When we arrived at Glades Day School, a local school that became our home over the course of seven days, everyone poured out of the hot, oven-like school buses to be greeted by unbearable humidity and bothersome mosquitos. But when the actual work began, our testing and menial labor was worth the price.
During my time working at Osceola Park, a small, half acre of grass in the middle of a humble neighborhood, I met a young girl: Cherish. Cherish was a six year old girl who lived with her single-mother in a small shack that could barely be considered livable.
Cherish and I grew very close during our week together. We played in a bounce house, colored pictures and masks, and spent every second of the time we had together. Cherish gave her young heart to Christ on a Thursday through the love of our church and our volunteers. That experience will remain in my heart forever, and I will never forget that fun, kind-hearted, and feisty little girl.