Working on Someone Else's House

I work at an organization that grants one-month sabbaticals to employees who have been employed for 10 years or more. I have worked at the organization for almost 12 years and applied for a sabbatical this year. My application was approved and I am now spending the month of October working for Habitat for Humanity. I started on Thursday, Oct. 1st.  Happily, my days will be filled with working on other peoples' homes. No cubicle for one whole month!

I'm still working on my own house, still working on replacing the tape in the seams in the master bedroom, making slow progress. But with Habitat, the progress is faster and the reward for the work is much greater.

My first day was spent at the Women Build house. The Women Build projects "provide low-income families
with decent, affordable homes and an opportunity for women to learn
construction in a supportive, encouraging and empowering environment." I spent the day helping with building the retaining wall. The picture is a little dated because the driveway, front steps, and siding have been completed. The next time I'm assigned to work on the house I'll take an updated picture.

This sabbatical opportunity is a gift to me. I'm getting to learn new skills while helping someone else acquire someplace safe and comfortable to call home. As much as I struggle with the progress on my own house, I'm heartened by seeing progress being made on other peoples' houses and know that someday I will have a house I can be proud of.

Throughout the month I will be sharing my experiences of my volunteer work with Habitat, so keep coming back for updates.