Just Playing with Kids

By Kara Struble, Junior at St. Matthias'

I recently went with the EYC on a mission trip to Harrisburg, PA. This was my first mission trip and I was the only one from my church. I had no idea what to expect. 

We were divided into small groups to go out into the community at different work sites. My day group worked at a Day Camp held in a church in a community called Allison Hill. During the week with the kids, we played lots of dodgeball, played lots of games in the game room, and spent lots of time in the park. I really enjoyed spending time with the kids and getting to know them. 

A favorite day is when I was able to spend some time with a little girl who had been in trouble. She asked me to help her make a puppet and play chutes and ladders. We spent a couple of hours together talking and playing until other kids joined in. It really seemed to turn her day around and I felt happy to make her feel better. Another special moment happened when our group brought instruments to the Day Camp. It was like bringing Camp Mikell Morning Singing into the Allison Hill Community. At first the kids looked at us like we were crazy as we were singing "Pharaoh Pharaoh", but the more we sang, the more they joined in. By the time we got to "Fireworks", everyone was singing and dancing. It was awesome!! Father Tripp even told us later that night that he heard two of the kids singing "Thuma Mina" as he was walking back to the van. 

Mr. Bill, the man in charge of the Day Camp, told us when we first arrived that even though Allison Hill is a very poor community, they are rich with the love and life of the community. I found this to be true through my interactions with the kids and I'm thankful that I had the chance to get to know them over the week.