Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Habitat Chat



One of the most satisfying things in life is completing a job and being able to visibly see the progress you have made.  This could not be any more fitting for our trip here as we are working with Habitat for Humanity.  As we arrived at our site for the week, we found a house covered in paper, lacking a roof, and missing the inside walls.  It was easy to see what jobs needed to get done and what was missing that made the house incomplete.  Only two days into our work, we saw very tangible results as the outside siding, roof, and inside began taking shape.  A sense of pride was immediately felt, as we realized we had come to this unfinished house and made a difference.  But, that’s not what I want to talk about.  What I think is equally important, if not more, are the conversations we have had with community members, fellow groups members, volunteers, and strangers.  These people and their stories are, for me, what makes these kinds of trips so special and memorable.  Engaging in a simple conversation allows us as volunteers to put ourselves in the shoes of those living in New Orleans.  We hear their perspective, not what we saw on t.v. or read in a magazine.  We can relate to them and learn just as much as nailing siding or placing shingles can teach.  The stories we all possess are powerful.  They remind us that we are all connected, all the same.  Taking a water break or a few extra minutes for lunch to talk to someone, to listen to their side of the story could become one of the most valuable pieces we take away with us.  Maeve

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