Beauty in Resiliency

Hi all!

On Graveyard Fields
Loop Trail

It's about a year exactly since I've come to you with a new post, in a new state. Since then there’s been a lot of circumstances, both good and bad, that have colored my life. I've come to deeply understand every one of us walks through tough seasons, and the most beautiful part of our stories is how we overcome them. That seems to be the common thread through my trip so far in beautiful Asheville, North Carolina.     

 

 As a gal who lives for fall, I couldn't pass up an opportunity to visit a place known for its beautiful landscape and picturesque hiking in the peak of color-peeping season. I hopped in my car and made the seven hour drive south, ready for a refresh doing things I love. Traveling solo can sometimes feel a bit lonely, but there's also something freeing about it. And in the midst of a heated government shutdown and the general stresses of adulthood, I needed a break.  

    But I knew that I was headed to an area that knew all too well what it felt like to feel the weight of the world on its shoulders. Western North Carolina was one of many areas seriously impacted by Hurricane Helene, and I knew recovery efforts were still underway. I wasn't sure what I'd walk into, but it felt right to go support the town's recovery efforts, both by building and contributing through tourism, which has long been a backbone supporting Asheville's economy.

Hiking Black Balsam Knob

My first morning in town was a chilly 45 degrees and overcast, but one of the only dry days I could expect. I took full advantage of the day and took to the Blue Ridge Mountains, spending the day hiking to Black Balsam Knob and Tennent Mountain. I decided to end the afternoon checking out waterfalls through the Graveyard Fields Loop Trail. That's when things went a bit awry. The trail is supposedly a loop; however, I got lost at a split in the trail and hiked quite a bit north of the waterfall that was supposed to be at the furthest end of my trek. The trail itself is more heavily wooded and narrow to pass through, and it got increasingly harder to navigate the further north I went. 

It was getting on into the later afternoon and I was concerned about losing light, as it was already a gloomy day. I was also more concerned about being out there alone as it's known black bear country, and my path was starting to look extra bear-friendly the deeper I went. The trail is named for trees that have fallen over, and their roots lift up to look like tombstones throughout the area. Well, let's just say that I saw zero real bears, but probably 10 bear-like tombstones on my hike. Good grief! After an initial moment of anxiety I took a breath, and worked on making my way back until I ran into people again on the trail. I finally made it to the waterfall I was searching for. It was not nearly as majestic as I was hoping it would be given my effort to get there-but it felt good pushing through it and finishing it successfully. 

Blue Ridge Mountains

All that aside, it felt good to breathe in the clean mountain air and take in the vibrant red, orange, and yellow hues that were coloring the mountainside. Off in the distance the ridges turn a blue hue, especially when masked by fog and cloud cover, giving the mountains their namesake. There were several moments when I audibly gasped and couldn't help but thank God for painting the landscape this way. I suggest you come out yourself to see it in person if you ever get the chance to. It's glorious! 

After an adventure day, I got down to business volunteering. It was a real treat spending three days working alongside folks at the Asheville, NC chapter of Habitat for Humanity. This affiliate has been the backbone of the town and surrounding counties as they continue to recover from Hurricane Helene, which hit the area hard in late September 2024. Throughout my stay I’ve heard accounts of the storm from Casey and Peter, my dream team that let me tag along with them for the week, as well as other residents throughout town. As we drove through town to and from our job sites they pointed out areas that had been flooded just a year before. 

Prying trim off 

Off in the distance is a bridge over 20 feet above ground that water levels had risen to. On the right is a slew of businesses that were washed out and never recovered. Over here is a van that is still mostly submerged in mud, forever caked into place. 

The rainy weather we had this week has shown me how easily this area floods on a good day; I can’t imagine what these scenes would have looked like after the hurricane. I don’t think you can ever fathom something like it unless you lived through it. My heart has broken for these people as they’ve told me about living throught the storm. Like how they didn't have power for a month, leaving them with no way to connect with the world or find out what was happening. Or how they had struggled to find adequate food and water, and where still others had lost cars, had their homes threatened, or lost family members. There are some areas that are still severely damaged, with the landscape flooded out and bridges still left un-repaired due to a lack of resources. People couldn't evacuate the area because they had nowhere to go and roads were not usable. They told me at one point there wasn't even an open hotel room for them to stay in as far as West Virginia, in part because all of the aid workers were being housed there. 

Even now, in moments when life seems completely normal, echos of the storm remain. One day I asked the guys about recommendations for restaurants to try in the area for dinner, a simple enough question. One of them responded, “Well, all the ones I liked got washed out by the hurricane.” People use the hurricane as a timestamp to explain when they moved, when they started internships, or when other life decisions were made. This is a true look at how this storm impacted real people. 

Cutting trim board
-very slowly

It was inspiring to hear how Habitat for Humanity stepped up to provide aid for their community. The Asheville affiliate established a disaster relief program to assist families with rebuilding. Families qualifying for traditional home repairs through HFH are budgeted about $20,000 for necessary repairs. Those impacted by Hurricane Helene received an allotment of $50,000 per family. Traditionally home repair applicants put up a portion of the cost, based on their income level. Those impacted by Helene didn’t have to pay HFH a dime, a huge hand up in a stressful time. Asheville HFH has also collaborated with other organizations under ARCHR, the Asheville Regional Coalition For Home Repair, to provide further aid throughout the community, even spearheading a new software to organize how each organization under ARCHR would get work assignments so they can help more people. My initial plan was to assist with their disaster relief efforts, but they’ve gotten to a point where they are transitioning back to traditional home repairs.  All a sign that things are slowly getting back to a new normal. The area has been resilient and many places have reopened; a sign that healing happens in time. 

Supervisor Casey and I,
"Looking productive"

For our first two days of work I tagged along to help with final repairs for a family home about 15 minutes south of Downtown Asheville. We started with a trip to Home Depot to pick up a 2-in-1 washer/dryer unit, along with a few extra materials we’d need. Then we drove to the home and got to work in the small kitchen. First I tore off the old trim that surrounded a sliding glass door. Then I worked with Austin, a core volunteer who kept our spirits up as we laughed at his quips like, “Our goal is to be highly adequate” and “Lisa, are you good at destroying things?” (How’d he know, though??) He helped me use a miter box to cut 45 degree angles at the end of the trim so they’d fit together seamlessly around the doorframe. I used the brad nailer like a pro to nail it to the wall, with Austin telling the others something to the effect of, “She demands respect with that thing.” 

After the trim was replaced, I scraped off old paint that was peeling along the walls surrounding the doorframe so the wall would be smooth, and then learned to mud it. Then I caulked the seams and left it to dry so we could sand it and paint it all a crisp white the next day. As Casey, the site supervisor, taught me the technique to mud, he explained, “mudding is an art form. But some people just aren’t good at art!” We laughed at how something that seems so simple can be so difficult to do well. I told him I felt like Bob Ross trying to make "happy little trees"-he makes it look so easy! We laughed, it was a time.

Taping and mudding

We also worked to fit the washer/dryer unit in its nook. Unfortunately the floor was warped severely, so we needed to make a wooden platform to raise it and level the machine so it lined up better with the existing cabinets. For the rest of the day we worked on other odds and ends and wrapped up in the late afternoon. 

On day two, I had a new teammate named Clarky who joined in on the fun. Together we tackled sanding the mud I put down the day before, and giving the doorframe another coat of paint. We also helped Habitat staff build the small box platform to fit the washer/dryer unit on. I also installed a metal transition strip at the base of the sliding glass door. I had to use shims to fill in a large gap in the floor so it would be level, then had to drill into the linoleum before nailing it to the floor. The team also sanded and textured a spot on the ceiling, caulked kitchen backsplash, and hooked up the washer unit. A lot of little jobs that collectively took up the day for us. 

This site was the first interior home repair I had ever done, and it was a fun experience! I learned that, because existing homes are never perfect, it requires resourcefulness and critical thinking to make due with supplies we have to complete the job satisfactorily. I also felt a little added pressure to do things right because we were guests in someone’s home-the owners were in the back rooms of the house the whole time we worked. The Habitat staff told me they enjoyed these projects because it was always a new challenge, since no two homes are exactly alike and they require varying levels of repair.  Selfishly, this project was a nice one to jump in on because it was indoors. It was a downpour all of day one, and chilly on day two. I was thankful for the chance to stay dry. 

Sanding after mudding the wall

        Day three had us at another gentleman's home doing miscellaneous jobs to spruce the place up. I got to work with a gal named Brittany, a first time Habitat volunteer, which was so fun! Together we changed out a transition strip between the living room carpet and kitchen wood floors, and removed a broken door knob and replaced it with a brand new one. I learned how to carefully chisel out a part of the door so the core mechanism would fit flush in the door, allowing it to close. We also had to use a multi-tool to cut another hole in the doorjamb so the door would fully latch; originally the door didn't line up and wouldn't fully latch. Our team also helped fix the man's screen door soft-close mechanism, replaced a faucet in his bathroom, and replaced a screen in his bedroom window. Our leader showed Brittany and I how they replace screens, and how they use something called spline as a sort of seal that tightens the screen and keeps it in place in the frame. They even have a cool little tool that looks like a mini pizza cutter to press the spline into place. For the remainder of our day we cleaned out the work trucks and reorganized all of their tools, so teams can know they have everything they need to get the job done when they drive out to a site. 

Chiseling out the door

    A special thing about Brittany is that she had only one arm. I loved that this didn't stop her from wanting to volunteer and help people in the community. There were some things that were a bit of a challenge for her, like being able to line a nail up and hold it steady so she could nail it into the floor. But we fixed that real quick-I was able to hold nails for her, or start drilling a screw into a door, then could switch so she could finish the task. I debated on whether to include this description of her in this post, because having one arm or two doesn't have anything to do with who she is as a woman. But I thought it was important to add because she should inspire everyone to get out there and do your part to make a difference, no matter your ability. There is always room for you to get engaged and help others, and always people willing to help you if you need it. The HFH staff in particular have always been patient and kind with me, and we know how much they have to put up with my lack of grace and poise on and off the job site! I know you have something special to offer, and encourage you to find a cause you care about and figure out how to get involved. 

Replacing a screen window

    We also got to work with Dave, a core volunteer who has served for years with Habitat. We had a great time hearing about his past career working in the DC area (small world!) and how he and his wife volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, the Red Cross, and Meals on Wheels in between traveling all over the world. We talked about how important it is for people to have purpose in life, and how that absolutely can be outside of what their vocation is. It was so nice meeting someone who shared the same feelings I did about volunteering; it meant more coming from someone who has lived more life than me and seen firsthand how people's lives can deteriorate if they stop seeking ways to stay connected and create impact in their communities. 

After the past few days, I've realized that we all go through tough seasons, some that are short, and some that leave lasting impacts. I'm blessed to have met some great people who are examples of resiliency in the aftermath of something truly tragic for their community. The storm may have been a defining moment in time, but it isn't becoming the sole identity of the people who call Asheville and the surrounding area home. They still have work to do, but they show up with a smile and a heart for service. They're showing others through their actions that there is always room for laughter, connection, and silver linings. 

Had a great time working with Peter and Casey!

Until Next Time, 

Lisa

We're All Neighbors

Hi all!

Niagara Falls

(Heads up, this is a long one-but worth it!)


When life gets crazy, I’ve found that one way to get some peace back is to plan an impromptu trip to get away for a while. Naturally, for me that means dreaming about where I can volunteer next. This fall, I decided on a whim to travel to upstate New York, and had a chance to work alongside the Buffalo chapter of Habitat for Humanity (HFH) to cross state 15 off my list! It feels like a milestone making it this far-honestly, it’s a little surreal that a dream I started in 2015 is truly unfolding into a reality. Jumping into unknown territory was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

This trip was extra special, because my youngest brother was traveling to New York at the same time to

Letchworth State Park

scope out a possible move to the area, and he was able to take a week to reunite with me. We spent the beginning of our week taking in beautiful views while hiking around Niagara Falls and Letchworth State Park. We even got to view the northern lights in all their brilliance off the shores of Lake Ontario. It was special for me to have this time with him (and my dog nephew Charlie, aka Chuck) because I only get to see my family once or twice a year. It’s a downside of living 1000 miles away. I’ll hold these memories close for a long time to come.

After enjoying several days peeping the fall colors and taking in the jaw-dropping beauty of the region, I spent a solid two days building with the Buffalo chapter of Habitat. The neighborhood we were building in is in rough shape; a sharp contrast to the picturesque forest views we hiked through in days prior.

I was told that there are approximately 11,000-13,000 abandoned properties throughout the streets of

Family pic!

Buffalo. As you drive through the city, it felt like I was driving through a movie scene. Storefronts were run down, dirty, and were often chained up or had bars blocking the windows. Houses are about 100 years old, and have unfortunately become dilapidated over time. I imagined that with several universities in the area and Niagara Falls within a half hour’s drive away that tourism and student traffic would fuel the economy and add a spark to the area, but aside from very small pockets that did not translate to much of the area. My brother and I loved exploring the area and checking out hole in the wall restaurants and experimenting with coffee shops throughout our trip, and the more we ventured out the more I realized that this area desperately could use the help of organizations like HFH to revitalize the city.

Northern lights-Lake Ontario

I arrived for my first build day excited and ready to go. The volunteer coordinator had told me that I’d be putting finishing touches on a home that was close to completion, and I was excited to see a site that wasn’t in the middle of heavy construction. Most of the homes I’ve worked on have been in early or mid stages of building, and it can be hard to imagine everything put together as a true home. I was informed that this particular chapter was able to complete about 14-16 homes each year, which is fantastic. Some of the homes, like the one I was helping with, were modular homes. The property lots in the area are small and houses are built up rather than out. This chapter had found a way to order modular homes that are completed in two big pieces and then shipped out to the site to be put together. They’re currently in the process of creating their own warehouse to manufacture these homes themselves, so they can construct more homes for their own area and also bring them to other Habitat locations. I thought this was a really neat idea and I had never heard of this being done before. It seemed like a creative and useful solution for the area they build in and for the production levels they would like to hit over time.

Painting away

When I arrived at this site, I met Ken, the site supervisor, and he took me on a tour of the place. It was a quaint three bed one bath home, nestled in between a crowded row of homes in a neighborhood on the edge of Buffalo. He told me that I was jumping in on the last two or three days of building before the home would go through the final steps of inspections and be dedicated to a deserving family in about three weeks’ time.

This home would be going to a woman from Puerto Rico who had faced tremendous adversity personally, and had also been battling significant medical diagnoses for her children. Habitat staff told me that this woman had said she wanted this home to give her children a safe place to be, and to be able to show them that she was strong and capable of overcoming challenges. I thought it was such a beautiful story and legacy to want to leave for her family, and it was a bummer that I didn’t have a chance to meet her personally. However, I did get a chance to work alongside another person who was getting a different Habitat home in the area. His name was Fabrice, and he and I worked on painting various parts of the house throughout the first day I was on site.

Pulling up tarps

I asked Fabrice a little about his family and why he was pursuing a home with Habitat. This brief conversation truly stands out as one of the most raw moments I’ve experienced while volunteering across the last fifteen states. At the time, I had been tasked with painting a small railing along the staircase, and was chatting with Fabrice as I did my best to cover all the small details on the spindles without giving it the landlord special and globbing paint everywhere. As Fabrice started telling me his story, I set my brush down and turned my full attention to him as he began explaining that he had come to America six years ago to escape genocide in the Congo.

He told me how his ancestral tribe was being effectively hunted down and killed, and how as a young child men had held his head and forced him to watch as they killed his mother and chopped her lifeless body into pieces. He then pulled down the neck of his t-shirt and exposed a thick scar along the base of his neck, as he explained that members of this same group had once tried to kill him with machetes. His wife and three children are currently seeking asylum in Uganda, and I learned that at some point these people had tried to poison his spouse. Fabrice had also tried escaping to Uganda but was not accepted. After being rejected by this new country and facing continued persecution in the Congo, he made the decision to immigrate to the United States with the hope of building a safe life for his family.

Doors are next!

This man’s story was absolutely heartbreaking. I couldn’t believe my ears. I had to give a double take because this man was casually discussing some of the most heinous experiences anyone could ever walk through, yet had such a calm, quiet demeanor. For a man who had faced the worst parts of humanity, he seemed to have such peace about him and hope for the future. At one point, it was mentioned that Fabrice had said in the past that he felt very safe in this area, though it was not necessarily uncommon to hear gunshots in parts of the community. Compared to what he and his family had endured regularly overseas, that was nothing. It was so humbling to hear his story and see how he carried himself despite what he had walked through. He wasn’t a victim. He was a quiet warrior. What a privilege we have here in the United States, to only hear about those kinds of atrocities in world news or in movies about the past. A part of this experience that I have really loved is being able to meet people that come from all walks of life, none of which are just like me. It gives me such an appreciation for the human experience, and opens my eyes to life outside of my own. I think that’s something that more of us should strive to pursue; I think it would help us love others more.

Finishing touches-top floor

Well, enough of the mushy stuff for now. Let’s talk about the build! On day one I started by painting that stair railing a fresh white. For how small a project it seemed to be, it sure took a while. It was important to use small amounts of paint at a time so it didn’t glob on too thickly or start to run and cause unsightly streaks down the spindles. I promised Ken that I wouldn’t give him the landlord special, which he very much appreciated. After two coats of paint, I moved on to paint the interior sides of the two doors leading out of the home. First I took a brush to cut along the built in windows and get into the small crannies of the door’s design, and I finished each by using a paint roller to cover the rest. Once the coats of paint seemed to dry, I took the roller and went over the flat parts of the stair railing and the doors again. Ken gave me a pro tip that by rolling the paint on, it would get rid of the brushstrokes you’d otherwise see using a normal paint brush. Believe it or not, painting took the whole day. I also had a chance to talk to DJ, the volunteer coordinator who helped get me set up on the build. He is a former news reporter and asked to talk to me about my Habitat journey, and they later posted a small clip on social media. How sweet!

Cutting Siding

It was so evident talking to both Ken and DJ that they had a passion for what they did, and I always love to highlight folks like them because they truly are the backbone of this organization. Without volunteers and people willing to permanently contribute to the mission, none of these projects would get off the ground. Ken had left his personal construction business two months prior to my visit to work with Habitat full time, and DJ again had left a great career in reporting to help bring people together for this great cause. Learning to build a house is fun, but building connections with people like them are what is most special for me.

Anyways, let me stay on track. Day two began and it was just Ken and I working one-on-one together for the day. This was nice; Ken was friendly, and did a great job showing me tricks of the trade and getting me to try new things. It was helpful to have more undivided attention so I was slightly less self-conscious if I wasn’t great at something right away. Ken gave me a break from painting to “do the fun stuff”. We went upstairs and pulled up all of the tarps that had been nailed securely into the freshly carpeted floors. It felt like unwrapping a Christmas present to see all of the dust and paint stained tarps being pulled away to reveal, well, a home! It really started feeling like a house once it was all removed. After that, I used a shop vac to vacuum the baseboards throughout the upper floor, and later to vacuum the rest of the floors. My mom, who taught me all I needed to know about keeping a clean home, would have been so proud of my superior vacuuming abilities haha!

Ken!

Once that was done, he showed me how to check for gas leaks in the lines connecting the oven, washer and dryer machines, and water heater. Normally there’s a product you can buy to pour around the connections, but we used an old trick. Using a bottle of water with Dawn dish soap mixed in, and a small pinhole in the lid, Ken showed me how to use just the suds to cover the connections. If there was a gas leak, the bubbles would continue to enlarge and bubble more. If everything was secure, the bubbles from the dish soap would dissipate after a few seconds. He had me go around and check all the appliances, and thankfully they were good to go!

After that, we headed downstairs, and this is where the real fun started. He showed me that they had installed insulation around the unfinished basement walls, and said he wanted to smooth it a bit more. To do this, we had to use a tool that would literally shoot nails into the concrete. He showed me how to load a.22 shell into the gun-like tool, and insert a nail with a washer and a small spacer attached into the opening of the barrel. He then smoothed the insulation to where it needed to be, and let me press the tool tightly against the wall before pulling the trigger and firing the nail into the wall. I was a bit nervous because I was worried if I missed or if the kick-back caused the tool to move, that I’d hit his hands. But thankfully we signed a waiver…and ultimately we finished the project without a problem. We then taped up the seams of the insulation in the corners of the basement walls, swept up the dirt that had collected on the floor during construction, and headed back upstairs.

Almost a home

For the rest of the afternoon, we focused on replacing two pieces of cosmetic siding on the front of the home. The main piece we needed to replace was directly to the side of the front door. This piece had accidentally been dented when someone had put finishing nails into the middle of the piece, and Ken wanted to replace it to make sure everything looked the very best it could before home dedication day. He had me measure out the areas we needed to cut to fit it into place. I then got to use a tool that could cut the metal siding to the measurements we needed. It was fun learning how to use these new pieces of equipment. Yet again, I had to face my nerves because I knew this was the last piece of spare material we had, and I didn’t want to be the one to screw it all up. Ken was patient and we had some laughs as I fumbled a bit, but together we got everything put in place. We hit a small snag with the metal getting caught in debris in between the frame of the door, but Ken maneuvered it so we finally got everything set. Afterwards, I used caulk to fill the open seams in the siding, and ran my finger along them to make clean lines. Ken would later come by and use clear silicone to finish it out; he said once it was all dried you wouldn’t be able to see it at all.

It was bittersweet leaving the site at the end of the day. I felt so comfortable working with this team, and I could tell how passionate they were for making their community a better place. It’s easy to ride the high of that when we all come together to work towards a common goal.

What did I take away this time around? For one, I need to keep working on trusting myself and to have confidence, even in new situations. I find myself shying away from new things sometimes because I don’t want to get it wrong. But no matter how much I want to be, I’m not perfect, and no one ever expects me to be when I volunteer. As long as my heart is in it, all that’s expected is that I try my best and make an impact however I can. 

On a greater scale, it hit me during this build that geography is the only thing keeping me (or anyone else) from being someone’s neighbor. Just think, if life went one way instead of another, our circumstances could be completely different. We could be in the shoes of those overcoming adversity and hardship and getting one of these homes. Circumstances don’t change someone’s worth, and shouldn’t dictate if someone has an opportunity to be safe and secure as they try to make a better life for themselves. I love volunteering because it reminds me every day that we’re all in this together. You don’t need to be an expert or have a lot of money to be the hands and feet of Jesus. You just need you, and a willingness to do what you can to love your neighbor-whoever and wherever they are. I think if we all focus on loving others more and looking out for one another, we’d find that we’re a lot more similar than we think.

I’m so grateful to have had the chance to work with the Buffalo HFH chapter, and to meet such wonderful people along the way. I think this is a wrap for the year 2024, but I’m already dreaming of where I’ll wind up next. Come along with me next time, will ya?


Until Next Time,

Lisa

Even the Lessons are Bigger in Texas

 

They say that everything is bigger in Texas, and in many unexpected ways I put that to the test as I traveled to the Dallas-Fort Worth area to cross state 14 off my list. This time around I had the extra treat of reuniting with a close friend from college and meeting her daughter; we hadn't seen each other since she was pregnant and it was such a treat getting to meet her spunky little one! It was such a blessing being able to stay with her and reconnect. As I get older I have come to realize how special it is to have people in all corners of the country that I get to love, and who I know love me right back. 

I was thankful for the fun, because there were a lot of twists to this trip that threw me for a loop which could have tanked the mood of the excursion. For starters, one of the two build days I had arranged was cancelled due to a lack of staffing over the Memorial Day weekend. I found out less than a week from my trip, which was a bit of a bummer. I was determined to make this trip happen though, and I packed my building clothes and hopped on a plane out to the Lone Star State. 

Mark showing us the ropes

Unbeknownst to me, my trip was about to coincide with an onslaught of severe storms that plagued our area for the entire week. The day after I arrived, a tornado touched down thirty miles away that killed seven people. A few days later, I woke up at 5am to the sound of high winds whistling through a crack in the bedroom window. Upon looking outside I saw trees swaying almost sideways, straining against straight line winds and rain that was assaulting my friend's house. I took that as a sign to wake my friend up and we wound up hiding out in her bathroom for about a half hour until the winds died down to a safer level. The rain lasted until almost 11am, and once we emerged to run some errands we saw the damage of the storm. In every neighborhood there were several trees and fences down, and in one neighborhood a local restaurant had their outdoor dining area completely collapse. I was thankful that no one was harmed, and by the afternoon the heat had ramped back up to the scorching 90-100 degree range and we all but forgot about the torrential downpour that had happened a few short hours before.

One positive to the string of storms was that it provided one reasonable day at the end of my trip, which just so happened to be the day I got to see what Habitat for Humanity was like out in Fort Worth, TX. I rode up in style in a Lyft-a first for me, but hey you do what you have to do to make things happen. It was immediately apparent that this Habitat chapter was a well-run operation. Their equipment was neatly organized in a storage trailer off to the side of the build site, and the first few minutes of the day included a thorough safety brief. This is supposed to be a standard part of every build, but I give this chapter top marks for making sure everyone was on the same page so we had a fun and safe day.

After our brief we slapped pieces of tape with our names written on them across our hard hats, and we were divvied up into small groups. I was placed with three others in a group supervised by Mark, a volunteer who told me that he had worked in the DC area with the government for about 20 years. Small world! Our task of the day was to finish installing siding on two homes-thankfully my group was in charge of the only shaded side of the structures because this girl does NOT do well in the heat. Mark gave us a quick tutorial and we got right to work.

Prepping for the next piece

In order to install siding, we first needed to measure the length of the James Hardy board to fit the length of the house. When a piece is installed, two hooks were pushed into the space between the two boards installed below the one we were working on. When we moved the newly measured board into position, we would slide it down into the two hooks, which would position the board so that the bottom of the new board was about 1.5-2 inches below the top of the previously placed board. That should leave precisely 7 inches between the bottom of the previous board and the bottom of the new one. This creates the layered look that you traditionally see with siding.

After placing the boards, it was imperative to recheck measurements to ensure the spacing remained consistent. Once this was confirmed, we would nail the siding down, making sure to place the nails about one inch down from the top of the board (so they would be covered by the next board) and the nails needed to be driven into the studs. Then we would wash, rinse, and repeat with other boards. While two of us took turns placing the siding on the house, the rest of us would work with Mark to measure out and cut the next piece of siding. I had the most fun using the cutting tool-though it was a little tricky and a lot of pressure to make sure we kept the tool level so we didn’t mess up the cuts. On a build site, especially with groups like Habitat, it’s important to not waste materials because they don’t come cheap!

Each of us took turns hydrating with Gatorade and standing in the shadow of the house to stay out of the Texas heat. Lunch was a welcome relief, and we ate a delicious meal donated by a local church while hanging out in the shade of the garage.

The goal of the day was to finish the siding so they could put the finishing exterior touches on a few days later, which was the last scheduled build day for this site. Though work slowed after lunch as the sun continued to beat down on us, we were able to get to a good finishing spot.

This chapter only completes the main structure and exterior of the homes, and then they contract out the rest. Other chapters will contract out more specialized work like electric and plumbing work, and let volunteers help with drywall, tiling, painting, etc. to get the interior ready for move-in. Additionally, I was informed that the build days are cut short in the summer due to the heat. Though I bet it makes it more difficult to stay on track with the work schedule, I was glad to see the chapter looked out for their people and wouldn’t push the limits with the high temps.

Cutting siding

You may think that this is the part where I wrap up and say it was a glorious time. I was soon going to find out that the excitement of the trip was just about to begin. I arrived at DFW airport two hours prior to my flight home taking off, as is pretty standard for those flying. Everything seemed to be going smoothly, I got through TSA precheck quickly and sat down with a bit of breakfast. Suddenly, I got a ping on my phone from the airline app saying my gate had been changed. Several minutes later, it was changed to a different terminal. A bit annoyed but still feeling relaxed, I hopped on a tram and got to the new gate. After about an hour, I was informed my flight was delayed. It had been raining all morning, so I wasn’t overly surprised. But then things began taking a turn for the worst. My flight was eventually cancelled, and it was a scramble to try to rebook.

Little did I know that over the next 24 hours I would experience a total of five cancelled flights and at least twenty gate and terminal changes. The last ditch effort flight many of us had to the DC area that evening was finally cancelled at 2am, after we acquired a plane but the crew had timed out and another storm began rolling in. I miraculously got rebooked on a flight set to go out at 7am. I spent an hour or two fitfully sleeping on and off on an airport bench alongside someone I had met along the way, until I got another dreaded ping: “Flight Cancelled”. I stood in line to get help rebooking for almost an hour, while also on hold with American Airlines, until the gate agents up and walked away. This was the final straw for me, and I slumped down to the floor of the airport trying to hold back tears. I felt trapped, and in a perpetual cycle of booking and cancelling flights that would never actually go out.

It was at this point that I made the decision to cut bait and make a 24 hour drive in a rental car from Dallas to Virginia. Every few hours I pulled over to take power naps in gas station or store parking lots and load up on snacks to keep me awake. I finally made it to Virginia in one piece, but I hadn’t seen my luggage in days and was in desperate need of a shower and to brush my teeth. I had a friend pick me up from the airport and he remarked I smelled like french fries. He was right; at some point over the course of three days I had indeed had McDonalds, but at this point I was too exhausted to care.

Getting back into the swing of things

Needless to say, this trip was full of lessons. First, a lesson in humility. Soon after receiving instructions about our build task, Mark went over each tool we’d use. He held a hammer out in front of us, and said over the years he has had to give more lessons on how to properly use that than for any other tool. In my head, I thought that seemed a bit silly. But God quickly humbled me as I got to work and struggled putting nails in straight through the studs. Those that know me are well aware that my hand-eye coordination is decent, but by no means noteworthy. Unfortunately for me, that day I couldn’t line things up for the life of me and I became quickly frustrated as I slowed things down, hitting my fingers and bending nails along the way. You may guess where this is going, but guess who got the dreaded hammer lesson that day? Yup, it’s me (hi, I’m the problem it’s me, as the beloved Taylor Swift would say).

Mark offered me a set of pliers, and gave me the advice to hold the nail between the pliers and then hammer the nail in. This would allow me to hit more firmly without fear of hitting my fingers. I slowed down and tried to focus on making solid hits in the center of the nail, so I wouldn’t keep bending them. In the moment, I felt flustered and frustrated. I didn’t want everyone thinking I was useless, especially since I had had more build experience than the other group members. But I chose to take the high road, recognizing that any effort is moving the needle forward on the project, and I was doing something that doesn’t naturally come easy for me. As I balanced at the top of the ladder I took a breath, checked my attitude, and got back to work. Though it was an embarrassing part of the day, it helped me appreciate that there is always room for growth and that the day was not about me, but about the work we get to do to help others.

Final touches

I was also reminded about the need to be adaptable in order to handle change effectively. Most of my trip was not what I anticipated it would be. From the change in build days, altering plans due to extreme heat and storms, and of course the mess at the airport had me pivoting again and again. I, like most people, am a creature of habit. I appreciate the consistency of routines, and feel less anxious when I have control of my plans. Inevitably, life will throw curve balls that I have learned to take on. In the moment, it can feel chaotic and a bit stressful. But I have become better at embracing new things and taking life one step at a time. There’s a saying which says when we plan, God laughs. I think He laughs at me a lot for thinking I could possibly have control of every aspect of my life. I often pray for patience, because it is something I naturally just do not possess. But instead of changing the circumstance, I’ve seen God changing my ability to handle what life hands me, and that is what has taught me patience and resilience.

My crew

Perhaps most importantly, it became evident to me that sometimes life seems to go awry, but it is in those moments that God can use us the most. For the almost 24 hour period I was trapped at the airport, I met many people who were simply trying to get to where they wanted to go like I was. For some like me, we wanted to go home. For others, they were trying to make it to their child’s weddings or to a connecting flight overseas. Whatever the case, enduring the same struggle brought a group of complete strangers together. I did my best to check in on others around me, and by the end of the evening we became a hodge podge family. I did my best to make sure no one was left behind to fend for themselves. I explained to one woman what it meant to be on standby, as she waited to board a connecting flight on her journey to Qatar to see family. I gave a mother and daughter updates on status of the flight we were tracking, because the daughter had her medication in her luggage and she was becoming upset because she needed it. Another man sitting near to them thanked me for simply being kind, saying he had watched me help others for hours. A few others had run into me several times over the course of the day and helped me find a place to sit down after scrambling between gates left me completely exhausted at 1:30am. Yet another person stayed with me into the night, as we tried to fitfully sleep on chairs by one of the gates.

Learning, growing, 
loving every minute

Each of these small moments gave me an extra push to keep going. After awhile it struck me that my current circumstances did not negate the connections I could make with all of those people. I took a minute to pray for each person I met, and thanked God for putting me in the paths of each passenger so I could show them even a glimpse of His light. Was that ordeal enjoyable? Of course not. But I’d like to think that each of those connections was intentionally put in motion by God, so people had a bit of hope in the middle of a stressful and chaotic environment. This last leg of my trip taught me yet again to look outside of my own experience to get a wider perspective. I was reminded to find silver linings and to use little moments to make a difference. The small things add up, and I think more than ever we can use reminders that we can always make a difference, even if it’s just for one person, one minute at a time.

Wow, holy long post. If you’ve stuck around this long, thank you for reading and tracking my progress on this journey. I can tell this has all started to shift my heart posture to focus on the bigger picture, and I have loved each memory that has gotten me here. Can’t wait to see what’s next, and hope you’re excited to see where this goes too!

                                                                            

Insulation

 Y’all, 2023 has started out as quite the ride.

Each year folks make resolutions and commit to making the next year better than the one before. What we don’t tend to factor in are things outside of our control. This year has been an uphill battle from the start, so I'm glad I didn't make a resolution to add to it. Within the first week of this year my family and I experienced a major family emergency that completely rocked us. At the same time, I was preparing to travel down to South Carolina for work for several weeks. It felt like the world was caving in and suffocating me. I’m so happy to say that my family has come through this difficult time together, but we’ve got a long road ahead. Work has been busy and challenging, and has kept me at a higher stress level than usual. All this to say, this year has come in roaring like a lion, and I've felt like its prey.  

Despite the rocky start to this year, I’ve continued leaning on God to see me through. My church does 21 days of prayer and fasting each year to reset and refocus on our relationship with the Lord. As part of this, we take a note card and write out the things we believe God for in the new year. For this year, one of the things I’m believing God for is to provide me an opportunity to serve in at least two more states with Habitat, and to potentially even serve on a Global Village mission if the organization opens these opportunities up again. This year started out with many challenges, but God gives you ways to work through it if you let Him.  

Admiring the handiwork

Before work really ramped up, I perused different Habitat for Humanity chapters to see if one was able to host me for a day or two. To be honest, this time around I wasn’t sure about how excited I was to serve again. I was having a hard time just getting through each day, still adjusting after all my family and I were going through, on top of a huge workload. I’ve been left feeling vulnerable and exhausted. But sometimes, the best way to get out of a funk is to do things that remind you of better days. I happened to be relatively close to a Habitat chapter in Columbia, SC and decided this was my chance to let God work on my heart a bit and to allow myself to do something other than worry about everything going on.

I arrived on a cold, blustery January morning to the initial job site, and shortly thereafter I met some of the volunteers for the day. Two of the volunteers were from nearby Fort Jackson, the US Army’s main training center for men and women going through basic training. They were both friendly and excited to volunteer; neither of which had much experience with Habitat yet. The minutes began to tick by, but we hit a snag in the day’s plan-none of the staff showed up! Thankfully, a home owner arrived and got a hold of a construction leader, who said there must have been a mix up and they were at another site for the day. Oops! We were able to get the new address, which was only 15-20 minutes away, and we collectively hopped in our vehicles and rerouted to the new site.

The cold never bothered me anyway...

Once we arrived at the second site, we met up with some other volunteers and the construction leader of the day. The new location we arrived at had an existing home on the lot already, and our task would be to stain both the front porch and the back deck. The cold was preventing the crew from beginning, as it was too cold for the stain to process correctly. 

As luck would have it, the temperature finally reached 35 degrees when we arrived on site (the minimum temperature needed), and we were able to get to work. I can’t lie, part of me was regretting my decision to join in; I was bundled in three layers of clothing and had winter gloves on underneath a set of latex gloves, and I was frozen. But once I set my mind to helping, I don’t turn back. We grabbed cans of cherry wood stain and paint brushes, turned on some tunes, and got to work on the back deck. I spent time carefully running my paint brush over the spindles of the railing and down the steps, being sure to wipe up any excess stain so all that was left was a smooth even coat. Most of the volunteers were quick to finish and moved on to the front porch. Myself and the two soldiers I had met wanted to take our time and make sure the job was done right, so we lingered in the backyard making sure every inch of the deck was adequately covered in stain before we followed the group to the front yard.

Just as before, I set to work doing the finishing touches on the front porch, using the last bits of stain I had left before stepping back to admire our handiwork. The sun was finally peaking out and the wind started to die down, and for the first time it felt bearable to be outside. Once we finished the front porch, the construction leader called it quits for us and most of the volunteers dispersed to their vehicles, hoping to get warm. The two soldiers and I weren’t quite ready to call it quits though; we still had a few hours left before we were supposed to be done for the day. We offered to go back to the site we originally met at to continue working, and the leader took us up on our offer. The 20 minute drive back over to the first site was a welcome relief from the elements, and my body finally returned to a normal temperature by the time we arrived.

Expanding foam

We all piled in to one new home being constructed, and two construction leaders told us our next job was to install insulation along the exterior walls of the home. We were ecstatic to be able to do a job inside where the walls protected us against the wind. The leaders told us that before packing in the fluffy pink insulation pieces in the walls, we would need to place expanding foam caulk around areas where there was space leading to the outdoors, and in areas where electrical wires were running through the walls. Not only would this fill up gaps in the walls that would leak cold air into the home, but in the event of a fire the foam would prevent fire from spreading along the electrical lines into other areas of the structure. Full disclaimer, the construction leaders explained this much better than I can, but this was the gist I got from the explanations they provided. Another soldier joined us about a half hour after we arrived at this site, and then the four of us split up and either applied the caulk or began cutting and inserting insulation into the walls.

Packing insulation

I learned easy ways to cut insulation pieces, and then carefully stuffed the remnants into every section of the walls. The process went pretty quickly once we got a rhythm down, and we were able to complete most of the insulation in one home by the end of the day. The last step we had to leave behind was to take scraps of insulation and stuff every nook and cranny around the doorways and the windows, to ensure cold air wouldn’t leak through once they installed sheetrock over everything.

When I looked down at myself, I was covered in pink insulation. I eventually learned that the insulation, which includes small pieces of fiberglass, gets everywhere and is very itchy. I learned later that we should have been wearing masks to prevent these pieces from getting into our lungs. Unfortunately, those weren’t offered to us, and this is a learning moment I’ll take with me to other sites. It’s always worth it to ask if you feel like you need protective equipment, and it’s always best to advocate for yourself and make sure everyone is safe onsite. I say this not to throw the staff under the bus, but to show that it’s important to ask questions if something seems off, and to remember that we’re all human and sometimes things slip through the cracks.

Cutting insulation

All in all, it was a successful day, and I was grateful when I got back to my hotel and had lunch and a hot shower. I froze my butt off, but learned another skill and had a chance to forget the funk I had been in since the start of the year. I don’t think I’ll have time to serve more in South Carolina like I normally try to, but I’ll take the day I was able to have. It’s been almost a month since I served, and the days are still hard, but getting better. I’m taking it day by day, and I’m sure by the time you hear from me again things will be looking up. You know, I think I’ve been looking for ways to insulate myself from the weight of the world lately. Maybe it wasn’t as much of a coincidence that this is where I was led. In the midst of a day that didn’t go exactly as planned, I still found a spark of joy doing what I love to do. I’ll carry that sentiment with me during the rest of my stay in South Carolina, and into the rest of this year. You’ll be hearing from me again when I see where God leads me next, and I’m sure I’ll be experiencing brighter days by then.  

Until next time,

Lisa

Painting Ladies

Hey there friends!

Ladies rocking Habitat

Day two of my West Virginia adventures started off on a much cooler note-thank goodness. Temperatures were a much more agreeable 70° F with a steady breeze, which made building throughout the day much more enjoyable. I arrived at the same site as before and found Tiny in his red hardhat and shirt combo, as expected, milling around the site. I caught up to him, signed in, and also got to meet my two teammates for the day. I was excited to see that for two days in a row I got to work with women-usually I’m the only woman on a site and it’s empowering to see more of us working together and learning new things! One volunteer was Casey, who had volunteered once with Habitat in Texas and was excited to learn more about building so she could apply skills learned to her own newly purchased home. The other volunteer was a future Habitat homeowner, who was working through her sweat equity hours so she could be selected for a home (I forgot to ask permission to use her name, so for her privacy I’ll keep it anonymous). Her friend is also a Habitat homeowner, and she was excited to someday live near her with her two sons. Tiny rallied us together and had us get right to work painting the foundations of the homes Darby and I had worked on the day before. With paint and tools in hand, I led the way up the hill across the site to get down to business. 

Getting my tan on

Both women were a bit unsure of themselves at first, so I took a few minutes to explain how to paint in order to fully fill the small holes in the concrete bricks and have good coverage. I strategized the best way for us to work around each other, and gave them instructions on where to begin, and how to proceed along the walls to ensure we fully covered each of the walls of the home. Once we got going, both of them seemed to get more comfortable and we got into a groove. It was fun for me to have an opportunity to take the lead and teach others about the tasks we were doing. I’m usually the student at these sites, so it meant a lot for me to feel comfortable enough to be able to mentor volunteers and teach them something new. Again, it’s another thing I love about volunteering with this organization. It’s given me a chance to gain confidence and learn new skills in a once unfamiliar environment, and grow into a mentor for others who are in the place I used to be in when I first started my journey.

As we were painting and enjoying the summer breeze, we all got to chat and learn more about each other. Casey and I had the privilege of working alongside someone currently going through the program, and we had the opportunity to hear her perspective of how it is to be in the process of receiving a Habitat home. She spoke about working the sweat equity hours, and how informative she thought the homeowner curriculum was she was required to complete before accepting a home. She was learning new skills and felt more prepared to take on home ownership once the time comes. She mentioned that she was a phlebotomist and was hoping to go back to nursing school. This homeowner was motivated to make a better life for her family, and it felt really good to know we were quite possibly working on a home where she and her kids will one day be making happy memories together.

I think it’s important for me to touch on the fact that this woman has a stable job, a loving family, and yes, qualifies for a Habitat for Humanity home. Many people think this organization gives away homes to the homeless or gives handouts to bums who don’t earn or appreciate the kindness given to them. That’s not the case! Habitat homeowners are honest people trying to make a life for themselves and their families. Life circumstances sometimes get in the way, but these folks have jobs, make mortgage payments and pay bills just like everyone else. Like Tiny mentioned, Habitat for Humanity is simply giving people an honest shot at owning a home when life has dealt them a less-than-ideal hand in some cases. Habitat for Humanity selects homebuyers based on three things:

1.       Their need for adequate shelter.

2.       Their ability to pay for the home.

3.       Their willingness to partner with Habitat for Humanity.

The selection process is thorough, often comprising of home visits and comprehensive reviews of applications. Information materials provided to me by Trevor, this chapter’s volunteer coordinator, state that the selection process can take up to two or three months. After selection and becoming acquainted with the program, homebuyers are able to really take ownership of the process and have a sense of pride in the effort they have to put in to get the keys to their home.

All this to say, I always really appreciate the times I get to work alongside people going through the program, because they are the reason this organization exists. Sometimes it’s easy to think that you’re not making that much of a difference, but when you get to meet those who benefit from the work you realize how much your own sweat equity hours matter. Even when you can’t see massive progress at the end of a day, eight hours of honest work takes the project farther than when it was when you arrived that day!

Losing track of which
brick I was on

Well I better get off my soapbox and get back to the story. The three of us worked diligently through the rest of the day; I spent much of my time on a ladder taping off the siding and painting the upper portions of the foundation. It was slow and methodical work, but was honestly quite peaceful once you got into a rhythm. I felt like the Karate Kid practicing “paint the fence” for hours. By the end of the afternoon we had painted six walls, which wrapped up painting the foundations of the two houses we had been working on. And just like that, it was time to go. It was a bittersweet moment to say goodbye to the ladies and to Tiny. To be quite honest, the past few weeks leading up to this trip had been tough for me, and I really needed to be surrounded by goodhearted people. It felt nice to be around others who were just happy living in the moment, and doing some good for others while they’re at it. I missed them as soon as I started driving down the hill back into town, but didn’t let that get in the way of my plans to explore downtown Charleston for one more night.

Celebrating a job well done

I ended my second build day by taking myself to dinner downtown, and walking to the waterfront to watch the boats drift by with families enjoying the summer evening. I wandered down the main drag of town and stumbled upon a small music festival, where a crowd had gathered in a small courtyard to listen to tunes as the sun began to set. I sat for a while and listened, watching small town America come together for a fun summer night. After a time I left, packed my bags, and went to sleep early to prepare for one final adventure the next day on my way home to Virginia.

Bridge walk

Waking up on Sunday morning, I felt energized and ready to tackle the six hour drive back home. I had to make one pit stop though-to do The Bridge Walk. This is an opportunity to walk across the New River Gorge Bridge, the iconic single arch bridge you may have seen on the West Virginia state quarter. I paid someone good money to get hooked to a harness and walk along a two foot wide catwalk, traversing the 3,030 foot bridge as I took in the view of the New River Gorge from 851 feet in the air. To put that in perspective, that’s a little more than 300 feet higher than the Washington Monument in DC! It was chilly under the bridge, with temperatures hovering around 50°F with the wind and shade from the road above. The view of the gorge was spectacular; you could see the original bridge, part of the famous river rapids, and peregrine falcons soaring over the trees many feet below. The mountains were a lush green and met the bright blue sky, dotted by the occasional cloud. I loved taking in the picturesque mountain view and getting some fresh air before climbing back in my car to head home. Don’t worry, I didn’t run into any madmen on the freeway this time.

I walked under that!

All in all, this was a much needed trip. God has created a beautiful country for us to enjoy, and has put some pretty great people in it too. I was reminded of how impactful a kind gesture and an open heart can be, and I really believe the Lord prompted me to come here to refuel and use the gifts He’s blessed me with. As a parting word until my next build, I encourage anyone reading to give Habitat a try. If building isn’t your thing, find another way to give back to your community using the passions and gifts you’ve been given. It helps others so much, but also impacts you in a way you can’t imagine until you’re right there in it. Get out and enjoy the world around you while you’re at it, there’s so many things to experience that make life truly rich. I’m already dreaming about my next building adventure, and you’re welcome along!

Until Next Time,

Lisa