A Fond Memory From The South Bronx

One January afternoon working in South Bronx PS 179, I met a jolly little boy in the crowded lunchroom. His name was Jose and he was in the fifth grade. As I was a college aged white kid, Jose inherently knew I was with Camp Shiloh, a summer camp that gives kids & teens of NYC the chance to get out of the big city, experience the countryside, and most importantly, learn about God.

I've really enjoyed my experiences working with students in the South Bronx, but in the back of my mind I always wondered how much of an impact our presence in public school 179 was making. Jose, who I discovered is a regular at camp Shiloh, would gladly resolve my pondering.

After the introductory basics (name/grade/thoughts on the Yankees), I posed a question to Jose. His answer will forever warm my heart. I asked him "So, Jose, what's your favorite thing about Shiloh?" Without a moment of hesitation, he looked me in the eye and said, "I just really like getting to learn about God." Expecting the answer to revolve around playing games, picking on lifeguards, or sleeping in cabins, I was nearly rendered speechless (And anyone who has spent any amount of time around me will attest that speechless is seldom a fitting description). After taking a moment to collect myself, I looked at Jose and said in the most articulate way possible, "Dude. That is the coolest thing I have ever heard."As soon as I got these words out, the lunch lady called for Jose's class and he joined the heard of his fellow fifth graders as they exited the lunchroom. All I could do was smile as my new little hispanic friend skedaddled out of sight. My heart was warmed.

Reflecting on this experience, I've really come to see the beauty of my annual winter New York City mission trip. Even though the city may present a level of arctic chill that my southern body can barely tolerate, knowing that our efforts are really changing lives in the Bronx keeps me warm inside. And in the end, even if Jose were the only child we reached, it would still all be worth the while.