Day 4: March 14, 2024

Dear All,

Today was a very interesting day for all of us. We worked on our third work site, and it was definitely an experience we will never forget. Our service was at a house, owned by an elderly woman, that was in desperate need of repairs (so much so that she is not able to live in the house at the moment).  Some of us painted walls in bedrooms, while others put up sheetrock in the bathroom and decluttered the living room and the family room. 

In our reflection time, we thought about some of the individual struggles for us in the week. One of the biggest throughout this trip has been learning to work collaboratively with others, as well as making sure others’ opinions are heard. Learning to communicate our needs has been very important the whole trip. Also, working long hours in the heat has been very difficult, especially when some of the activities are monotonous, like painting. Physical issues have also made the trip challenging, like sunburns, not being able to sleep, and soreness. Some of us have struggled with homesickness since we miss our families. 

We will share more about this tomorrow, but will give you a sneak peak tonight. We shared with one another ways in which this trip has impacted us. The service has certainly given us more to think about and has challenged us to think about ways in which we can become more aware of the needs of others around us. For now, we will tell you that it has felt good knowing that we made a difference in people’s lives here.

See you when we get back!

Dylan and Sara