Columbus Global Village Team leads Habitat for Humanity Mission Trips: What to expect on a Global Village trip

What to expect on a Global Village trip

Ministry and Mission of Habitat for Humanity

Music after breakfast on the work site

Amecameca, Mexico
Photo by Scott Moore

The ministry of Habitat is both to those receiving houses and to the volunteers who, as they work side by side with partner families, gain insight about poverty, justice, living simply, service, and their faith. Habitat for Humanity is a Christian-based organization that ecumenically serves all people regardless of their religion or lack thereof.

Reflection is an important part of our mission trip, so we build in time to discuss, journal, share, and worship. Traditionally we begin our GV days with devotions. In the evening the team gathers to review the day's activities, and each person has the opportunity to share feelings and discuss issues and concerns.

The ecumenical spirit of Habitat is inclusive of all faiths, beliefs and religions. This trip is not a mission of evangelization or conversion. Rather, we put cultural sensitivity above our own personal needs.

Working on Site

Volunteer cutting concrete block

Livingston, Guatemala
Photo courtesy of Laura Thomas

All Global Village Team members are volunteers. Our tasks will depend on the phase of construction in progress during our team’s stay at our host community. Scheduled work may be delayed due to material deliveries, tropical rainstorms or other unusual emergencies. However, what is equally important is the partnership with local Habitat families that will grow as we build together.

HFHI affiliates in developing nations often have little in the way of machinery, and renting such equipment would only drive up the cost of a home. Affiliates may not even have enough wheelbarrows or other basic tools. Expect to perform more manual labor than skilled building tasks on this trip.

In much of the world, Habitat homes are made of cement blocks, steel reinforcement bars, and tin roofs. Global Village teams might find themselves:

Hauling (often by hand) dirt, sand, gravel, water, cement blocks, bags of cement, etc
Clearing and leveling a site
Digging footers, trenches, wells, latrine pits, etc.
Tamping the foundation
Forming the rebar structure, including cutting, bending and tying the bars
Mixing cement or mortar
Laying cement blocks or bricks; filling and finishing masonry joints
Installing doors and windows
Finishing slab floors
Daily site management and cleaning, including assisting with a physical inventory of construction materials

Please be patient with the process because the local construction supervisor(s) can train only a limited number of volunteers at a time. Be aware of different work styles and methods. Habitat welcomes all suggestions, but we also strive to empower communities so they can make their own choices.

Teamwork

For two to three weeks our Global Village team will be very close -- initially close in physical proximity, and growing closer throughout the trip as friends and co-workers. We will come to rely upon each other for support, ideas, assistance and confidence. Some characteristics that will help members to fit well on the team include:

At least 18 year of age
Physically fit enough to enjoy eight to twelve full days of hard work, often in hot or humid conditions
Willing to employ an appropriate exercise plan to prepare for this work
Sensitive to the needs and issues of other team members, Habitat families, and unfamiliar communities
Open minded and communicative
Aware and accepting of widely divergent cultures, races and religions
Abstinence from alcohol during the trip other than for ceremonial purposes

Padaung woman

North of Chiang Mai, Thailand
Photo by Dave Bezaire

Cultural Activities

Our trip will include Sundays off and will conclude with a day of cultural experiences, sightseeing and/or other activities based on the particular region to which we are assigned. These activities will focus on increased cultural awareness, such as trips to schools, clinics and cultural and historical memorials.

Join us and you will find that your next vacation can be a very different kind of adventure travel!

Trip Reports

A Road Less Traveled

Na Toey, Thailand
Photo courtesy of Wende Wubbena

Reports from past Columbus Global Village Team mission trips will give numerous insights about what to expect. Of course, "past performance is no guarantee of future results"!

Columbus Global Village Team