When our buses arrived in Camden, I was stunned by what I saw.
I joined 15 classmates from St. Paul VI Catholic High School in Chantilly on a Nov. 13-16 mission trip to Camden, N.J., just across the river from downtown Philadelphia. Camden is a community struggling with some of the highest drug and crime rates in America and could use some help. I had never witnessed so many people living on the streets under unfortunate conditions. All I could think to myself was, how do people live like this? Coming from a community with so many resources, I had never known what so many people have to endure daily. As the trip unfolded, I began to realize this would be an eye-opening experience.
We stayed as a group in the DeSales Service Works house. The first thing we did was turn in our phones. Visiting a new community with students with whom I was not particularly close seemed uncomfortable at first. Taking phones out of the situation forced us to branch out and get to know everyone. Many in today’s society are often consumed by their phones. Living without mine allowed me to gather every aspect of what was going on and live in the moment. As my classmate Rose Skees said, “I was taken away from my normal everyday life, and because of that, I was able to see God’s work in a whole new way.”
A major focus during this mission was helping the homeless. One day, we visited a homeless shelter and handed out hot dogs, coffee, pastries, candy, and clothing. The next day, we walked the streets and offered the same to those living outside. One surprising observation that I still do not understand was how much the homeless craved sugar. Almost every single person asked for candy and around four scoops of sugar in their coffee. The interactions while serving allowed us to connect with hundreds of people and witness their daily life firsthand. Seeing so many people cold and hungry made me reflect deeply on my own life. I realized how often I take everyday necessities for granted. It helped me appreciate the things I have and empathize more with these individuals.
We walked over the Ben Franklin Bridge into Philadelphia on our way to play with the children at the local school. The joy that comes from playing with children is incomparable and I was able to see God so clearly through each of them. A 5-year-old boy taught me how to care for others no matter who they are. His happiness when helping others showed me that true joy comes through love and service. Despite their conditions, these children radiated hope. Hope is a reminder that even in the darkest circumstances, God’s light shines brightest through them.
When I arrived in Camden, I thought I was going to be changing lives, but I never thought that the people I met would be changing mine.
Every evening, we attended Alcoholics Anonymous meetings at a place called the Last Stop. The Last Stop is a warm and friendly meeting place where all individuals seek community, healing, and God’s presence as they work toward recovery. For many of us, this was the most impactful part of the trip.
“The AA meeting was by far the best part of our Camden trip, giving us the ability to understand the environment and situations each member faces,” said classmate Nhi Le “It allowed us to look past the stereotypical ‘addict’ label and truly see them as human beings.”.
A powerful statement from the owner, Eddie, that struck me was, “You can take the alcohol out of the alcoholic, but there is still an ick, until you find God.” This taught me that sobriety is only the first step, but true healing requires spiritual transformation.
During this trip, I stepped far outside my comfort zone. My friends and I had the opportunity to lead the rosary and say the readings at Mass. Though it was intimidating at first, it allowed me to deepen my faith and reflect on what it means to serve others. Nick Zaso, director of campus ministry at PVI, said: “It was a blessing to witness these generous students serving the body of Christ, living in joyful communion with one another, and connecting their experience to the sacramental life of the church.”
This mission trip taught me more than I could have ever imagined. It showed me the struggles so many people face daily and reminded me how much I have to be grateful for. Most importantly, I learned that helping others transformed me more than it transformed them.
