Reflection is essential to a successful service project. If a group participates in a service project and does not reflect on what they did, it is not likely to stay with them for very long. However, if someone is able to process what they have experienced and learned, it could be a life-changing opportunity. Refection is an opportunity to see how the service project that has just been completed, affected each person. It is an opportunity to look inside oneself and see what service actually means to an individual. Reflection also provides the opportunity to examine how service will fit into an individual’s life in the future. Reflection can be done at the end of each day or at the end of the week. It can be individual or group based. We encourage all groups to participate in some form of reflection during their stay here at The Pilgrimage.
If you are looking for reflection ideas for your group during or after a Pilgrimage visit, we invite you to take a look at our Reflection Guide.
Here are some reflections from past groups. If you have stayed with us in the past and would like to contribute, please contact us.
The most important lesson I've learned as a result of The Pilgrimage is that there are many types of people in the world. You cannot judge those by what they wear, what they do, or where they live. Stereotypes cannot be kept. It is one of the biggest misconceptions that homeless people are lazy and living off of their welfare. It is not easy to live on minimum wages, impossible really, and I hope we all will judge a person by their character rather than their facade.
-Beverly Pfluger, Lynchburg College, January 2005
At the Church of the Brethren Soup Kitchen yesterday, I really felt like I was doing something right and doing it well, and that it served the needy better than I had all week. That something was just doing the dishes. I had done dishes several times before in soup kitchens, but this time I really put my heart into it. I was fast, efficient, and always thinking ahead. There were hundreds of dishes coming from all directions, but I washed them before you could say "that's dirty." Jessie, another volunteer there, said I was doing a good job, and that he was really impressed, which made me feel great, because he looked like a pretty tough guy. I didn't even realize it was time to go because I was so busy. It was the best experience I had all week.
-Cameron Mulloy, Burke Presbyterian Church, August 2004
We loved staying at The Pilgrimage! David Harris did an amazing job with my group for the wrap up session. It is so beneficial for youth to experience different adults as facilitators. With a small church it is rare that you find many adults who truly enjoy working with teens. Staying at The Pilgrimage and sharing the facilitation of groups was a blessing for the youth and the adults as well. I was amazed at how organized the work sites were. Each of our volunteer jobs were enlightening and rewarding. We enjoyed the staff at each site.
-Lisa Cauley, Covenant Presbyterian Church, July 2004
Your facility provided a perfect setting for reflection and evaluation of each day and we knew that "God was in our midst." Personally I am always amazed at how I see Christ in the faces of so many people, in such different circumstances, when I allow myself to be open to what He has put in front of me.
-Bonnie Johnson, St. Paul’s UMC, May 2003
Lynchburg College, January 2005
Lynchburg, VA
Group Reflection
