Last week I went with Mennonite Disaster Service to Minot with a group of CMU students to help in the rebuilding process. We were housed in the basement of a local church and worked in different groups helping rebuild homes.
The week was one big party. We would wake up at 6:30am, go to work at 8am, get back at 5pm, and then eat supper and hang out until very late. I got the chance to make friends with people I don't see often in school.
Here's what stuck in my head about the week:
1. Having only three showers in a single bathroom that had to therefore be designated as a men's or women's washroom at any particular time. After working for 11 hours straight. With a tiny hot water tank. 7 women. 4 men. You get the picture. Long waits and cold showers for most.
2. We were working on the home of a wonderful lady who brought us cookies and Sunny D and coffee every day at 3pm. It was the highlight of our day. Then, one afternoon, the members of another of our crews came over on a break. Which was great. Except they proceeded to be so happy and excited and make so much noise that the lady heard the noise and decided not to come that day. Grrr...!
3. We also had some really late nights. 2-3am when we had to be up at 6:30 in the morning. What did we do with our time? A Monopoly game (with one player who stated flatly that she did not want to play but then played anyways and refused to sell any of her properties to anyone), Criss Angel videos, and talking. Lots of talking. About the flood, about how the people were doing in Minot, and about why some of the long-term volunteers were here. It was interesting being exposed to a very different perspective.
Carrying bunk beds into a church.
I know it looks like an MDS promotional picture, but he actually is having this much fun.
CMU school trips like the MDS one are like the "icing on the cake" in our university experience. It's cool to be able to help others, and to go representing our school.
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