Impacted through Reach Global Crisis Response Ministry by Emma

Impacted through Reach Global Crisis Response Ministry by Emma - December 2019 Scholarship Essay

Dear Varsity Tutor Scholarship Team,

I am excited to share with you the opportunity that God has given me. This summer, it has been placed on my heart to go on a mission trip to Beaufort, North Carolina from July 14 through July 20. My Youth Group of Northwood Community Church, leaders, and I assisted with Reach Global Crisis Response leaders bringing Christ’s love to the people of this area. In September 2018, Hurricane Florence hit North Carolina with heavy rainfall, high winds, and a storm surge bringing devastation and mass destruction. This organization of Reach Global Crisis Response Ministry impacted my life by caring for the needs of others. Going to North Carolina was the earliest we have ever been able to be part of helping after a hurricane or other storm. Our team was one of the first teams to be present at the remains of what Hurricane Florence caused. Our hope was not only to help with the homes in this area, but to build relationships with the people and share God’s love and truth with them.

In Beaurfort, our team worked along-side Reach Global leaders continuing repairing the homes of this area that were destroyed from Hurricane Florence in September 2018. This area of NC is one of three historical sites in the USA. Many homes and some stores needed to be fixed from the hurricane damage. While helping the people in Beaufort, I traveled to three different homes joining different members of our team. It was my first time not staying at the same house through the week. While at the homes, I helped with hanging drywall (drilling screws with an electric tool, but I was not very good at this), mudding, and sanding. The homes were one story and needed to be torn down and rebuilt because of the destruction of the hurricane. Roofs needed to either be replaced or repaired, and inside walls were demoed down to the wood studs. Our team continued with drywalling and putting in insulation picking up where the team before us left off. There was no air conditioning, no bathrooms, and we experienced over 100 degrees weather during part of the week. My team either waited until we finished work for the day to go to the bathroom at church, or the one house I was at was walking distance to the church so we could take a buddy and walk to the church to go to the bathroom. Some of the homeowners were elderly. One elderly couple shared their story how they watched the water coming into their home. As the water continued to flow through their home, they decided it was time to evacuate. The rushing water was above waist high as they tried to get to a safe location. Thanking God, they reached their destination and were okay.

The end of the week was filled with an aquarium trip with cute otters, cleaning the church, and a hurricane picnic in a field by one of the houses we worked on. People from the community gathered together and everyone enjoyed the chicken. This trip was tiring not only physically, but emotionally. I am thankful to learn new things and to have had this opportunity to care for others in need. Caring for the needs of others influences my life through Community Service and Missionary work. Through hard work, dedication, gratitude, relationship building, and love, I am blessed to make a small difference in the world we live in. I hope to continue to grow in all of these as each new day begins.
With being chosen as a recipient, this Varsity Tutor Scholarship would be a blessing and help with some of the necessary finances needed for my St. Petersburg College tuition. This scholarship would relieve some of the financial burdens for my family and myself allowing me to concentrate on school studies and continue reaching out to others through Community Service and Missionary work.

I am very thankful and filled with appreciation to be a Varsity Tutor Scholarship Participant. Again, thank you for taking time to learn a little about me and for this amazing blessing!