March 5th
We returned to the Habitat for Humanity full of eagerness to continue the work we have started on Tuesday. We were gone for only one day and already it seemed that much progress had been made. For one of the buildings, what was once a skeleton of a house was a more solid structure with the addition of interior walls and wood paneling. It seemed clear as to how this progression was possible – upon entering the site we saw many new faces belonging to regular volunteers, who were scurrying around busy at work and must have contributed significantly to the building’s construction. We were able to mingle with these regular volunteers while completing appointed tasks, and in addition, had the honor to work with future homeowner Miriam. Throughout day we have nail-gunned wooden frames, sealed houses with glue, cut out structural insulating foam, grouted tiles, hammered panels to frames, and completed other various work. For me, working in the same space as Miriam and regular volunteers revealed how interconnected communities can be, and shows how important these types of interactions are for Habitat and other organizations on the quest to create affordable housing.
In the evening we had a great dinner with Jesuit Volunteers (JV) Alex, Meghean, Anna, Katie, and Grace. We learned that each were involved with various volunteer programs ranging from beekeeping to helping run shelters for those experiencing houselessness. They shared their experiences, some claiming that while their services may be difficult in some aspects, it was still fulfilling, whether it was because they shared laughter with the houseless community or because coworkers strongly supported mental health. After dinner we toured the Jesuit house, looking at pictures, artwork, and various other belongings past Jesuit Volunteers left behind. We learned that the JV lived minimalist lives. They functioned with no car and earned a humble income for food. To me, it was a way of life that reflected the lives of those the JV were serving. It was a reminder to erase the “us versus them” mindset, which was especially important as we continued our immersion journey of learning and service. People experiencing vulnerability are just like us and we should never forget it.
Alysha Naone