I've seen ghastly shades of neon lavender paint. I've seen wallpaper that even your grandmother wouldn't want.
In summary, the third day of the Habitat Immersion was amazing. I would just like to say that the Alfonner chemistry is off the charts! The groups worked so well together. The group that I was in participated on a site that needed a lot of renovation meaning there was a lot of demolition and touching up things that were shabbily done. This also meant that there were a lot of road bumps and surprises.
Through it all however, we managed to keep the group chemistry alive. Usually, in activities that require team building and cooperation, the team falls apart quicker than a Jenga puzzle. But in this case, the groups just seemed to get closer together with each task. Throughout the entire home you could always hear: "Hey, do you need help with that?" Or "Here, let me help you." It was nice working with a group that really helped each other. I loved how each member of the group found their niche but also was able to contribute when anyone else needed a helping hand or a little assistance.
This immersion experience has been interesting because I got to talk in depth with Rick, one of the Habitat supervisors. He explained to us all the preparation that goes into being a new homeowner with Habitat. I did not know that the new homeowners have to go through homeowner classes, make payments, and work some many volunteer hours on their homes and the homes of their fellow community members.
Habitat is an organization that I really love because they do more than they have to. Not only do they build homes and make them reasonable for people that may never have been able to afford one, they also provide them with the tools and the experiences to be good neighbors and homeowners. Habitat goes above and beyond.
They are not giving a hand out. They offering a hand up for those who take the initiative and reach back.
It's great to hear a bit about your group's experience at the other habitat site. It's good to know that the same cooperation and coordination that I saw in my group was present for your service. As cliche as it sounds, service really is about team work and this whole immersion was excellent in team building. I also agree with you on the merit of Habitat for Humanity. It's a great organization with a lot to offer- opportunities that transcend just stable housing.
ReplyDeleteYea, the effort that Habitat puts in to the house is tremendous and I have a new appreciation for those who do that type of work and other volunteer work as their main objective in life.
ReplyDelete