By Lexie Coburn
On May 20 we got home from our closing retreat at Camp Nacome in Tennessee where we reflected and
processed our shared experiences and individual experiences we had in Selma, Alabama. Who would have thought 13 people who just spent two and a half weeks working and living together would still have new insights to share with each other, but we did. We all gained so much from this experience, more than I think most of us were even expecting. I think that this MDS May-term was unique in that we were in a place with such a rich history. We learned about disaster recovery, how to use power tools, how to do mudding and painting, but we also got to learn about the role Selma had in the civil rights movement, racial justices and injustices at play in the United States past and present. Throughout this whole trip Hillary made sure to provide safe spaces where we could process everything we were taking in.
On Monday, the closing activity Hillary had us do was reflect on the main things we are taking away from this experience. One common theme I noticed was relationships. Many people talked about the friendships they made with other people in the group or people from MDS and the impact they had on them. It’s not very common that you get a group of 13 people who didn’t really know each other before, all getting along as harmoniously as we did. We became a family throughout this time. Even from the beginning of this trip as we jokingly called Hillary and Micah “mom and dad” it became apparent that we would have a family-like bond. We all looked out and cared for one another. By watching us interact you would hardly believe most of us met each other less than a month ago, it’s even hard for me to believe. I appreciated getting to know every single person on this trip. They all brought different perspectives and insights that I cherished hearing.
Throughout our closing retreat and drive home I have also been reflecting on my what’s next. How do I use what I learned in this experience in Selma and apply it to my life? I can’t just sit back and not say anything anymore, not after everything I have learned. This whole experience opened my eyes but I think the Legacy Museum was the thing that opened my eyes the most. As I was walking through the part of the museum about the injustices of incarceration today, my heart broke as I read a letter to an attorney from a guy in his 20’s not asking for help for himself but for an older gentleman who he works with. He was writing to him because this man has life without parole and has cancer, he was begging for this attorney to take on this case so he could get medical parole or at the very least one last family visit before he dies. This man who also has life without parole in prison and even noted that he would probably end up like this man still wrote on his behalf instead of his own. The selflessness in this letter made me question: How can I use my voice to help? Many people throughout this trip told us getting involved in local communities is one of the best ways to help. This summer I am challenging myself to get started on getting involved in my community in whatever ways I can.
There are many more things I am taking away from this experience than I can fit into just one blog post. I am very grateful for this opportunity and am going to carry it with me for the rest of my life. If you ever have the opportunity to serve with MDS or to go to Selma, I encourage you to take it!
-Lexie Coburn
