A Surprising Start

This is my first mission trip and after less than three days of service I have been pushed far beyond my comfort zone. On Monday morning, our first day in Denver, my group (group 4) drove into the city and stopped in the area that is the pedestrian mall. Our CSM hostess dropped us off in front of a Walgreen’s, split us up into to groups, gave each group $8, and told us to buy some items and hand them out to homeless people on the streets. I have never done anything like this in my life and when our hostess told us she wasn’t coming with us I experienced a minor panic attack. The idea of just going up to people on the streets terrified me, but the experience was well worth it. I met many people; some were grateful and eagerly told us their life story while others wouldn’t even take a water bottle. One man, however, left me feeling inspired. As we walked down the stone street looking for someone to help, Madison Heath and I heard a man playing the piano and immediately recognized it as “A Thousand Miles”. I approached the man playing the piano and put a water bottle next to his bench. His face lit up with gratitude and soon our whole group was gathered around our new friend Derek listening to him talk and play the piano. The amount of happiness that seemed to be streaming out of him despite his situation amazed me. The fact that he could seem that pleased with his life actually made me feel ashamed about how I have complained about some of the smallest little things in my life. His positive attitude was infectious though, and as I walked away I felt like I really was making a difference in these lives. Because of this man I met in the morning of my first day, despite any uncomfortable situations I have kept my mind open and made the best of it.

- Allison Heredia