Dallas Day 4!

Today was officially our last full day in Dallas and I think I can speak for everyone when I say we willl definitely miss all this great city has to offer!  We did our usual volunteering at Bryan's House with groups rotating between classrooms and administrative details before all coming together to work on our Friday puppet show.  Certain students also had the chance to work with another organization today (AIDS Interfaith Network) where they served breakfast and lunch to those who were without homes and HIV+.  At our evening reflection, we focused a lot on the Public Affairs Mission of Missouri State University and how we can rise to meet the challenges it puts forth.  As students, we can't just sit back and wait for someone else to make the change.  Instead, it is up to us to take on the role of student leaders and encourage our peers to actively get involved in their community.

Here are some final thoughts from our group members:

Elizabeth Sivill:
As the trip is winding down,  the impact of this trip on my life is growing. Today, I worked on some administrative issues and then we practiced the performance for tomorrow. I am really excited to perform for the kids tomorrow, and I hope we make at least one child smile if they are having a rough day. I am so blessed to be on this trip. It's a privilege to be part of this organization and to be a Bear!!

Brandon Greathouse:
It's our last night here in Dallas, and really the only way to possibly sum this all up is "life changing".
Today some of us got the chance to play with the kids as a group, and it was the most fun I have had down here so far. One child's smile in particular changed everything for me. To see so much happiness and hope on the face of a child who could be very sick was motivational, inspriational and an absolute joy to be part of. Also I just want to say that this trip was one in a million. I was so blessed to be a part of the perfect team for this Dallas mission and that in the end there was no where else in the world that I would rather be. Each and everyone of the kids, Bryan's house workers, and trip members were the best that I could have possibly spent my spring break with. These memories will forever be with me.

Katie Jones:
Not to be cliche, but Brandon is right. This trip is one I won't be forgetting. We talked about what it means to serve, and all I can think about is how these people of Dallas have served me in ways that I could have never served them. They have opened my eyes to issues I wasn't very aware of, and I have loved each moment of this trip. Going to AIN/DAIRE today and serving food to some of the HIV/AIDS homeless population was such a humbling experience. The women, Kathy and Dede, were some of the most enthusiastic people I've met who truly love what they do. The clients that they work with are so happy to be there, and they are some of the nicest people I met in Dallas. Kathy, Dede, and their clients really inspired me to find a job where I could be that enthusiastic to jump out of bed and go to work. At Bryan's House I loved the moments where I was with the children. Being with one of the girls, and just giving her the attention she craved was an awesome experience. When I saw her with her big grin, it made me realize why I was here, and I definitely want to be able to be that attentive and caring outlet for other children when I go back to Springfield. This trip has been amazing.

Justina Snodgrass:
Wow....where to begin?! This trip has been a once-in-a-lifetime trip filled with life changing experiences, events, and smiles. Working at Bryan's House has been a joy-filled experience. The smiles that the children have shared with us, are worth more than any description could ever put a price tag on. I am sad that we have to leave tomorrow, but I will continue to cherish these kids throughout the rest of my life. Dancing like a crazy person with one girl in particular will be a moment that will never be forgotten. I cannot begin to express the joy that filled her face. This trip has put a drive on my heart to more faithfully serve the Springfield community; more walking the walk and talking the talk, instead of only one or the other. There is no reason not to after having experienced something as amazing as this trip and the people I have shared this experience with. Again, there is no way to perfectly summarize what we did during this week, but the passion behind every word and sentence that describes just a part of what we did will be a testimony as to how impactful this was on not only my life, but the lives of everyone else. I can't wait to do something like this again. This past week has been great.

Tess Hoehn:
Tonight is our last night in Dallas. Reflecting on the fun experiences and people we met clarified I made the right decision to come on the trip. Today at Bryan's House I was able to play with a group of children. This was one of my favorite moments of the trip because the expressions on their faces said everything. From giving the children piggy back rides to racing them with trucks, I was able to see the impact we are making on the children. Overall, this experience has been life changing, because I was able to see that although it may not seem like we are impacting the entire HIV and Aids community we are definitely making a huge impact on every childs life that we interact with. This trip has taught me so much about myself, community service, HIV/AIDS, and children. I have never been so confident in any other decisions I have made and I am so glad to be representing Missouri State at the same time.

Francis Ahrens:
What a trip! It has been such an amazing experience being able to work with the kids and helping Bryan's House administratively. Instead of reflecting on what I did today, I'm just going to reflect on my overall thoughts. I know I made a difference, but these kids made an even bigger difference in my life. They have given me such a different outlook on life. When working with them, I never realized that they had a special need. Rather, I looked at them as individuals who were free-spirited, carefree, and young. Thanks to them, I look at life as an opportunity to always do more, be a better person, and always be on the lookout for ways to serve the community. Ending words: BEST EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE! :)

Brett McKnight (Trip Advisor):
Definitely this trip has made a lasting impression on my life, along with those students I traveled with, many whom I would now call friends.  Missouri State University has "Follow Your Passion, Find Your Place" everywhere...I think I finally can truly say that I have found my place, among college students who are actively engaged and committed to creating positive change.  My passion?  Other than these students, my passion is for serving others in any capacity.  This trip has truly made me realize my passion, my place, and above all, my purpose.  My committment?  To put others first and myself second. PEACE!

Sara Woodman
I had an awesome day, and the whole trip has been a wonderful experience. Like everyone else on this trip, I feel blessed to have been a part of this outreach and to have interacted with the wonderful kids and staff at Bryan's House. This trip has highlighted the importance of being involved and the difference that can be made when everyone works together. As the saying goes, "individually we are just a drop, but together we are an ocean." I am privileged to be a drop in the ocean of making a difference. I love the impact we have made at Bryan's House in just one week and am excited to see what we can do as we continue to serve back in Springfield. This is definitely an experience I look forward to repeating in the future.

Alex Johnson (Trip Advisor)
This trip to Dallas has been filled with life-changing experiences for me, and hopefully for the students who volunteered their time and abilities.  Because of this trip, I have gained a whole new perspective on the importance of service.  Each second to these children at Bryan's House counts, and we are blessed to have shared hours in their company.  Today, I ran around the playground with a 3-year-old self-proclaimed Power Ranger.  We had a blast going down the slide and "fighting crime." It hit me then that these children, no matter their condition, are simply being kids -- happy as ever.  Hopefully, our impact on Bryan's House can measure up to the impact its mission, goals, and kids have had on us.  What now? We will come back to Springfield, MO as inspired leaders dedicated to making a difference.

Alex King
Spring break can be a great time to rest your mind from academics; I could not be more content with my decision to spend my week off of school in Dallas working with an organization benefiting kids. Bringing a smile to someone else's face is a constant effort of mine and to see genuine happiness in these kids that I am hanging out with is an awesome feeling. All the work done this week benefited Bryan's House and it feels great knowing that we got a lot of stuff done for them and were able to be a part of these kids' lives. I am definitely going to be doing this again and will be trying to get other people to experience service.

Spencer Trower:
It has been a privilege to go on this trip to serve an excellent organization with a great group of people!

Aubrey Snedeker (Trip Leader):
At the Caire Center/AIN Katie, Brett, and I served breakfast and lunch to the homeless HIV postive individuals. It was such a wonderful experience and I would go back in a heart beat to work with the organization again. This experience made me realize what kind of organization I want to do service work back in Springfield. I am so excited to get back and tell all what I have encountered, learned, and start serving in similar organizations.


It has truly been an honor to work with this incredible group of students!  I couldn't have asked for a more inspiring and enouraging group of students!  I am blown away by their dedication to the cause and their willingness to spend their spring break serving others.  I look forward to seeing all the work they will achieve during their time at Missouri State University and beyond!  Watch out world, big things are coming!
   -Kelly Mazzoni (Trip Leader)