OUR HABITAT FOR HUMANITY TRIP was a HAND UP

Two weeks out of December, two years in succession, and Christmas just around the corner. On December 7th Christine and I joined a team of volunteers to fly to Kauai where we served with Habitat for Humanity. Our 16-person group was daily divided on two different work sites, coming together for lunch each day, and of course driving home each afternoon. We met the Habitat leaders each morning in their Hanapepe work yard, did our circle, prayed, and then holding hands, extended out and then up as we recited, "we don't offer a hand out but a hand up."

At one site, designated the blue house, because of the colour applied to the exterior, a team of nine did much interior work, painting and a laying hard wood floor to repair damage from a fire. At the second site where Christine and I worked with five other, the assignment was repainting all interior rooms, 3 bathrooms, four bedrooms, living/dining room and kitchen, plus all doors and frames and sills and baseboards, and wood frame beds, as well as regrouting a kitchen tile floor. Both teams were very satisfied by the conclusion of the work week, that we had completed our assignments. Habitat folks could hardly contain their enthusiasm for our combined work ethic and output.

At the conclusion of each day we returned to Poipu, the small seaside town where we lived in the Hini Kai Villas. Leadership of our team was provided by Allan Kotanen, who has led 35 similar trips over the years. Often teams are comprised of students and alumni of Trinity Western University where Allan works in the Student Life department. His wife Sylvia is a perfect complement to his compelling social skills as she organizes all food preparation. We each have tasks, driving one of four vehicles, helping with dinners, cleanup, garbage removal, and so on. Following evening dinners we had a team meeting, debriefing, and sharing impressions and thoughts and one person offering a brief discourse about what God had been building in his or her life this year. On our days off, we travelled the island, beach combed, sat in the sun, played in the water, hiked and laughed, lots. A red-eye flight brought us home on the 18th.

We struck up good friendships with Habitat personnel, Bob, Drew, Rita, and Howie, and were happy to have them join us for dinner one night.