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Sep. 27th, 2008 12:08 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
vicarzSo tomorrow I leave to do my work for Habitat for Humanity. I either didn't explain how this came about, or since it's been months in the making a lot of people I talk to forgot. In any case, I think it's worth sharing:
Months ago I was having one of those grieving my dad moments. Oddly, I was in the closet - where I had put some of his old clothes (we were about the same size, so after his death I inherited a few coats and things) (come to think of it, going out in drag last night I was wearing his raincoat). I had one of those moments of regret where I wondered if I could have done more, visited more, taken him out to eat more while he was alive, not wasted 4 years in law school...the usual regrets, when BAM it occurred to me that I was grieving my dad while my mom was still alive. I hadn't taken any steps to visit her, and she had mentioned the idea many times. Honestly it seemed like an odd idea to use vacation time to visit family - for some reason family always seemed like work to me. Still, I had forever to grieve my dad who wasn't getting any deader when I could be spending time with my mom.
I called my mom and gave her the cliff notes version of the above, and said why don't we spend some time together. She instantly suggested HFH, and I thought it was a great idea. We get to spend time together, have a series of activities together, and do some good while we are at it. I have always liked HFH - they give to the poor, but only those that will use what they are given. I don't like handouts, but I do like enabling people who are willing to work. I also thought of all the time I spend in the gym - sure I'm healthy, but for what? To look pretty? To feel confident around bullies? To move the couch with ease? Here was a way to take all that work and actually make it count for something important.
We first considered NOLA, but I have a hard time being sympathetic to people so poor in USia that they don't have food or housing. So looking internationally, I moved us away from Africa where no place seems safe from guns or parasites, to central america. I consulted with a friend and chose Chile as a place that had areas of serious poverty, but was safe enough for my tastes. Also, the trip is a long one - which is very difficult on me in my line of work. Staying in or near the same time zone makes it easier to recover and get back to work.
So. I'm giving to charity with my mom. I get out of the office, see my mom, do some good, and with any luck enjoy myself. I was worried about the religious aspect of it, but my current understanding is that is not a large part of this particular group (the team leader is agnostic). I've told them I don't mind their "affirmations" if they don't mind me ignoring it. It seems I have the acts of a christian without the faith (where most religousy folks have the "faith" but no action).
If you review the web site, approve of their mission, and want to donate on your own - I highly encourage it.
I'll let you know how it goes. I may or may not have computer access in Chile.
Months ago I was having one of those grieving my dad moments. Oddly, I was in the closet - where I had put some of his old clothes (we were about the same size, so after his death I inherited a few coats and things) (come to think of it, going out in drag last night I was wearing his raincoat). I had one of those moments of regret where I wondered if I could have done more, visited more, taken him out to eat more while he was alive, not wasted 4 years in law school...the usual regrets, when BAM it occurred to me that I was grieving my dad while my mom was still alive. I hadn't taken any steps to visit her, and she had mentioned the idea many times. Honestly it seemed like an odd idea to use vacation time to visit family - for some reason family always seemed like work to me. Still, I had forever to grieve my dad who wasn't getting any deader when I could be spending time with my mom.
I called my mom and gave her the cliff notes version of the above, and said why don't we spend some time together. She instantly suggested HFH, and I thought it was a great idea. We get to spend time together, have a series of activities together, and do some good while we are at it. I have always liked HFH - they give to the poor, but only those that will use what they are given. I don't like handouts, but I do like enabling people who are willing to work. I also thought of all the time I spend in the gym - sure I'm healthy, but for what? To look pretty? To feel confident around bullies? To move the couch with ease? Here was a way to take all that work and actually make it count for something important.
We first considered NOLA, but I have a hard time being sympathetic to people so poor in USia that they don't have food or housing. So looking internationally, I moved us away from Africa where no place seems safe from guns or parasites, to central america. I consulted with a friend and chose Chile as a place that had areas of serious poverty, but was safe enough for my tastes. Also, the trip is a long one - which is very difficult on me in my line of work. Staying in or near the same time zone makes it easier to recover and get back to work.
So. I'm giving to charity with my mom. I get out of the office, see my mom, do some good, and with any luck enjoy myself. I was worried about the religious aspect of it, but my current understanding is that is not a large part of this particular group (the team leader is agnostic). I've told them I don't mind their "affirmations" if they don't mind me ignoring it. It seems I have the acts of a christian without the faith (where most religousy folks have the "faith" but no action).
If you review the web site, approve of their mission, and want to donate on your own - I highly encourage it.
I'll let you know how it goes. I may or may not have computer access in Chile.
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no subject
Date: 2008-09-27 05:08 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-27 05:26 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-27 05:51 pm (UTC)I did a mission trip to Jamaica during my senior year of grad school. We built a retaining wall for a church in central Jamaica (far, far away from any resorts and smack dab in the middle of lots of poverty). Our whole group (12 of us) stayed on a banana plantation, and while it was 'church' affiliated and there were nightly meetings, it wasn't shoved down our throats. It remains as one of my best memories still!
I love that you're doing it with your mom, too. I hope you both have a great, safe trip.
Yay!
Date: 2008-09-27 05:58 pm (UTC)I want to hear all about it. This is also on my list of things to do in life.
no subject
Date: 2008-09-27 07:51 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-27 08:09 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-27 08:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-27 08:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-27 08:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-27 09:05 pm (UTC)Some folks'll never lose a toe,
but then again some folks'll...
no subject
Date: 2008-09-27 11:08 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-27 11:16 pm (UTC)Are you going out tonight to try and see who you can see before you leave?
no subject
Date: 2008-09-27 11:55 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-27 11:59 pm (UTC)Different? Did you cut your hair?
no subject
Date: 2008-09-29 05:09 pm (UTC)