YRUU Habitat for Humanity 2023

Habitat Delivers Hope with Heart
By Becky Hruby, Director of Religious Education for Children and Youth

Thank you to the amazing teens and adults that went on the 2023 Habitat for Humanity trip this July. This is such an amazing opportunity with reciprocal benefits. But don't take my word for it. I'd like to share perspectives from one of our highschoolers, one of our advisors, and one of the on site construction advisors from this year's trip. 

First, let's hear from one of our teens:

"When I first went on Habitat last year, I was incredibly anxious because I was really only close with one person there- Soren. I was really blown away by how quickly the community developed, from quiet and small talk, to deep and meaningful conversations. This year, I found myself being able to start off right away with talking to others I didn’t know as well, like Sami and Mae. We built our own community within the larger community, where we felt safe to talk and open to listen while having fun. I still had much to learn this year, and as I developed and relearned my own skills, I helped others learn the skills I had learned my first year too. 

Even more so, this year I saw an even stronger sense of community than last, especially with the new people coming in. That encouraged even deeper conversations than my first year, students and advisors alike, talking about “the meaning of life” and even opening up about some of the hardest times of our life that we wouldn’t normally share with someone you got to know in less than a week. I will always remember how grateful our last family was for building her house, and am excited to continue to make an impact on the future families." -Leilyn

Next, an advisor reflection:

• In the spirit of free-thinking Unitarians, we had a week-long spirited debate about the merits of free will and determinism. 

• We were blessed with the generosity of Redwing area churches that provided us with lunches and even a nice dinner.

• Typically we take our breaks under a pop-up canopy, but this year we had the luxury of taking our breaks and eating our lunch in the garage of the house next door, which also happened to be the house we worked on last year.

• We got to participate in the creation of a promotional video about job site safety.

• Kids learned how to use tools, pound nails and crush garlic with a big knife.

• We had a wonderful play day where we swam and played frisbee in the confluence of the St. Croix and Mississippi rivers.

And finally, a letter from John Parkes, Construction Advisor, Goodhue County Habitat for Humanity:

I trust that you have had a rewarding week with Goodhue County Habitat for Humanity. I will be processing this week for some time as I ponder the power of transformation, of which I am always amazed to witness. This week was no exception, watching a group of people, untested, inexperienced, maybe even a bit ambivalent about why they were there, become a strong force of good in the world. At Habitat we talk about building Homes, Hope and Community. Did we not do all three? Did we not become a community, as we labored together in the heat, struggling through difficulties, not always knowing what to do? And didn’t we experience the community coming together every day when the food would just show up, always with plenty to spare? That is community at its finest and your arrival here made that happen.  

The building Homes was obvious as we stood up walls, painted siding, landscaped hillsides, and took refuge from the heat in a garage that your group had labored to build a year ago. Someday this fall or winter, a family will occupy that home we began to build, and it will change their lives, we know it to be true.

Building Hope is what I want to focus on. You have no idea how Hope became inflamed in my heart due to your presence here this week. As I mentioned at the picnic, building a home is hard work, but there is one way that is even harder; without volunteers. Your energy and enthusiasm gave us reason to continue, to move forward knowing that there is a generation (or two) behind us that will carry on a legacy of giving selflessly to others. I hope you become ambassadors of the work that Habitat does all over the world. Go home and tell your families and your congregation that you were the light bringers, that you brought the Hope to Goodhue County, that at least one family in the world will have a better life because you brought the Hope. You can tell them that one old burnt out leader from Goodhue County was reinspired because you brought the Hope. Tell them that there is good reason to have Hope, that people working together can still change the world. Tell your parents that they raised exceptional children that exceeded every expectation that we had about what could be done. Tell them that you have some amazing adult leaders that continue to bless our affiliate year after year, that the sacrifice they make to have an impact on young people and help our organization is life giving and a true vision of the power of love. Goodhue County is a better place because of all of your efforts, it even spilled into Wisconsin. Your generous donation of time and money will be remembered every day that we labor to complete the Diaz home and beyond. Go home and continue to bring the light, and the Hope, everywhere you go. We look forward to the day when we can make transformation happen again. Blessings on you all.