Amy Stark, an elementary school teacher in Massachusetts, won Habitat World's 2007 essay contest and traveled to Los Angeles in October to build at the Jimmy Carter Work Project. Following are her reflections on the experience:
This past Oct. 29, I started my workweek at about 7:15 a.m., just as I usually do. I wasn't headed to my classroom where I teach second grade. Instead, I was beginning my weeklong adventure as a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity.
Like nearly a thousand other volunteers, I had come to Los Angeles to participate in the annual Jimmy Carter Work Project. This year, partnering with homeowner families, we built and rehabilitated houses in the Los Angeles area.
I had the wonderful opportunity to work with one of those partner families. Esmeralda and Andre have four children and an infant grandson. As I worked alongside them and got to know them, I was impressed. Not only were they hardworking and upbeat, but they genuinely and repeatedly expressed their gratitude to all of us. Volunteers like me were continually asking them to tell their story or pose for a photo. But I never heard either of them complain. In fact, over and over again I heard them say thank you. "I thank you a million times," was Esmeralda's constant refrain.
As you might expect, the week was full of interesting experiences. What kind of tasks did I do? I painted shingles ... built window trim ... painted siding ... installed kitchen cabinets ... painted door trim ... measured walls ... painted walls ... climbed in and out of scaffolding. Oh, and did I mention I did some painting?
And, as you might not expect--I sure didn't--I worked with people of all ages, from all walks of life. Some of my favorites?
- A 74-year-old man who was up on the scaffolding as much as I was. Every morning he greeted me with "How 'ya doing, young lady?" (I loved that!)
- A mom about my age from California. When several of us were frustrated because we didn't have the right tools to paint between the shingles, this veteran JCWP participant found the humor and had us all howling with laughter.
- Several experienced contractors who graciously chose to teach me a skill, rather than do it themselves, even though they were certainly capable.
- And yes, even Jimmy Carter himself. I helped steady a board of siding while he cut it. No fuss. No fanfare. It just felt like I was helping my dad in his workshop at home.
Every day, we started the day with devotions. One day's message in particular bears repeating. It's the Bible story from Mark 2:3-5 about four men on a mission. Their friend is paralyzed, and they believed if they could just bring him to Jesus, he would be healed. But the house where Jesus was preaching was so crowded they couldn't get in. So they carefully placed their friend on a mat and carried him up to the roof. Once there, they made an opening and lowered him into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus.
The story is a familiar one. But the perspective I gained was new. The pastor pointed out that each of the friends "held up their corner." If just one of them had dropped his end of the mat ... or had decided he had other priorities that day ... or had chosen not to help because "somebody else would probably do it" ... the "mission" would have failed. Their friend would have continued to live a life of struggle.
I was challenged. Yes, I volunteered with Habitat for a week. But as I go back to my busy life I must ask myself, "Am I holding up my corner?" Am I doing my part in a world where I have so much and others have so little? It's a question I encourage you to ask yourself as well. And whether you decide to help with a Habitat project, or some other worthy organization, I guarantee you'll be glad you did.
