By: centraljersey.com
I received an e-mail the other day from a new friend overseas named Kim. She wrote about her recent deployment to Afghanistan, and how much she appreciated emails.
"I love getting e-mails (and thank you everyone for the mail!), so keep ’em coming," Kim wrote. "They really do make my day, b/c otherwise it’s groundhog day out here every day!"
Kim and I met in Ghana this summer, when we both worked for a group called Global Volunteers, a worldwide organization which, every year, sends some 1,500 workers to 21 diverse international projects.
For the past 10 years, my two sons and I have volunteered during the summer serving in a variety of capacities ranging from health care assistant for hospitalized children with cancer in Brazil, to teaching conversational English to Chinese elementary teachers.
This year we traveled to a small rural town called Senchi Ferry in Ghana, where our team worked on constructing (with home-made cement) a septic building for the new library, assisted in the local infirmary and taught in the elementary schools.
Unlike previous years, this summer we were joined by three volunteers who are serving in the military. Two are Marines (one active, and one just retired); and one is in the Air Force.
Kim is a 29-year-old captain in the Air Force. Kim shipped off to Afghanistan three weeks after coming home from Ghana. She and I stay in touch, and just recently we talked about our work in Ghana. We spoke about Kim’s amazing ability to learn exotic languages, like Ghana’s Twi and most recently Afghanistan’s Pashto.
We also talked about Bobbie – the strongest, toughest volunteer of us all, or Lt. Col. Bobbie J.
Each Global Volunteer team member writes an entry in the Team’s journal of daily activities. This is what Bobbie wrote: "A traveler was walking down a road when he came across two men working, moving bricks with wheelbarrows. The traveler asked the first man what he was doing. The first man replied, ‘I am moving bricks from one side of the road to another.’ Then the traveler asked the second man, and the second man replied, ‘I am building a cathedral.’
Today, I filled out forms in a clinic and counted pills.
But I also inspired two local nursing students.
Today, I graded papers.
But I also set an example as a strong and independent woman.
Today, I read a book about Beatrice and some bananas.
But I also helped encourage a child to learn.
Today, I greeted Ghanaians in the village with broken Twi, and not much better English.
But I also made some friends.
Today, I mixed mortar with a taxi driver.
But I also connected two communities across the globe.
Yes, today, I moved bricks from one side of the road to another.
But, today, more importantly, I helped build a library."
It is a wonder and constant source of pride to me that our men and women who serve in uniform around the world also spend their few weeks of vacation helping others build their latrines, their libraries, their children’s futures. I cannot begin to tell you how inspiring these three volunteers were – not just to my kids and the other volunteers, but to the village elders and the community at large. It was such an honor and privilege to work beside them.
Each of us gives as we can. Some serve their country in uniform – as soldiers, firefighters, police and first responders. Some by volunteering abroad, becoming ambassadors of the American dream. And some, like Kim and Bobbie, do both! Such individuals redefine the American spirit of service. As Bobbie concluded in her journal entry:
"Today, I volunteered with Global Volunteers – waging peace and promoting justice. Yes, today, I dug a ditch, and realized it wasn’t about the ditch at all."
Amen and God Speed, Kim and Bobbie. I’m thinking of you both this Veterans Day.
On Saturday, the Hopewell Valley Veterans Association will host the 2010 Veterans Day ceremony, beginning at 11 a.m. in Alliger Park, Washington Crossing-Pennington Road, Titusville.
Col. Steven Ferrari, NJARNG will be our guest speaker. For more information, visit HopewellValleyVeterans.org.
Vanessa Sandom is a resident of Hopewell Township.