Reflections from American Baptist Churches’ volunteers from The Hill School, Pottstown, PA

Coming to Baton Rouge has been an amazing experience for me. I have come to appreciate the hard work that it takes to build a house. I have learned valuable teamwork skills that I would not have been able to learn without coming on this Habitat for Humanity trip. I have really enjoyed this experience and look forward to doing it again in the future. I strongly recommend going on a Habitat for Humanity trip for anybody that is interested in doing so.
-James, Fifth Form (11th Grade), The Hill School

Being able to come to Baton Rouge and work on a Habitat for Humanity project has been such an amazing experience. I have learned so much about hard work and determination. It was so much fun to able to form new friendships and really see what it takes to build a house. It is extremely hard work, but the cause is amazing. Meeting the family that you are building the house for really encourages you to keep going and make it the best it can be. I would definitely do this trip again, and hope that I get the opportunity to next year. I would highly advise going on a habitat for humanity trip if it is something you are even remotely interested in.
-Huntley, Fifth Form (11th Grade), The Hill School

Building a house under the hot sun gave me more than just a good tan. I learned how to work together as a team to achieve a common goal. Everyone that I worked with in Baton Rouge was kind and willing to help. I would go on a Habitat for Humanity trip again in a heartbeat. Being able to see the mighty Mississippi River and travel to a place I have never been to before was exciting and rewarding. In spite of the hard work and labor, I am still ecstatic that I was able to build a house for a deserving family and travel to a place I have never been to before.
-Olivia, Fifth Form (11th Grade), The Hill School

Baton Rouge has been a great experience for me. Before I came, I didn’t know many of the kids in our group from Hill, but the trip has given me the chance to get to know them better. Plus, I’ve met more kids and humorous adults at the job site. Before we began working, the group of us from Hill met the family that will be living in the house we are making. They are very kind people and are unbelievably joyful that they are getting a new house and I’m glad I am taking part in making it. Not only has building the house been gratifying, but seeing Louisiana has shown me how incredibly different Louisiana and the South are from the North.
-Jake, Fifth Form (11th Grade), The Hill School

I have really enjoyed myself down here in Baton Rouge. Being able to meet so many people and work with them has taught me a lot about people. Everyone here just wants to help these families and put in a good days work. To see a house being built this fast is incredible. This has also been a great experience being able to learn about building a house and to see all the effort in making a home. I would encourage anyone to join a Habitat build. My only regret is that I will not be able to see this one completed in person but will have to look at photos. I will definitely volunteer for another Build
-Matt, Sixth Form (12th Grade), The Hill School

The Blitz Build was a new and exciting experience for me. I was able to work side by side with all types of people. It was great to team up with my dad to anchor the walls, and to team up with friends and classmates to raise the roof tresses and walls. It was a great chance to meet all kinds of people from around the country and learn from them. Building the house reminded me of Extreme Makeover Home Edition, but in our case, the makeover was not only on the receiving family’s end but involved all of the volunteers and our families. We were able to donate the most valuable commodity, time and support, to touch the lives of the homeowners and members of their family, as well as our own lives. We learned from each other and really built a strong fellowship together to grow as a community.
-Vanessa, Sixth Form (12th grade), The Hill School

Enthusiasm can be found in the unlikeliest of places. In a country saturated with images of violence and despair it takes only the will to see things differently and the desire to approach a new situation with enthusiasm to find a bright spot in a very dark place. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans has become dark but out of the crucible of these terrible times has come the brightness of young people from across the nation to relight the candle of the Big Easy. For me this was a chance to return to the city of my birth, but the opportunity to bring with me five young students has been immeasurably valuable. We have all greatly enjoyed the opportunity to come here and look forward to coming back.
-Daniel, Faculty, The Hill School