Hey everyone! Throughout the week, we will provide posts from each of the sites with updates and pictures so you can share in the experience of a Habitat spring break trip! It all started yesterday, Saturday, March 31, as 93 Gustavus students and 4 staff members piled into seven 15-passenger vans and began a journey to build homes with Habitat for humanity in Texas, Florida, and Tennessee. I am happy to report that all three groups have arrived at their respective destinations safely and with great excitement for the week to come.
I write with an update specifically from the Maryville, TN site, but please stay tuned for postings from other sites throughout the week.
We arrived in Maryville at 8 am, amidst dense fog and after 20 hours of traveling… it was challenging to see road signs and we could hardly get a sense of our surroundings. We knew that we had come in through the mountains, and were excited for the fog to burn away so we could enjoy the beauty of our surroundings. Since we had about two hours before we needed to meet at our host site, Saint Paul Lutheran Church, we thought we would have a true southern experience and eat at a Waffle House. Great food for tired travelers! After we filled ourselves with southern hospitality, waffles, and grits, we headed back to the church to unload and get settled –
and maybe catch a nap. We were welcomed with open arms and have already met some amazing people. The church goers were excited that we were there to work with Habitat and were thankful that we made the journey. It seems like a great fit for both of us! Once we got settled, we were able to take advantage of a beautiful day – 75 and sunny – and dedicated some time to team building with each group of 5 or 6 choosing a team name and creating a cheer (see picture).
Go team!
After resting for a bit we were eager to see and explore our beautiful surroundings. We headed to Great Smokey Mountains National Park, roughly 30 minutes from where we are staying, and hiked and enjoyed the beautiful scenery we found ourselves surrounded by.
Great Smokey Mountains National Park
We were able to hike and explore for the remainder of the day – it was a great way to start our journey in Maryville. Afterwards, we headed home to get some rest and to prepare for our first work day with Habitat Monday morning.
Thanks for reading – more to come soon!