Reflection
Tammy Schmitz
June 27, 2010
8:33pm
I’d like to think I set out on these trips year after year to only do good in the community of Missions, but I find a lot of the reason for my going is for me.
It’s hard to believe that only 24 hours ago we were in South Dakota.
Each trip has been different over the years.
On the way home I was asked why I came back this year.
I feel somewhat selfish for my reasons.
I cherish the friendships that have been established over the years.
I love talking to Stacy and hearing about how her grandchildren are doing and seeing what additions she has made to the very first house I helped to build.
She is a wonderful woman who gives back daily to her community.
I go for the friendships established in Missions.
I enjoy having a more intimate relationship with dear friends from Emmanuel and getting to know those from Emmanuel who I seldom see or do not know.
It is refreshing in a way to know everyone struggles with his or her own baggage and to appreciate that I am not the only one.
The part in which I embrace is that we are all able to put all that stress, pain, and anger away and pull together as a team to create something wonderful for another family struggling with their own issues.
One of the homes we worked on was for a family of 14.
The family lived in a small beaten down home with wholes in the walls and reports of frost that covered the inside walls during the winter months. I can’t imagine living in those kinds of conditions. I complain when I have to walk from the car to an inside building in the winter and this family lived winters in South Dakota day and night in these conditions. Seeing conditions such as these reminds me that I need to appreciate what I have. I embrace these reality checks and go on the mission trips for this reason.
Another home we worked on is in the middle of nowhere with no protection from the wind during the winter months.
The owners of cattle build small wooden fences to protect their cows from the bitter wind during the winter. Now that is cold!!
We almost finished one deck and started another at that house.
Don and I worked under the house stuffing the cracks on the frame of the house in hopes of making the new owners a little warmer during the winter months this year. We all worked hard and long hours during the day, but at the end of the day, sunburned, physical drained and tired, we always wished we could have done more to finish the homes.
I always left the site each day wishing I had just one more hour, just a little more strength to complete one more thing.
With all this said I go on these trips for the physical and demanding work.
I love learning new skills and reviewing old ones.
I love power tools!!
God’s creation looks so much different in Mission then it does here in Webster Groves/ Maryland Heights.
There is little sound of highways like here at home. Roads are often gravel and less traveled.
There is a consistent breeze blowing through the sweet grass and wild flowers and the night sky is blanketed in thousands of stars.
Mornings are silent and smell fresh and evenings are cool/cold and there is a symphony of crickets and bullfrogs serenading the night sky.
Mission’s environment is a great place for me to reflect over the past, embrace the present and explore ideas for the future. I may not be able to sit as still as some would like, but Mission, South Dakota has a way of calming me down and soothing my rough edges.
So I guess you might say I go on these trips to collect myself and regroup.
I missed the social interaction with the community this year, as it was not as present as in years past.
I look forward to those times to learn more about the Lakota people and the Lakota way, but time seemed to work against us during the week.
I can always hope the interaction within more of the community will be more present next year.
I enjoyed and want to thank everyone who attended this past week.
Each of you taught me something about something whether it was about yourself or myself.
All 15 of you are beautiful, loving people and I feel very blessed to have been able to spend one week with you.
Kudos to Donna for her planning, Andy, Tracy, Keith, and Donna for our safe arrivals and Glen’s soft supportive and guiding hands in teaching. Keith, our communion and intimate service in the Badlands was one I will cherish forever. What a gift.
I love the work and getting sweaty while dirt collects around my neck, ankles and other undesirable places.
I love going home feeling totally wiped out, chewed up and spit out.
I’d like to think I set out on these trips year after year to only do good in the community of Mission, but I find a lot of my going is for me.
June 27, 2010
8:33pm
I’d like to think I set out on these trips year after year to only do good in the community of Missions, but I find a lot of the reason for my going is for me.
It’s hard to believe that only 24 hours ago we were in South Dakota.
Each trip has been different over the years.
On the way home I was asked why I came back this year.
I feel somewhat selfish for my reasons.
I cherish the friendships that have been established over the years.
I love talking to Stacy and hearing about how her grandchildren are doing and seeing what additions she has made to the very first house I helped to build.
She is a wonderful woman who gives back daily to her community.
I go for the friendships established in Missions.
I enjoy having a more intimate relationship with dear friends from Emmanuel and getting to know those from Emmanuel who I seldom see or do not know.
It is refreshing in a way to know everyone struggles with his or her own baggage and to appreciate that I am not the only one.
The part in which I embrace is that we are all able to put all that stress, pain, and anger away and pull together as a team to create something wonderful for another family struggling with their own issues.
One of the homes we worked on was for a family of 14.
The family lived in a small beaten down home with wholes in the walls and reports of frost that covered the inside walls during the winter months. I can’t imagine living in those kinds of conditions. I complain when I have to walk from the car to an inside building in the winter and this family lived winters in South Dakota day and night in these conditions. Seeing conditions such as these reminds me that I need to appreciate what I have. I embrace these reality checks and go on the mission trips for this reason.
Another home we worked on is in the middle of nowhere with no protection from the wind during the winter months.
The owners of cattle build small wooden fences to protect their cows from the bitter wind during the winter. Now that is cold!!
We almost finished one deck and started another at that house.
Don and I worked under the house stuffing the cracks on the frame of the house in hopes of making the new owners a little warmer during the winter months this year. We all worked hard and long hours during the day, but at the end of the day, sunburned, physical drained and tired, we always wished we could have done more to finish the homes.
I always left the site each day wishing I had just one more hour, just a little more strength to complete one more thing.
With all this said I go on these trips for the physical and demanding work.
I love learning new skills and reviewing old ones.
I love power tools!!
God’s creation looks so much different in Mission then it does here in Webster Groves/ Maryland Heights. There is little sound of highways like here at home. Roads are often gravel and less traveled.
There is a consistent breeze blowing through the sweet grass and wild flowers and the night sky is blanketed in thousands of stars.
Mornings are silent and smell fresh and evenings are cool/cold and there is a symphony of crickets and bullfrogs serenading the night sky.
Mission’s environment is a great place for me to reflect over the past, embrace the present and explore ideas for the future. I may not be able to sit as still as some would like, but Mission, South Dakota has a way of calming me down and soothing my rough edges.
So I guess you might say I go on these trips to collect myself and regroup.
I missed the social interaction with the community this year, as it was not as present as in years past.
I look forward to those times to learn more about the Lakota people and the Lakota way, but time seemed to work against us during the week.
I can always hope the interaction within more of the community will be more present next year.
I enjoyed and want to thank everyone who attended this past week.
Each of you taught me something about something whether it was about yourself or myself.
All 15 of you are beautiful, loving people and I feel very blessed to have been able to spend one week with you.
Kudos to Donna for her planning, Andy, Tracy, Keith, and Donna for our safe arrivals and Glen’s soft supportive and guiding hands in teaching. Keith, our communion and intimate service in the Badlands was one I will cherish forever. What a gift.
I love the work and getting sweaty while dirt collects around my neck, ankles and other undesirable places.
I love going home feeling totally wiped out, chewed up and spit out.
I’d like to think I set out on these trips year after year to only do good in the community of Mission, but I find a lot of my going is for me.
Very well said. Thank you!
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