During our trip to Chicago we learned many virtues. Each person we met and helped taught us something we could take home and practice for the rest of our lives. Among the foremost of these virtues is patience, because we got to learn it while both working and not working. What many people don't think about is that we endured two hour train and bus rides each day to get to our assignments across the city. On Thursday, my group walked a total of eleven miles, passing multiple bus stops along the way. However we were not regretful, as this gave us time to talk and grow closer. Having to be patient also gave us time to go out of our comfort zone. We would sit next to people we hadn't seen before and begin talking to them. Through these conversations we picked up even more virtues and ways to help the community.
However, other than while riding public transportation, there was rarely a dull moment in the trip. Between working and making friends at the church, there was always something to do or say or think about. Even when we were at the church, they kept us fairly busy. There was always meal setup, cleanup, and common jobs like taking out the trash that needed to be done, and those fell on the kids.
During any assignments with a goal, the chaperones made sure we didn't stop or slow down too much, which is why I would like to thank them. Their encouragement and uplifting words kept us focused on what we were there for. And by working more, we learned more than any of us thought we would, regardless of our original expectations for the trip.
-Jake
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