In 2012, I set up my new Share.Habitat online fundraising site and nervously sent out the link via Facebook in hopes of raising enough money to cover my $1,460 trip fee to help build two homes in the Dominican Republic on my first Habitat for Humanity Global Village trip.
Alice Lonetree, who was a member of Lawton First, the church we attended while stationed at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, made a $20 or 25 online donation. When I wrote to thank her, her response was something like, "Just doing the right thing. No meetings required." Such simple words but what an incredible lesson on how each of us can make a difference and it doesn't take a million dollars or 'an act of Congress'.
Two families in San Juan de la Manguana, Dominican Republic now have simple, decent and affordable homes to raise their families in and Alice, along with other donors, helped make that happen.
It was my first time leaving the United States, my first mission trip and my first opportunity to see, hear and feel extreme poverty with my own senses. I haven't been the same since. Because of that trip, I decided that I didn't want to just be a team member on Global Village trips for Habitat for Humanity - I wanted to lead them.
Today, I'm recruiting for my third Global Village trip as a team leader. Each trip has had its challenges, but they all met the needs of the families we worked alongside and did even more for our volunteers who left their families, jobs, homes, comforts and conveniences to toil in the elements of a different country on a mission to help someone who could never repay them.
I think of her words many times when God places me in a position to show His love by giving or serving. Thank you again, Alice! You were right. No meetings are required. Doing the right thing should just come naturally.
~ Tammie
globalvillagetrip.com
Alice Lonetree, who was a member of Lawton First, the church we attended while stationed at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, made a $20 or 25 online donation. When I wrote to thank her, her response was something like, "Just doing the right thing. No meetings required." Such simple words but what an incredible lesson on how each of us can make a difference and it doesn't take a million dollars or 'an act of Congress'.
Two families in San Juan de la Manguana, Dominican Republic now have simple, decent and affordable homes to raise their families in and Alice, along with other donors, helped make that happen.
It was my first time leaving the United States, my first mission trip and my first opportunity to see, hear and feel extreme poverty with my own senses. I haven't been the same since. Because of that trip, I decided that I didn't want to just be a team member on Global Village trips for Habitat for Humanity - I wanted to lead them.
Today, I'm recruiting for my third Global Village trip as a team leader. Each trip has had its challenges, but they all met the needs of the families we worked alongside and did even more for our volunteers who left their families, jobs, homes, comforts and conveniences to toil in the elements of a different country on a mission to help someone who could never repay them.
I think of her words many times when God places me in a position to show His love by giving or serving. Thank you again, Alice! You were right. No meetings are required. Doing the right thing should just come naturally.
~ Tammie
globalvillagetrip.com
RSS Feed