University of Virginia Women's Basketball - Charlottesville, VA
The University of Virginia Women’s Basketball managers team devoted a Saturday morning to serving the needs of customers at a lower-income laundromat in Charlottesville. We had the opportunity to meet locals and have great conversations with them while offering to pay for their laundry. It required us to come out of our comfort zones a bit at first to approach someone. By the end of the morning though, several managers had memorable experiences by stepping out.
Karina Palacios: “My interaction was one with a man whose primary language was Spanish. As a member of the Latinx community, I was excited to be able to talk to him in Spanish and tell him more about our service project for Managers On A Mission. In return, he shared his story about coming to the United States and how he came to start a new life with his family, as well as the struggles that came with it. I was touched by his story because of how open and honest he was. He went on to show me pictures of his children, two of which were women my age. Surprisingly, even though I had just met him, talking to him came very naturally. This experience has not only allowed me to serve people in the Charlottesville community, but it has also has given me the opportunity to connect with many on a cultural level. For this, I am very grateful.”
Ryanne Lenderman: “I met a woman who greeted me with a warm embrace and a smile. She told me that she was a local baker and had just come up from the farm to wash her clothes. While waiting for a washer to become available, she explained the meticulous details that go into crafting pastries she makes and sells at the Charlottesville farmers' market. After a simple thirty-minute conversation, I walked away more connected with the woman and also with a greater understanding of the amount of work that goes into running a small business and how vital they are to the character of Charlottesville.”
It is easy to live inside the “UVA bubble” as students of the University. So, spending the morning at the laundromat was a unique way to engage with the community and learn more deeply about the lives of Charlottesville locals. Plus, it was humbling to hear about their situations and the challenges they are facing. In a small way, it helped us grow in our understanding of how Jesus loves and meets us in our weakest and most vulnerable moments. We hope that our conversations and listening ears reflected how Jesus individually sees and hears each one of us. Thank you to Managers On A Mission for giving us this opportunity!
Karina Palacios: “My interaction was one with a man whose primary language was Spanish. As a member of the Latinx community, I was excited to be able to talk to him in Spanish and tell him more about our service project for Managers On A Mission. In return, he shared his story about coming to the United States and how he came to start a new life with his family, as well as the struggles that came with it. I was touched by his story because of how open and honest he was. He went on to show me pictures of his children, two of which were women my age. Surprisingly, even though I had just met him, talking to him came very naturally. This experience has not only allowed me to serve people in the Charlottesville community, but it has also has given me the opportunity to connect with many on a cultural level. For this, I am very grateful.”
Ryanne Lenderman: “I met a woman who greeted me with a warm embrace and a smile. She told me that she was a local baker and had just come up from the farm to wash her clothes. While waiting for a washer to become available, she explained the meticulous details that go into crafting pastries she makes and sells at the Charlottesville farmers' market. After a simple thirty-minute conversation, I walked away more connected with the woman and also with a greater understanding of the amount of work that goes into running a small business and how vital they are to the character of Charlottesville.”
It is easy to live inside the “UVA bubble” as students of the University. So, spending the morning at the laundromat was a unique way to engage with the community and learn more deeply about the lives of Charlottesville locals. Plus, it was humbling to hear about their situations and the challenges they are facing. In a small way, it helped us grow in our understanding of how Jesus loves and meets us in our weakest and most vulnerable moments. We hope that our conversations and listening ears reflected how Jesus individually sees and hears each one of us. Thank you to Managers On A Mission for giving us this opportunity!
