It is interesting how ones perspective changes. After Thea and I had been here awhile and had learned all of the basic jobs at the Inn, we actually began to dread -- well not DREAD, but at least to be weary -- of new groups of volunteers coming to St. Francis Inn. At first, it was really fun to meet new people each week and to teach others how to do the various tasks efficiently. However, as with all human endeavor, it eventually becomes tiresome. When I look on the schedule and see that a new group of college students is coming to the Inn, I think to myself: "Well, I hope these kids are quicker learners than that LAST group!" I know this is not especially Franciscan or Christian, but it is honestly sometimes the way I feel.
However, when the visitors are your friends, all this changes. Last month, our close friends Marie and Mary Ann visited, and we just loved seeing them. This past week, we had a wonderful group of seven from St. Aloysius in Hickory, and we had an equally-great time with them. The group visit was supposed to be a surprise, but through an e-mail glitch, Thea and I found out their plans pretty early. On the one hand, it was a disappointment: it would have been great to be surprised. On the other hand, since we knew they were coming, we could -- and did -- look forward to the visit. We had been on previous mission trips with three of the members of the group, and so we knew that they were dedicated workers that would do well in the SFI setting.
When the group arrived, Thea and I were the host couple, and we took pride in putting them to work. We had found out in advance that several of the men had some "fix-it" and construction skills, abilities which many of our visiting groups do not possess. So the Inn staff -- especially Karen and Barbara -- put together a long, long list of various tasks, ranging from hanging fire extinguishers in three locations and sealing windows to replacing bathroom floors and fixing plumbing leaks. The guys tackled the tasks with aplomb and efficiency, and by week's end had finished most of the jobs on the list. There were several adventures, including picking up a six ft. high section of picket fence at Home Depot, only to discover that the fence was too large to fit into the Inn's van. We jury-rigged a rooftop mounting using twine and drove slowly coming home, praying to St. Francis all the way!
Other members of the group helped with other extra jobs, including a complete weeding, trimming and clean up of the back yard of our neighboring house. In two hours flat, the yard was transformed from a junky, weedy, overgrown mess to an orderly, beautiful yard. It was a miracle. Again, our Inn staff, especially Barbara, were ecstatic. Other members helped Thea do soil preparation at a nearby community garden managed by the residents of the Catholic Workers, House.
Now, before you think that the St. Als group didn't get to work at the Inn itself, let me set the record straight. All of the above was IN ADDITION to working regular shifts at the Inn, St. Benedict's Thrift shop, and doing pick ups. During the afternoons when most of the groups get a break, many of the St. Als groups worked at these extra tasks. After a couple of days, one of the guys told me that he was "pooped!" No wonder -- we worked them hard, or rather, they worked themselves hard. Thea and I were so proud to be associated with these talented and spirit-filled people.
I don't want to put words in anybody's mouth, but the experience seemed to be really positive for all. One person told me that this "seems more like a lovely week-long retreat than a mission trip." Another member of the group, a college student, made what will probably be a lasting friendship with 87 year old Sister Margaret. Still another spent several meals talking to our guests in the yard and came away with a new view of the homeless.
This morning, after Sunday mass, the group departed. As they left, one of the men said to me: "Thanks so much for allowing us to have this experience. If you and Thea had not come up here, we would never have come here either." Truly it was a pleasure for Thea and me to be God's instruments in exposing the St. Al's group to the wonderful work of the St. Francis Inn. The experience also remind Thea and me how much we miss home and are looking forward to getting back to Hickory. Spending time with the group definitely helped begin our transition from our life at SFI to the next phase of our life back in North Carolina. Again, and always, God works through all of us for mutual benefit and growth.
Praise be to God!
However, when the visitors are your friends, all this changes. Last month, our close friends Marie and Mary Ann visited, and we just loved seeing them. This past week, we had a wonderful group of seven from St. Aloysius in Hickory, and we had an equally-great time with them. The group visit was supposed to be a surprise, but through an e-mail glitch, Thea and I found out their plans pretty early. On the one hand, it was a disappointment: it would have been great to be surprised. On the other hand, since we knew they were coming, we could -- and did -- look forward to the visit. We had been on previous mission trips with three of the members of the group, and so we knew that they were dedicated workers that would do well in the SFI setting.
When the group arrived, Thea and I were the host couple, and we took pride in putting them to work. We had found out in advance that several of the men had some "fix-it" and construction skills, abilities which many of our visiting groups do not possess. So the Inn staff -- especially Karen and Barbara -- put together a long, long list of various tasks, ranging from hanging fire extinguishers in three locations and sealing windows to replacing bathroom floors and fixing plumbing leaks. The guys tackled the tasks with aplomb and efficiency, and by week's end had finished most of the jobs on the list. There were several adventures, including picking up a six ft. high section of picket fence at Home Depot, only to discover that the fence was too large to fit into the Inn's van. We jury-rigged a rooftop mounting using twine and drove slowly coming home, praying to St. Francis all the way!
Other members of the group helped with other extra jobs, including a complete weeding, trimming and clean up of the back yard of our neighboring house. In two hours flat, the yard was transformed from a junky, weedy, overgrown mess to an orderly, beautiful yard. It was a miracle. Again, our Inn staff, especially Barbara, were ecstatic. Other members helped Thea do soil preparation at a nearby community garden managed by the residents of the Catholic Workers, House.
Now, before you think that the St. Als group didn't get to work at the Inn itself, let me set the record straight. All of the above was IN ADDITION to working regular shifts at the Inn, St. Benedict's Thrift shop, and doing pick ups. During the afternoons when most of the groups get a break, many of the St. Als groups worked at these extra tasks. After a couple of days, one of the guys told me that he was "pooped!" No wonder -- we worked them hard, or rather, they worked themselves hard. Thea and I were so proud to be associated with these talented and spirit-filled people.
I don't want to put words in anybody's mouth, but the experience seemed to be really positive for all. One person told me that this "seems more like a lovely week-long retreat than a mission trip." Another member of the group, a college student, made what will probably be a lasting friendship with 87 year old Sister Margaret. Still another spent several meals talking to our guests in the yard and came away with a new view of the homeless.
This morning, after Sunday mass, the group departed. As they left, one of the men said to me: "Thanks so much for allowing us to have this experience. If you and Thea had not come up here, we would never have come here either." Truly it was a pleasure for Thea and me to be God's instruments in exposing the St. Al's group to the wonderful work of the St. Francis Inn. The experience also remind Thea and me how much we miss home and are looking forward to getting back to Hickory. Spending time with the group definitely helped begin our transition from our life at SFI to the next phase of our life back in North Carolina. Again, and always, God works through all of us for mutual benefit and growth.
Praise be to God!
I am thankful that the St. Al's visit went so well.
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