Monica Parodi's BOBS reflection Journal....

HSCL BOBS Blog

My time at Breakfast on Beech Street has been a great ride. It has had both ups and
downs to say the least, but I have learned so much about people and have grown as an individual.
On my first day I realized that homeless people are not necessarily people who do not have a
roof every night. At BOBS, some of the people who we provide breakfast for do have a house,
but they have been through and are going through so much that it is hard for them to go by every
day and meet their daily necessities like food. Many of course wonder the streets every night.

Every week I got to see some familiar faces and catch up with them a little. I saw new
faces and missed some who were not there. Every time I go I became more aware of how blessed
I am and how thankful I should be of all I have been given. One day, the day felt different
though. I already knew what to expect and was thinking about having to get ready to go to class.
I wish I would have been more focused on investing my time with them there but my mind was
somewhere else. I did not get to talk to them very much except when I served. I am looking
forward to this week and have promised myself I will give my time there fully

I am not sure what my impact on them has been. I wonder if I even have one on them, but
I trust the Lord is using me. I wish I had such a selfless heart for people, and have been working
on it this semester. I want to invest more on other people’s lives. I want to worry less about
passing matters and more on what truly matters which to me includes investing my life in other
people and be a Christian servant and leader. I cannot wait for Wednesday!

Volunteering is a powerful thing. It is so rewarding when you are able to give yourself to
the improvement of others. The greatest thing about volunteering is that the smallest actions
make the biggest differences. Breakfast on Beech Street provides an opportunity for people to
engage to those often thought of untouchable, the homeless. Homeless people struggle everyday
from being pushed from society.

I completely support and encourage anyone who is thinking about volunteering at
BOBS. It gives you an opportunity to engage and form relationships with people of integrity who
have had a rough time figuring financial and relational situations out, but who have the courage
to not give up and keep striving for a better life. I met some of the most genuine people at BOBS.
These people have nothing to offer but themselves and that is more than enough. They have
learned the hard way but they are one of the few people in the world who understand what truly
matters in life. Life is not about possessions, it’s about building relationships through Christ.