Habitat for Humanity

I was greatly touched by the photos of a dear friend of mine recently.  She had just returned from her second trip to a 3rd world country building homes for a family less fortunate than most.  She has managed to travel the world by helping others.  

For years now I have been kicking myself for not traveling yet, even studying abroad would have sufficed.  Can you believe I have never been out of the country?

And then came the issue of helping others.  I have always wanted to help others, been touched by peoples stories in memoirs and television specials.  But, for no better reason than a lack of time, I have not given much of my time to those in need.

My friend came from the same background as me, if she can do it, why can't I?  NO REASON!  Within the hour I had done my research and applied for Habitat for Humanity's Global Village Program.  I am going to travel.  But not in the same way most people travel.  I am going to be in the poorest community of that country.  I am going to see their true culture, be blown away by their humility, their smiles at everyday things that we take for granted.  With my team members help, we are going to build a home for a family.  This is going to be so exciting!

I had no idea what the process would entail, and how long I would have to wait for a response after submitting my application.  I kid you not, within 4 days I had received a response from HFH that my application was approved, and I was matched with 3 GV trips.  The next step was to email the team leaders of each, wait for their response, and hope we made a good enough fit that they would offer me a spot on the team.  Immediately after receiving the response from HFH, I emailed 2 of the team leaders, giving them my phone number so we could set up a phone interview.  The team leader from Fiji called me within 30 minutes, we talked for roughly 15 minutes about my background, why I wanted to embark on this journey, and what his and my goals were.  He extended me an offer right then and there, and emailed me confirmation information almost immediately.  WOW!  This was all happening so fast!  I was going to go to...

 FIJI! 




Wait, not so fast.  I might see the paradise that is Fiji while in an airplane, or at intermittent parts of the journey.  But the place we are going is far from a paradise:

According to the Fiji Island Bureau of Statistics' 2008/2009 census about 43% of the rural population lives in poverty.  This is compared to 16.6% of Americans living outside of metropolitan centers in 2009.  There are children living in these types of conditions who need a better home.  They need shelter so they can be more easily protected from disease and the weather.  My team and I are going to build brick and stone homes for a particular family in Fiji.  I have not been introduced to the family yet, but hope to provide that information to you as soon as I receive it.

Come July 2nd, I will be on my way to Fiji.  You can check out my page on HFH's official website.  I hope to post more information as it arrives.  The anticipation for this trip is weighing on me every day.  Please peruse my site.  Note that the home being built for this family is only possible because of volunteers.  We are volunteering our time, but we are also contributing the cost of building the home.  If you can help us achieve that goal, it would be so greatly appreciated.