by Rev. Lee Anderson-Harris
February 2023 was the return of in-person work trips for First UMC Loveland, and it was good to be back! This year we were delighted to join with Longs Peak UMC in nearby Longmont, as well as a few folks who don’t attend either church.
February 2023 was the return of in-person work trips for First UMC Loveland, and it was good to be back! This year we were delighted to join with Longs Peak UMC in nearby Longmont, as well as a few folks who don’t attend either church.
Altogether we had a large enough group to split into two work teams and work on two different houses. However, there was another plan for us: due to the passing of the mother of the recipient of one of the homes, we combined teams for a couple of days. While we shared in the grief of this family, we found that this unplanned combination of teams was just what we needed.
Together we were able to accomplish far more work than we would have otherwise. We were able to form long chains to move building materials up the hill at both sites. As we traded spots to relieve one another from a difficult position, or chatted and laughed as we passed heavy objects to each other, I got the sense of how much we depended on one another. And not just us travelers; the construction crew, translators, drivers, families we were serving…I was struck by the true interdependence of all of us.
Together we were able to accomplish far more work than we would have otherwise. We were able to form long chains to move building materials up the hill at both sites. As we traded spots to relieve one another from a difficult position, or chatted and laughed as we passed heavy objects to each other, I got the sense of how much we depended on one another. And not just us travelers; the construction crew, translators, drivers, families we were serving…I was struck by the true interdependence of all of us.
This theme carried out during our visit to the nutrition center to pass out milk and our visit to the Rosario School as well. I was moved to tears of joy by hugs, words of gratitude, children’s performances, and the kids’ eagerness to help or show off their school projects. It was a reminder of how much we need each other.
We worked hard on this trip, and we traveled hard. I was exhausted when I returned. But I made new friends, got to know people even better than before, and laughed a lot. Words are insufficient to describe the blessing of Guatemala and of a Pura Vida work trip.
We worked hard on this trip, and we traveled hard. I was exhausted when I returned. But I made new friends, got to know people even better than before, and laughed a lot. Words are insufficient to describe the blessing of Guatemala and of a Pura Vida work trip.
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