Olgina Gjini

9/19/15
English 1101-092
Professor Karin Evans
Profile Working Draft
September 23rd, 2015
19.0000 N, 70.6667 W
Whenever we have opportunity to serve, we must serve with all
our heart. -Lailah Gifty Akita
This quote speaks to many, but specifically, Kelsey Gipson.
Kelsey has long chestnut brown hair, fair skin, and green eyes
with oceans of blue. She has a few freckles and a thin nose. You will not
catch her without her Chacos and a plethora of bracelets on her hand.
Kelsey is passionate about everything that she does, and you can see it
in her facial expressions when she talks about something she loves.
She is an introvert with a great sense of humor.
In December of 2014, Kelsey was told about the opportunity to
serve others in the Dominican Republic through Glen Ellyn Bible
Church. She was nervous, considering that she had never been on a
mission trip in the U.S, let alone one outside of the U.S. The thought of
going made her anxious, but she also felt called to serve others so she
decided to apply. She began to research about the norms, customs and
the history of the Dominican people, specifically the city of Hispanola.
There were about 25 students that came to the Dominican to serve.
Six-thirty AM the alarm goes off. The team meets at the building
across the street to eat breakfast, the humid Dominican sun watching
over them. The smell of the traditional Dominican food woke Kelseys
senses up. She loved trying different cuisines and connecting with
these people over a meal. They discuss what will be happening and
pray over the day. They take the bus to the church and immediately
upon arrival, they get to work. At the church, everyone comes together
to build a fence around it. Pastor Nico, the pastor of that church in the
DR, showed them around and introduced them to the kids. GO
Ministries had set up most of what that they were going to be doing, so
it was very thought out. They had a nutritional program, which fed
everyone a meal/day and also a vacation bible school to share the
gospel with these kids who may have never heard it. Kelsey saw no
roads, she saw people walking barefoot, and so many stray dogs. This
was something that she had not been used to in Glen Ellyn. She also
found out that GO Ministries only held a schooling system K-8th grade.
That really upset her that their education stops at 8th grade. She felt
called to do something. I just wanted to talk to so many people, and I
wanted to give them money, and pet the dogs, but its so different
down there. Kelsey says. This experience made her realize also, that
we have everything that we could ever want. There are people out

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there who have nothing. Despite the low standards of living and
minimal education, there was still some good that came out of the
mission team being there. One particular day comes to mind when
Kelsey thinks about her favorite experience in the DR.
It was just after they had done vacation bible school, the kids
were playing outside with the mission team. Some of them were
playing jump rope, hopscotch, or tag. The rain started down pouring,
and the kids started to scream, cover their heads, and run inside. They
noticed that the mission team was still outside. Kelsey and her friend
Anna were doing cartwheels and playing around. One by one, the kids
came back outside and played in the rain. They played jump rope in
the rain, splashing in puddles that soon became mud. The kids started
to sing a jump rope song in Spanish and Kelsey did not know that song,
so she decided to fill in the parts that she didnt know with random
Spanish phrases like my dog is in my kitchen. This made the kids
laugh so hard. Pastor Nico walked out to see what was happening and
the look that he had on his face was so rewarding to Kelsey. This girl
name Francesca really liked Kelsey and stuck with her through out the
trip. Francesca showed Kelsey what her and her friends do, and showed
her a game named Chocolate As the trip progressed she got much
closer to Kelsey and was very sad when Kelsey was leaving the DR. She
drew her a picture of them together.
At that moment, she came to a realization. Even though some of
these kids did not know where their next meal was coming from and
went barefoot on the dirt, these kids had so much love and happiness.
That is something that us Americans lack, even with all that we have.
Those kids have far less opportunity and education than most
Americans, but how could they be laughing so much and smiling so
big? Kelsey realized that we are so unhappy. We are always wanting
more and more, which leaves us empty. These kids have something
that is not temporary. Kelsey went into this mission trip to help and
love on these kids, but she was changed. If
I think about me one year ago, I would have
never thought that I would be going on a
mission trip. I didnt think I had what was
needed spiritually, physically, and
emotionally. Although, I would do it again in
a heart beat. Kelsey has made the decision
to return to the Dominican over spring
break, and also next summer with GO
Ministries. This realization was made from
traveling outside of the U.S and seeing
what the rest of the world looks like and
imagining what it could look like If more people spread love instead of
hate, and spent time instead of money.

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Coming back to the United States was
Kelsey (on left) with friends Randy and
definietly a transition. It was hard for Kelsey to
Anna. Francesca is on her shoulders
come back to such an egocentric and materialistic Photo By:
environment. She continues to think about this
life-changing trip every day. She thinks about the children that she met
and wonders how they are doing in school, and how they are growing
in their faith. After coming back, she has definietly noticed that she has
put less energy into things that truly do not matter. She wants to thank
these kids for teaching her a huge lesson, that love is so empowering
and that people should experience mission trips/service projects. Fear
is our biggest enemies, but in order to grow in any way, we need to
step out of our comfort zone. That is what kelsey would tell anyone
thinking about going on a mission trip. Just like one of the children told
Kelsey in the DR, It is good.