A Different Point of View

Hey, All, It's Becky Shipe. This has been an interesting experience for someone as young as me. I was prepared to do the hard work I've done on trips like Soundview, and the comforting I so look forward to in Idaho. I was not entirely braced for the shock of how long these people have been waiting on anybody to do anything.

I had the pleasure of working on a house for Miss Mary. She is an elderly woman, around 80, who has dementia, and has been living in her daughters' house for the past two and a half years. A tree had fallen on a corner of her living room and the windows were old and falling apart. We tore out the brick surrounding the windows and pulled out those windows. We put two brand new windows in her front room, three in her bedroom and one in the guest/storage room. I was mostly occupied with painting her "sun room" a beautiful shade of yellow.

The daughters were so pleased with all the work we put into that house. It seemed so surreal
to see them that happy. Miss Mary just sat there and cried, she was so overwhelmed. The daughters started to cry a bit too. It was so adorable. I can't wait to see where we will be working tomorrow.

You may think someone my age wouldn't choose to go on a trip with both of my parents, but it's really been an experience. Yeah, they can be a bit annoying, but who isn't? I miss seeing all my friends at home, but Mississippi is such a different place, it's nice to just escape from the everyday drama a high schooler sometimes encounters. There are no cliques, no jocks versus nerds, just everyone loving everyone else.

Last night we played a rendition of "I Have Never" and let me tell you, it got almost as competitive as youth group! Everyone was hooting and howling at everyone else. You'll have to ask who ended up sitting on whom.

Overall this trip has been an experience I will remember fondly my entire life. I cannot believe how many lives we are touching by just being here and smiling at the strangers we pass on the street. I am so looking forward to next year!

With love,
Becky Shipe