The Experience of Immersion Engaging oneself in the community creates such an attachment to the community.

Because of this attachment, one is more motivated to engage himself in the community, thinking it is his obligation to do something for them- which, actually, is partially true. Alongside the attachment that one develops for the community, ones development would come with it. First and foremost, it affects ones personal development. It develops his patience and control of emotions. To be all smiles around everyone despite your own problems in life is a great gift to the poor people. Smiling is infectious, after all- so they tend to be as optimistic as you. The experience teaches one how to be more compassionate and understanding of other peoples situations. If one didnt know what life was like in other peoples shoes, this community served as an eye opener. For after all this time, theyre just there. Theyre all around: on the streets, right beside my house, down the road, just everywhere. One just has to open his eyes and heart and this in itself intensifies the willingness to help. Secondly, the community affects ones spiritual development. Although it may only do little with regards to this, one comes to appreciate Gods blessings more. He learns not to take his blessings for granted. It becomes evident that he is receiving more than what he deserves; And because of this, he realizes He deserves more then what he has been giving God. One more lesson to learn is that God gives His overflowing blessings to share it with others. Every blessing He gives isnt meant to keep only for oneself. Thirdly, the community helps develop socio-culturally for reasons stated in the first paragraph. To interact with people really teaches one a lot about life and relationships with other people, especially when one associates himself with people in other walks of life. This really means a lot: to be able to reach out with the people with different social classes. The experience to immerse oneself in a community of less fortunate people encourages one to continue helping others even after the immersion. Seeing the poor people happy sure lightens the heart and gives one a very filfilling feeling to be able to reach out to people in need. The communitys simplicity of lifestyle is very evident due to lack of financial resources. One realizes that some of the things we have is not really lifes neccessities but only

lifes luxuries. The people in the community is living a simple life sans all the worldly things. They dont yearn for more but theyre living contentedly. The pleasures of life are not what theyre after. Their contentment is not dependent on the abundance of material things but happiness on what they have. It is merely to live their usual everyday life complete with everything they need and not the luxuries people long to have. Simplicity of Lifestyle is to leave everything behind and follow the Lord. If not everything, it just tells us to live for Christ and do everything for Him and His name.. Its meaningful when you see the people you dont know smile at you, knowing that youre there to help. After all, the feeling one gets for extending help is incomparable.