Working with Catholic Charities and refugee services in Nashville, Tennessee was nothing short of a remarkable, eye-opening experience.

Deanna Hart-Nashville

The experience of giving back to the community, finding God in others, and growing closer to people I might not have otherwise met, was such a great experience it would be horrible for me to not spread the word about this possibility to others.

Jayne White—Meridian

This was a moment in my life where I realized that God has given me (and each of us) very unique gifts.  I learned that we might just be the only person alive that God has blessed with certain knowledge or talents and these need to be recognized and shared with the world in order to do His will.

Jossie Frankiewicz—New Orleans

We tutored children from Sudan, Ethiopia, and several other countries in Africa; taught Burmese refugees how to get to their medical clinic, and taught Iranians, Burmese, and Somali families about the immunizations their children need. We have not left with a concrete marking of our accomplishments, but we have helped to build hope.

Johanna Jackson—Nashville

I realized how much God is always around.  Bobby continually thanked God for what he had and insisted that “God is good.”  He is there in the little things that we take for granted like a sunny day or a mountain landscape.  I need to bring that back to Ann Arbor where it is much harder to see the little things within the massive amounts of homework and busy schedules.

Sarah Breed-Cranks Creek

I think I will always look at the experience very fondly as a life-changing week that gave me an entirely new outlook on life.

Jenna Utter-Nashville

This ASB experience has inspired me to get more involved in volunteering around this community, and to get more involved in church activities to build my own faith. 

Corey Lager—Mexico

Overall I think my experience has changed the way I view some things. I know that every time the issue of homelessness or urban poverty comes up I will think of Our Daily Bread, just like I know that every time I see someone with Down syndrome I will think of the sweet 26 year old woman I spent over an hour with at Gallagher Services. The experience has changed me, and I know that will stick with me. A trip like this doesn’t just make you think about the issues while you are there; it is an eye opening that you can’t forget.

Jessica Kopicki-Baltimore

As the refugees have taught us this week, love can be found in people of all sizes, colors, and places.  We must learn, through our experience with them, how to truly love one another as Christ loves us.  We must not only love, but also do.  We must trust each other to accept our works of charity and kindness, and not respond to them in violence.  We must further realize that some people will not accept them, but that cannot exclude them from the love we have for all.  We must then hope that another can touch and help them in a way that we cannot.  God asks this of all of us.

Zachary Bay-Nashville

I very much enjoy living simply.  I think it is easier to see God, have a genuine good time, and build better relationships.  Again, I think that this ASB experience reinforced for me the connection between faith and service.  This is something that has long been a developing theme for me and it was good to continue to build it.  And of course, the reflections and prayer helped this. 

Brian Ketner—Mexico

One of the most significant experiences on the trip was when both ASB groups went to visit the people that we were helping. In one house, we met a lady who was bed-ridden and couldn’t even talk. But her son told us that she loved to hear people singing. So, both ASB groups, the St. Mary one, and the University one, together, sang her Amazing Grace. It was so beautiful to see how serving people and doing God’s work truly brings people together and the impact that it can have on the people that we are serving.

Shane Larkin—Cranks Creek