteers feed the homeless and renovate low-income apartment complexes. My parish coordinates the Micah 6:8 Camp to teach children the value of building new relationships and the value of working cooperatively as a team. My experiences at Micah 6:8 Camp had a profound effect on my personal development. Volunteering in Milwaukee provided me with the opportunity to meet many new people. I connected with different tenants living in the low-income apartment complex; two in particular stood out to me, Rosie and Henry. Rosie is a deaf woman who has a zest for life. Because she knew me as the artist, every time she saw me, she painted in the air. She loved watching our projects unfold. Henry, a resident and local artist, watched me paint each year I visited. He eagerly showed me pictures of his art pieces and offered advice to enhance my own creations. As the years passed I learned more and more about Henry, including his love for his grand baby, his wonderful musical talent, and challenges he faced in life. These interactions …show more content…
The connections created with Henry and Rosie reinforced in me the value of listening and communicating. I arrived to the camp without many personal connections and left the experience with many new friends. The mural project provided me with the opportunity to teach volunteers of various artistic abilities, which in turn taught me how to handle difficult situations and how to problem solve. These experiences helped make me a better person and more prepared for similar events in my future. Volunteering paves a two way street to happiness. I improved the lives of the tenants in the Capuchin Apartments, but they helped me even