Just the Way I Like It - Opening Ceremonies
By David Chapman, Habitat for Humanity volunteer who spent a week in Leogane, Haiti with the Carter Work Project in November.
It’s Saturday afternoon and
things are beginning to stir at our Atlanta
meeting site. Many tables outside of the meeting hall are stacked with hard
hats, tool bags filled with nail carriers, a tape measure, carpenter’s pencil,
flashlight, gloves, first-aid kit, neck scarf, and three (3) light blue T-shirts
with the Habitat logo, designating the wearer as “Volunteer”.
In the lobby, lots of
incoming volunteers to talk to. I meet people from New Jersey, Minnesota,
Oregon, Maine, N & S Carolina, Texas, Ireland, South Africa, Mexico,
Belgium and so many other places. Many are Habitat staff from the local affiliates
and there are national staff members from Atlanta. Many of these people are on
their 3rd-4th- 5th – 10th Carter Habitat build. And even
more volunteers are on their first Habitat adventure. There are many young
people – college students, young professionals. There are many older volunteers
– working and retired. There are singles and there are couples, there are one
spouse or the other, a mother and her daughter, a father and his daughter, two
sons and their father… they are all here to build. Their brightly colored, diverse T-shirts from
previous international and local builds proclaim their credentials, their
history and their pride in being part of something bigger.
The doors open and we find
tables to sit at and new friends to talk to… and we soon notice a tall man hovering
nearby with a coil of wire from his shirt to an earphone and we soon learn that
the Carters have arrived. Within minutes, Jimmy and Rosalynn are working the
room, shaking ends and welcoming people. Rosalynn appears at our table and
shakes hands, smiling and saying “Welcome, where are you from? Thank you
coming”.
Light dim, and the introductions
begin…. “Please meet our greatest fans and volunteers – President and Mrs.
Carter”. The cheering is loud and long.
Our evening’s Host is Patrick
Covington, Habitat for Humanity International staff, born in Africa of parents
who fled Haiti and now a staff member with Habitat – “going home”. He has a unique message:
“Tonight I want to give you a
tool to use over the next week. There will times when things are frustrating,
the heat, you can’t find a tool or the correct lumber, the bus shuttle is long
and the ride bumpy, your team isn’t yet in sync… I want you to say to yourself
“And that’s the way I like it. Let’s hear it now." The room roars “AND
THAT’S THE WAY I / WE LIKE IT!!” and throughout the evening with descriptions
of the challenges ahead, people yell out “And That’s The Way I Like It!”… and
there is more cheering and laughter.
There is a safety training
video made the week before on the build site. Among its key points, watch your
use of ladders and scaffolding, be aware of your surroundings when you move and
when carrying side walls, roof trusses and sheet metal, work with a buddy to
keep an eye on each other… and HYDRATE. Drink lots and lots of water (and they
mean it!).
There is specific attention
drawn to security. “… You will see heavy security at the camps and the build
site. You will travel escorted by police vehicles every morning and afternoon
to, and from, the build site. It is necessary. Please know that your safety is
our highest concern.”
Finally, there are two
flights tomorrow. Your identification (strap-on) arm tags list your flight and
your bus boarding time from hotel tomorrow morning starting at 5am. Check that you have your passport
with you. Wear (one of) your blue T-shirts so you can be readily identified.
You will receive further information.
“Good night and have a great
build. This experience will change your life” …. and it does…..
