Contributed by Gabriela von Euw
For this month of April, the big service project day was Earth Day. Thinking about Earth Day and the beautiful creation, we went out to clean up the community as CARP and young adults from Service for Peace Bay Area along with some participants from Generation Peace Academy (GPA).
Julia shared with us a quote from CARP Founder Rev. Sun Myung Moon: “God created the incomparable variety of nature, the sunrise, oceans, deserts, and mountains, all with their distinct beauty, for our mutual delight and satisfaction… God’s hands have even touched every small blade of grass that grows in the field. All creatures we see contain God’s deep heart and tell the story of God’s deep love.”
She then expressed how we should clean up God’s beautiful creation, giving the earth a chance to breathe as we clean up the trash. And so we went out with the attitude that we are giving back to mother earth and showing our appreciation to nature and creation by being out here to serve.
Councilman Noel Gallo reminded us that we each have a place in this world and that we didn’t choose to be born but we were chosen. That we are out here doing something of utmost importance which we see not many people coming out to do. He shared how inspired he is with Service for Peace and grateful for many young adults coming out.
We went out picking up 14+ bags, having time to reflect on what we are doing as well as having conversations with one another. People honked as they passed by, appreciating and noticing that we are out here serving the community. The impact we make is greater than the trash we are picking up. It can inspire those who drive by to want to do the same and serve the people around them.
Service project reflections:
Serving and cleaning up Oakland was really eye opening to me. It’s easy to judge the people of the city for letting it get as dirty as it was. This project helped me realize that judging others won’t make change, but by going out, serving and having the right attitude towards the people I can set the example and standard for the community. - Sunhwa Schlaepfer
Wow I really enjoyed serving the Oakland community today. It was a beautiful time for people who want to give and serve to come together and do just that, cleaning up the streets that we don’t live on, simply to just give and create a positive impact on society however small it is. Truly grateful for CARP organizing this!! - Piero Balbin
I would like to share a short reflection. I think this service project was a great way to practice what Dr. Yong has been talking about which was the idea that we need to have a parental heart in the body of a servant. I know cleaning up the city won't change the city miraculously, but it's a way to strengthen our own original mind as well as to practice serving those around us unconditionally. - Seokjun Ha
Participating in the Oakland Community Clean-up was refreshing and reflective. Picking up trash off the street made me realize the change a whole community coming together could make in just a couple of hours! Giving back to the community and nature is a small step everyone can take in creating a God centered world. - Sean Warden
I’m really grateful for the opportunity to go out and serve the community of Oakland! It’s sad that we as a collective (humankind) often don’t take care of God’s creation, but I think it’s nice that we could do it together because I think many people just don’t have enough will to begin by themselves. I was able to reflect a lot during that time about how this time could symbolically represent witnessing or even understanding more that everyone has this deep inner desire to go out and serve because that’s how we can find the most joy. Some people drove by showing some appreciation for our efforts and I hope that was a way to support others in growing a heart to want to serve their community. - Nayumi
Going back to Uncle Markus’ guidance, I was reflecting how I can make God the center of picking up trash. I related to how at home, I enjoy cleaning around because it brings peace to my mind, and bothers me when I know things are laying around. I wanted to bring comfort to God by doing the same. However without even crossing the street my bag was nearly full. I also found a couple used needles around, which I assumed was for drug abuse. It helped understand more about what the area and the people are like. I reflected later on that picking up trash resolves only a thin layer to the issue. We need to educate people about ownership and responsibility, as well as the values of maintaining a clean environment. - Chris Baac
See more from CARP Bay Area on their Facebook page. Share your story to jennifer@carplife.org.