Hey everyone,
Thought I’d give my last thoughts on this past week. I believe we got many of these families much closer to moving back into their homes but I think that we all left with a want to do more. The people we met have been so grateful for everything we’ve done yet they’re still so far from where they want to be. I just want to mention a couple people who really left a mark on this trip for me.
Leon: This man is a rock. US Army Vet, he showed very little emotion while Team Delta worked on ripping up the floor in his house so new floor can go in. He didn’t say much but you could tell that he wanted to be a “part” of our group. He showed us his property where pretty much his entire life was out there for all to see. All it took was four college guys (Bill, Stephen, Josh and myself) willing to get him one step closer to getting him back into that house that got him to start slowly opening up. KITTIES!!! hahaha
Nick and Payton: This duo was a trip for the day we were working with them. Nick gave us a lot of lessons he learned the hard way, He had been in trouble with drugs and had a criminal record but when his sons came he turned his life around and has been clean for 20 years. His son, Payton, supervised all of us and constantly reminded us that this was his house. All they wanted was that their walls be painted so they could get the floor started by Christmas and Team Charlie, Josh and I got them halfway there in one day.
Bill: This dude. I never would have stopped to talk to this guy before this trip. He’s a nerd and cracks bad jokes so I guess it’s because I see a bit of myself in him. I never seen a guy get pull out of his comfort zone so much and show such emotion. He worked his ass off with rest of the Smash Bros (Team Delta) and I now have a respect for his work ethic, his drive and I admire that he will constantly make himself the butt of the joke to relieve whatever tension there might be. Bro, I appreciate all you did and that you weren’t afraid to make us feel better at your own expense. Welcome to the family.
Stephany: I told you this before. We need more people like you on these trips. You engage people like no one else I’ve met before and you make everything you’re a part of that much more comfortable. You said that Nick and Payton made your day on Friday. I think I can speak for everyone in that house that you made OUR day. I hope you stick around for more trip so that others can see what it’s like to be with you and I hope that I get talk to you again before I leave for good.
Sara: I know that you and I came into this trip with similar motivations. We thought “Let’s forget ourselves and focus on who we’re helping.” It’s fair to say that while we stuck to our thought process this whole week, we both came away with as much as everyone that we had helped. We gained new people to call “family.” I will say this and I know I told you this already. Your religion is not what’s important. It’s what you do in the name of your religion that is most important. I can say that your intentions were good and that I’m proud that I got to work with you this week.
Ted: Dude, you were one of the people who I never thought I’d get to know while I was at Nova. I definitely didn’t expect to see the sides of you that I saw this week. We saw the cocky joker who’d strut around with no shirt talkin’ bout “Tha Hunt.” We also saw the part of you that refused to open up. I think I might understand your thoughts about that better than most people. You think that your emotions are something that you yourself should know and a VERY select few. I had a blast working with you this week bro. Hope to catch you around sometime.
Stephen: I don’t think I’ve ever met dude that is so willing to go all out to help someone else. You made everyone who worked with you step up so they keep up. I know this since I can be EXTREMELY competitive and I felt the need that I needed to keep pace with you otherwise we would have left in the dust. Thank you for being the heart of Team Delta aka Super Smash Bros.
Zach C.
