Back when I worked in an office, vacationing colleagues would often return saying, “ I need a vacation to recover from that vacation.” They likely ate too much, probably drank too much, didn’t exercise enough and perhaps were with people they didn’t like very much.
I’ve had a few of those. Not many, thank goodness.
My first week-long Habitat for Humanity Global Village build was 2009. I led a Vermont church group to Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. Our twenty person team worked for a week and helped build two homes. We’d have an early breakfast, go to the work site, return at 4 PM, clean up and maybe have wine or tea before 6:30 dinner. By Friday we were tired. But we returned home Sunday with deep contentment and gratitude. And deeply inspired. When we went back to work, school or wherever Monday morning, we smiled.
Since 2009 I’ve led thirty five Travel and Build trips with three organizations to eleven countries in Central America, South America, Europe and Asia. We usually leave home Thursday or Friday, have our first dinner Saturday evening, tour on Sunday, work Monday – Friday and return home Sunday.
One Friday afternoon in San Lucas, Guatemala, after an especially hard week of digging footers, mixing concrete and carrying blocks, a participant told me, “Duane, I’m so tired but so inspired.”
We’re inspired because of a unique and rewarding routine. Our muscles get a thorough work out. Our clothes and hands get dirty. Each day we see progress as a new home is built.
We’re inspired by new friends. We bring our best selves to our work week. Being present with other travelers who also have a healthy curiosity and openness about other cultures and histories is deeply enriching. Working side by side with someone for eight hours helps get acquainted quickly. I now have several hundred friends on four continents who helped build simple, decent homes with people in need.
We’re inspired by our conversations. We reflect on how the experience impacts us. We share how our perspective on housing and poverty has changed. We reflect on our experience in the grand scheme of life – yes, it gets deep sometimes. We ponder our deep privilege to experience trips like this.
We’re inspired because our gratitude is awakened. We’re filled with gratitude for new friends who also share the joy of giving. We find joy in this troubled world.
Many of us return home with a wish that family and friends could join this experience sometime. Maybe someday they will.
And so, I’ll continue inspiring travel as long as they let me. I’ll return to many of the places where I’ve been and see old friends and visit homeowners whose home I helped build. Join me sometime, we’ll go to Guatemala, Mexico, Portugal, Romania, Poland, Armenia, El Salvador and many other places to build simple, decent homes and enjoy inspiring travel.
