Day 3
Panera Bread might just be a new breakfast favorite for this A.C. group. Shortly after bagel breath and coffee buzzes we headed, via L-train, to the Peace Community Center in Chicago to embrace our first experiences with students ages K-12 from the Englewood community. I'm not sure if it was butterflies from anticipation or the authentic Indian food we indulged right before arrival, but our group was certainly giddy to be there. A few words to describe our initial feelings at the Center: chaotic, nervous, hectic, anxious, gassy (no, for real), excited, and just plain new. But by the time the sun no longer lit the street corners of this impoverished, crime-struck neighborhood, every group member had been moved by our time spent with the children. Whether it was the radiance we saw in the children's eyes when hanging on us, the prayers offered up by children who thanked God for blessing them with gifts more abundant than others they know, or the gracious hugs we received when stepping out, each and every one of us was rocked by this indescribable experience. And this is only beginning.
Posted: Fri, March 3rd, 2006 at 9:19PM
