Adrienne Sutphin
Guest Writer
Was it worth it? Sleeping on the floor, shivering, getting bruised and smashing
fingers? It sure doesn't sound like it, but at second glance, seeing friends I
made last year, making new ones and watching progress on walls and shingles come
together, yes it was worth it.
Fifteen students loaded up Sunday and traveled to Cookeville, Tenn., their goal
being to build three houses for Habitat for Humanity from the foundation up. We
each had our own expectations of the trip, some of us not knowing what was in
store, others of us being veterans of last year’s trip anticipating all that was
to come. When we arrived, we had grown anxious to meet the rest of the group
that we were to work with and get to know the diverse group in our own vans.
There was something telling us that we would all leave this place different than
when we came.
Bright and early on the Monday of spring break came too early, but our spirits
lifted after devotions and work began. In what seemed like no time at all, the
walls were up and trusses were being heaved up to form the roof. Although a
problem arose with the trusses on two of the three houses, nothing seemed to
dampen the mood. We looked for other work that could be done and by the end of
the first day, what started as a stack of concrete blocks had taken the shape of
houses. Snow would stall the work for Tuesday, so Wednesday we arose with the
sun, eager to return to the task at hand. Construction ran smoothly the rest of
the week, and more and more of those structures became homes for three deserving
families.
This past week was not just about the houses we built; it was also about the
relationships we built with one another. Habitat is an organization with the
focus of establishing housing, but it takes individuals working together forming
relationships. Whether it was getting beat in a game of pool, playing with a
Great Dane in the neighborhood or listening to stories from older generations,
we bonded with each other. Friendships were formed and strengthened among our
peers, friends from Illinois, local Habitat workers, our friends from Chile and
the homeowners. In years to come, we may forget names and maybe even faces of
the people we worked with, but we will not forget why we gave up an entire week
of leisure to work construction on a Habitat House: to challenge ourselves to
step out of our comfort zones to help others in need.
It was apparent all week that God was with us and this work was for His glory.
Although classes were not in session it was an educational week for all of us.
Not only did we learn that we could overcome a fear of heights or that we were
capable of the job, we learned that God uses all types. God was all around; it
was impossible not to feel Him.
We saw God work in awesome ways, and all it took was willing hands. I think that
is the lesson that we all learned this week and will hopefully carry with us
daily: if we are open to Him, an opportunity to serve will emerge.