We've been back at school for a week now, and I am still thinking about the trip. We really could not have asked for a better experience. We had an amazing group of students, speakers, volunteer placements, and even weather! Everything fell into place perfectly.
We definitely formed a bond with each other that is unbreakable. We all went through this experience together and grew as servant leaders. I will never forget any of these people. Plus, we were in very close quarters for a very long time; things got a little crazy sometimes (Tuesday night when we were all in tears laughing for who knows what reason always comes to mind!).
As we came back to Eau Claire, we came back with new insight on life and a new vision for how each of us want to live our life. Being a servant leader is a lifestyle. Therefore, we want to bring back what we learned to Eau Claire. While we're all taking steps to doing that in our own lives, we are also in the process of looking for an opportunity to go volunteer in Eau Claire.
Thanks again to all who are reading. Thanks to the students who made this trip so amazing, and thanks to Angie and Kerry for making this possible!
Friday, April 9, 2010
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Great Time
Here is a quick blog about today and my only blog because I am leaving tomorrow for Louisville after the day is over.
We went to rebuilding the wall today which was a fun time. I got to landscape with some mulch and paint some walls. It was really fun. Others got to put cabinets in, do some tiling, and some siding work. Some others also went to wheeler mission and served some food.
After this we went to the Estridge Company and learned some great things about the company and the owner. This is probably my highlight of my trip so far.
The city of Indianapolis is crazy about Butler, I am crazy about Butler, so Go Bulldawgs!!!!!!!!!
We went to rebuilding the wall today which was a fun time. I got to landscape with some mulch and paint some walls. It was really fun. Others got to put cabinets in, do some tiling, and some siding work. Some others also went to wheeler mission and served some food.
After this we went to the Estridge Company and learned some great things about the company and the owner. This is probably my highlight of my trip so far.
The city of Indianapolis is crazy about Butler, I am crazy about Butler, so Go Bulldawgs!!!!!!!!!
What a Perfect Day!
So it's the third real day of the trip, not including the very long day of driving to Indiana. Already I have met and bonded with the people on the trip SO much as we have shared and experienced a lot together. Today, as the title of this post blatantly says, was an exponentially good day--as I told the group, I have not felt this jacked up and excited about life since I studied abroad. Just being with a group of people who share most of the same values as me and have a passion for helping others is so inspiring and awesome!
This morning was fun--we fixed up a backyard in a low-income neighborhood. We got sweaty right away from spreading mulch. Then the day got better as we worked with and got to know Antonio, the leader of an organization called Rebuiliding the Wall. I really did not know what to expect before going to help this organization, and let me tell you, it was not what I expected at all. The people working with Rebuilding the Wall get to live for free for a week at a community house in the neighborhood as long as they put in at least one 12-hour day of work. They had crazy, sad stories of where they came from--mostly horrible lives of drugs, train-hopping for years at a time with no permanent address, and tragedy. Talking and working with them was so awesome because they were willing to share their stories and were very thankful for our work. I was especially excited when I got to use a drill and screw down a bathroom floor. I also took apart a bunk bed, only to put it back together after moving it upstairs to a children's bedroom. Another highlight of the day was when we were walking to the van after we were done at Rebuilding the Wall. There were 2 kids throwing a basketball across the street, back and forth to each other. I smiled at one of them and said, "You've got a good arm on ya!" He didn't say anything back but his eyes lit up as he smiled shyly at me and it was adorable.
Tonight, we had a great experience with the President and Chief Servant of the Estridge Company--a company that builds houses. He was a great man who took time out of his night to talk to us about servant leadership and our lives. He had memorized all of our majors, which was sweet. Then, we talked and talked for about three hours about what servant leadership means in our lives. The thing I took out of this talk was that when I am in the element of helping people, I am completely focused on what more I can do to help and lift people up, because when I lift people up, I am the most alive--I simply love it. I hope to continue this journey of helping people whenever I can to fulfill my purpose in life!
Well, that's all for now! There is a lot to take in on this trip and I am so happy that I am here experiencing all of it.
~Anna
This morning was fun--we fixed up a backyard in a low-income neighborhood. We got sweaty right away from spreading mulch. Then the day got better as we worked with and got to know Antonio, the leader of an organization called Rebuiliding the Wall. I really did not know what to expect before going to help this organization, and let me tell you, it was not what I expected at all. The people working with Rebuilding the Wall get to live for free for a week at a community house in the neighborhood as long as they put in at least one 12-hour day of work. They had crazy, sad stories of where they came from--mostly horrible lives of drugs, train-hopping for years at a time with no permanent address, and tragedy. Talking and working with them was so awesome because they were willing to share their stories and were very thankful for our work. I was especially excited when I got to use a drill and screw down a bathroom floor. I also took apart a bunk bed, only to put it back together after moving it upstairs to a children's bedroom. Another highlight of the day was when we were walking to the van after we were done at Rebuilding the Wall. There were 2 kids throwing a basketball across the street, back and forth to each other. I smiled at one of them and said, "You've got a good arm on ya!" He didn't say anything back but his eyes lit up as he smiled shyly at me and it was adorable.
Tonight, we had a great experience with the President and Chief Servant of the Estridge Company--a company that builds houses. He was a great man who took time out of his night to talk to us about servant leadership and our lives. He had memorized all of our majors, which was sweet. Then, we talked and talked for about three hours about what servant leadership means in our lives. The thing I took out of this talk was that when I am in the element of helping people, I am completely focused on what more I can do to help and lift people up, because when I lift people up, I am the most alive--I simply love it. I hope to continue this journey of helping people whenever I can to fulfill my purpose in life!
Well, that's all for now! There is a lot to take in on this trip and I am so happy that I am here experiencing all of it.
~Anna
"Touch people by building houses"
I think I've found the answer for the question: "Why did I go on that trip?" It just clicked so easy and smooth after the seminar that we had with Paul Estridge. I had a chance to see not the businessman but a very nice and so down to earth person. (By the way I'm not trying to praise, I'm just telling all my thoughts and share with my feeling).
Before that trip my husband used to tell me all the time that it is NOT important what do you have, where do you work, what kind of house do you own and etc., but for some reason I didn't quite understand that, until tonight. It is so interesting to turn your mind upside down and shift your reality into the opposite direction. And I do enjoy the feeling of it, that I do have a purpose in this life and I know what it is. Thank you!
EZ
Before that trip my husband used to tell me all the time that it is NOT important what do you have, where do you work, what kind of house do you own and etc., but for some reason I didn't quite understand that, until tonight. It is so interesting to turn your mind upside down and shift your reality into the opposite direction. And I do enjoy the feeling of it, that I do have a purpose in this life and I know what it is. Thank you!
EZ
The Human Heart
Today was by far my favorite day of the trip. I spent most of my time with an organization called Rebuilding the Wall. They remodel housing for low income families to buy. The best part is that they hire people who are in need of their help as well. It is underprivileged people helping others in their own neighborhood! HOW COOL IS THAT?! I learned a little bit about carpentry, unfortunately I learned after we tried putting things up, but I learned a lot more about the human heart and the capabilities of communities.
My favorite part of the trip was our visit with Paul Estridge of Estridge Company. He told us his views on the application of servant leadership in business and in personal life. I have so much to reflect on from speaking with him about what it is that I am supposed to become. Paul helped me draw a few more lines on my self-actualization-portrait, and I am eternally grateful to him.
I now understand why the wind blew me to Indianapolis!
Matt Sellen
My favorite part of the trip was our visit with Paul Estridge of Estridge Company. He told us his views on the application of servant leadership in business and in personal life. I have so much to reflect on from speaking with him about what it is that I am supposed to become. Paul helped me draw a few more lines on my self-actualization-portrait, and I am eternally grateful to him.
I now understand why the wind blew me to Indianapolis!
Matt Sellen
Monday, March 29, 2010
Today, was another great day. We got up, and I ate breakfast with the rest of the people in the group. Then, we got in the car to go to the Greenleaf Center. When we got there, after about a 45 minute drive, we attended a seminar. The seminar caused other people and myself to get a little deeper of an introduction to servant leadership than what the required text provided. We played a game, that the facilitator of the seminar was able to surprisingly (to us) able to link to servant leadership. Then, we had our most lengthy free time for the week. I traveled around the downtown area with Jake. I wanted a tour of Canseco Fieldhouse, but I was unable to get it because I was with a group of less than 15 people, and Jake wanted to to visit and climb to the top of the Veterans Monument Tower, which was also closed. But, then we just strolled around downtown, and visited the mall, Steak and Shake for a milkshake, and a very nicely kept trail. I took pictures of all of these places. Then, as a group we ate at a place called The RAM for dinner. Almost all of us had interesting and tasty burgers. Once we came back to the Jameson Camp we had yet another group discussion, which allowed me to further realize the value in the seminar that we attended today. In closing, I went on many tangents on this valuable day.
Mike Falk
Mike Falk
Today, we went to the Greenleaf Center, which was a really cool experience. The Greenleaf Center was started by Robert Greenleaf who had a vision for servant leadership. The wonderful facilitator, Courtney, had us do several activities which increased our self awareness and knowledge of servant leadership. We had insightful discussions about what it means to be a servant leader, and how that connects with social justice. I think it was a very beneficial experience because we will be able to reflect back on our time at the Greenleaf Center after we participate in more service programs and relate our experience to servant leadership.
One thing that I found particularly interesting about the program today was talking about how one person can make an impact. We used the metaphor of a pebble being thrown into a lake and watching the ripples that are created from that one pebble. If we do the best in our lives to be servant leaders and inspire others to do the same, together we can make huge waves. Sometimes it's easy to get discouraged by thinking that one person can't make an impact, but thinking about it in this way makes it easier to see what kind of a change we can make.
After we left the Greenleaf Center, we went to go hang out in downtown Indianapolis. The group split up into smaller groups and did different things for the rest of the day. Some people went to the zoo and saw a dolphin show, some went Duck Pin Bowling, and others viewed historic monuments. It was really fun getting to explore Indianapolis, and then sharing stories of the day during dinner at The RAM.
-April
One thing that I found particularly interesting about the program today was talking about how one person can make an impact. We used the metaphor of a pebble being thrown into a lake and watching the ripples that are created from that one pebble. If we do the best in our lives to be servant leaders and inspire others to do the same, together we can make huge waves. Sometimes it's easy to get discouraged by thinking that one person can't make an impact, but thinking about it in this way makes it easier to see what kind of a change we can make.
After we left the Greenleaf Center, we went to go hang out in downtown Indianapolis. The group split up into smaller groups and did different things for the rest of the day. Some people went to the zoo and saw a dolphin show, some went Duck Pin Bowling, and others viewed historic monuments. It was really fun getting to explore Indianapolis, and then sharing stories of the day during dinner at The RAM.
-April
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