How I Became One of the Guys...

Today here in Gaston, NC (and subsequently Weldon, N.C.) we had a day filled with service and I don't think I've ever felt more accomplished on a Saturday in my life! The day began early, as usual, but we missed the sunrise :(. It was okay though because I for one woke up to the smell of eggs, which Arturo kindly cooked for everyone.

We started at Angel's Closet, a non-profit organization led by a man in the community who decided to clothe and feed anyone in the area who needed it. In fact, our leader Phil told us about a recent fire in a local family's home; Angel's Closet donated clothing to the family who lost everything. Our job was to clean out the huge warehouse where they're moving their operation, an old auto body shop being converted. The warehouse was filled with trash and plywood and a ton of hay, as well as some heavier and more bulky objects. We filled three whole dumpsters (the big metal ones).

(This is how I realized that being able to lift heavy objects makes you pretty darn hardcore.)

Everyone worked really hard, probably equivalent to how hard Kipp teachers work, but in a physical way. Phil rewarded us with pizza!

Then it was time for Habitat. We met Greg to go over to a gorgeous house (on the outside). Inside, though, I thought I was going to cry, and then throw up, and then cry some more. It was filthy! Our job was to rip up the carpet and take out the cabinets, all of which we completed with masks on because of the dust in the air. The people who had received the house originally from Habitat had completely destroyed it and then disappeared. What they left behind were cockroaches, and urine, and a toilet I was forced to look at (by Brian) that you don't even want to know about. The house had to be fumigated, we found the leftovers. We worked really hard though. The reason I was going to cry was that there were pictures of the kids who lived there behind the gun cabinet and in the trash piles. It made me feel awful that those kids lived in that house, and that kids everywhere live that way.

Overall it was an amazing experience to work like that, physical labor does the body good, and for charity it helps the spirit. I'm sure we'll all be sore tomorrow, but I doubt anyone feels unaccomplished.

(I have the really puffy finger to prove it, and a really big smile.)

Dinner crew is making tacos now, and I am looking forward to community tonight :).

Holly