Habitat 2022: Wednesday – Accomplishments and Relaxation
MADELYNN DUBOIS
I have never been on a mission trip before. With this being my first, I was really worried about not knowing what to expect; I’m the type of person who needs to know what’s going to happen, how it’s going to happen, and when it’s going to happen. Through all this worry and anxiety of not knowing what I was going to encounter or do, I have found peace and comfort through trying new things that I never thought I would ever be doing.
For the past three days, I have been helping to install soffit—which is the vinyl covering of the under-hanging of the roof—with the help of Elsie, Jack, Jamie, and Tim. On Monday, Elsie and I really struggled with installing the soffit; it was really nerve wracking having to stand high up in the air on a piece of wood that was balanced between two ladders and having to bend backwards to find the perfect angle to nail in the tacks. On Tuesday, we got better. We became more comfortable with being high up in the air and our “hammer to nail” coordination improved dramatically. Today, we were on fire. Jack and Jamie held on to the ladders to make sure that we didn’t fall, and Elsie and I just pounded it out; no pun intended. We got more than half of the front porch covered in soffit and even started on the on other side of the house as well. All of us had great communication skills and just simply finally found our groove today! If anyone needs soffit installed, you know who to call!
After working hard the past couple of days, we all deserved some much needed time off. We worked only a half day today and then we went to Myrtle Beach. Though it was overcast and kind of rainy, we all had so much fun walking on the beach and talking. After numerous pictures were taken and many, many seagulls were chased, we all went to Carolina Roadhouse for a nice hearty dinner; I think we are all 10 pounds heavier than what we were when we first walked into the restaurant!
Overall, I had a really amazing and accomplished day working on the house. Having the time to relax and visit the beach gave us a nice little break and time to catch up with each other. Though this is my first mission trip, it certainly has been the best. I can’t wait to find out what I get to do for the next two days and I can’t wait to go on another mission trip!
TIM SEYMOUR
We went to the beach today
Waves, they flow and crash, regardless of their destructive forms or life-giving motives, the places they stream through always leads to something new, and while water is formless, in a way, so is the land it washes over, things move forward
A new flow of change happens in the most desolate and empty of places, an ocean wave is the mere motivation of a dark desolate moon, while the moon, in its nothingness, suggests a change more saudade than its own vacant forms
Newness forms in the hope which sprouts out of the dark eclipse
