United Campus Ministry “Mission Possible”

Sharon Comini works with the United Campus Ministry.  In March, the group spent several days on a mission trip to Pittsburgh.  This is her report.

Our mission trip to Pittsburgh was a very worthwhile experience for everyone who attended. It was four days of service, personal growth and reflection. We worked in a number of different areas.

On Sunday, our first assignment was to work at WQED TV and take pledges for their telethon. Being in the studio where Mr. Roger’s neighborhood was taped and seeing the props from it brought back many memories as a child. Monday’s work was at the Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank. It was an enormous facility that provided food for thousands of people in the Pittsburgh area. We sorted, packed, and shipped over a hundred boxes of food.

On Tuesday, we worked at the East End Cooperative Ministry at East Liberty Presbyterian Church. We worked preparing and delivering meals for Meals on Wheels. What an enormous amount of work that goes into Meals on Wheels everyday. Volunteers come every day to help with that. Mary, one of the volunteers came and helped every Tuesday. She was amazing. She was also 86 years old.

Our biggest challenge on the trip came on Tuesday evening when we were asked not to serve the homeless, but to eat with them and worship with them. The entire group was out of their comfort zone. We discussed the experience with the director of Light of Life Mission afterward, and the students weren’t the only ones who grew out of that experience. The adults gained a lot from it as well.

Your servant in Christ,

Sharon Comini