Community Service

(February 2010)  I returned two weeks ago from my latest Costa Rican adventure, where I led a team of eight volunteers on a Habitat for Humanity build. It was another life-affecting experience that still clings to me every day.

The trip began as we each arrived at the hotel on Friday and Saturday (with some of the luggage arriving Sunday!) Our group included mother & daughter, a husband & wife, former co-workers, a few friends and a few virtual strangers. We began to bridge the gaps over dinner Saturday night where we also celebrated Chelsea’s 18th birthday. Despite the flight and luggage delays, we were off to a fabulous start.

Monday, we energetically hit the jobsite. After a brief orientation, our first task was to rip out a long area of dead brush. It’s funny to think that that was any kind of challenge. Next, we had to dig eight holes 18 inches wide and four feet deep along the area we had just cleared. Equipped with post-hole diggers and rounded shovels, we eagerly accepted the challenge.

Around the time that we were about a foot deep with our respective holes, we realized how difficult this was going to be. The ground was very hard and digging got progressively difficult as the holes got deeper. The sun was intense and it was at least 90 degrees. To further exacerbate the situation, we also learned that we had to dig a total of 32 holes! But, with the help of water to soak the dirt, some additional tools, and incredible teamwork, we persevered. All 32 holes, plus three more extremely large holes for the septic system, were finished on Wednesday!

On Thursday the cement columns, weighing 250 lbs each, and wall slabs arrived. We mixed cement by hand on the ground and loaded it into wheelbarrows. Then, one-by-one, the columns were positioned in the 32 holes and set into place with the cement. We had a real sense of accomplishment seeing the house start to take shape. By the end of the week, we had accomplished so much more than we had imagined on Monday afternoon.

However, building a house is only a part of what it’s all about. Equally important goals of the Habitat program are building relationships and providing a positive experience. Volunteers work side-by-side with the homeowners and Habitat employees. Personal bonds form through working, navigating through the language barrier, laughing, and even dancing.

We took lunch breaks together at the nearby home of a woman who cooked amazing Costa Rican dishes for us. Aside from eating and resting, this time was also for building relationships. Tuesday we had a “cultural exchange” after lunch where we had the opportunity to learn how to make cheese and bean empanadas. Our team shared a horseshoe game with the neighbor kids, and everyone enjoyed listening to a CD of the band Far From Falling, which the guys on our team, John and Corey, belong to. John also played the guitar, which was enjoyed by all.

On Wednesday we had an impromptu cultural exchange at lunch when I “accidentally” started a water fight! We ran all around the house, battling three against three, or all against me! I was soaked from head to toe, nasty sneakers and all, but it was a fabulous time.

Thursday evening we had our celebration dinner at the hotel with the entire Habitat team. After dinner we were each presented with a small gift from Habitat to say “thank you” for all of our hard work. In exchange, we gave them candy bags to show our appreciation. After saying a tear-filled thank you to my team, we danced the night away.

We made it to Friday, and the last day of our build was filled with moments that still bring me to tears. The homeowner couldn’t make it to the dinner so we gave him a housewarming gift on Friday. He told us how much he appreciated our hard work, and then he had to excuse himself because he was tearing up.

Another emotional moment came when we had to say goodbye to the Habitat workers and the family who cooked for us all week. One by one, we hugged goodbye and thanked each other. This was hard enough, but when we boarded our bus and I looked out the window at all of my new friends, it suddenly hit me that it was over. I may never again see these people who were such a big part of my life all week.

While saying goodbye can be a difficult part of any trip, coming together to help people creates a very deep bond that is difficult to understand until you experience it. All of the sweat, challenges, sore muscles, fundraising, delayed flights; everything was worth the feelings of that final day. It was wholeheartedly an honor to have the opportunity to spend a week with those incredible people, and, especially, to have played a part in improving the quality of life for the homeowner and his mother.

A huge THANK YOU to everyone on my team for working so brilliantly together, being flexible with all of the changes and for joking inappropriately... To everyone at Habitat for Humanity US and Costa Rica for offering such a wonderful program and helping to coordinate it all.. To all of the generous individuals who showed their support through financial contributions to help fund the trip. And a final THANK YOU to everyone who gave us emotional support and followed our trip on FaceBook. This trip would not have been possible without the support of ALL OF YOU!

Whether it’s financial or physical support, 15 minutes or 15 hours away from home, help improve the quality of life for others. You’ll be amazed at what you get back in return.


Habitat
For more information on the Global Village program, click the picture above.



















 


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