JIP Newsletter Updates

Last month I spoke to the JIP Board of Directors to describe my experience in the program thus far. It was a rather brief meeting but as a follow up our assistant program director would like to feature the intern of the month in a newsletter.

1) Write about yourself and the program - whatever you feel called to say and want people to know - it could be about how you came to the program, what you're discovering about yourself living within community, etc. 

2) Write about your partner organization, it's importance to the community, what you are doing there and are discovering, etc.   Again, whatever you notice wanting to come forth, go with it.

Below are my responses to the two questions posed above:

1. The most powerful experience I have had as an intern is discovering Silence. Silence has become a spiritual practice for me in a way that it never was before. Personally, I have encountered four levels of silence. The first is to quiet your mouth and your surroundings. This is something that can be done with ease and is a more external process. The second level is more challenging. This is when I have to turn off my “multi-task button”. This level of silence requires the stillness of mind. Everything becomes so quite that you can hear the air moving around you. In the third level, which was hidden to me before, your surroundings are no longer a distraction. It is no longer a struggle to be still and you literally lose yourself in the moment. Sometimes I just like to settle in here and stay for a while because I feel like I am not bound by time, space, or obligations. Level 4 comes naturally at this point. When all is quiet the only thing left to hear is the still, small voice of God. God has a way of breathing peace on us when we are in position to receive it. I used to try and jump from level 1 to level 4 (which is incredibly challenging). However, now that I have experienced just how refreshing and peaceful the whole process can be…I take my time. 

2. I am very privileged to be placed at Habitat for Humanity of Orange County this year. My official title is Volunteer Coordinator for UNC Build a Block. However, my responsibilities grow daily. On my first day of work my supervisor came to pick me up and we went straight to the construction site where I met one of our new homeowners and quickly became part of the promotional photo shoot that was occurring. Before the day was over I had met with Patti Thorp (wife of Chancellor Holden Thorp), UNC student body president Hogan Medlin, and the group of students I would work closely with on Build a Block for the school year. Each day since then has continued to be fast paced, interesting, challenging, and rewarding.

So what is Build a Block? Build a Block is a student led initiative to build 10 Habitat homes for 10 employees of UNC and UNC Health Care by ONE united Carolina community. A project of this magnitude has never been done by a campus chapter before and there is no outline for students or Habitat staff to follow. We are figuring it out as we go and it is such an amazing process! Recently University Gazette printed an article about us http://gazette.unc.edu/file.2.html

I can’t believe that I have only been working at Habitat for two months. So much has been accomplished in such a short time frame. With so much exposure to new opportunities I know that I will continue to evolve both professionally and personally.

The best is yet to come,

~Adwoa