It’s amazing how working in the dirt and performing sweat-inducing labor can make you feel so alive and blessed. This is what has happened to me in the past two days at Re-Member. Yesterday, I went to a small duplex on the reservation that was in the center of the town. While there, I painted a closet a salmon color and tiled a kitchen floor. I later helped install a stove, refrigerator and dresser, all of which the resident of the house did not have. Today, I worked at the “burnt house” and I had my hand in everything! I measured and cut wood; used a power saw; used the cut wood for the unfinished deck and (with the help of my teammates) nailed down two-thirds of it. For lunch, the team and I ate our sandwiches, sliced apples and carrots on the partially done deck, and not one board shook. After lunch, I helped assemble trusses for the roof and hammered the metal out of the gussets. All of today’s and yesterday’s events not only made me feel like Bob the Builder, but it made me realize that I can do anything. I felt so accomplished in seeing the product of my labor. Also, seeing all of my female team members give their all and work so hard, made me recognize the power of women and proud of my UMD group.
There are two blessings that came out of today: One, we are helping people who need our help and who have been mistreated for so long by the American government; and two, everyone in my group is learning life skills. Once I get back home, I will not only spread the word about the Oglala Lakota Nation and try and raise money for them, but I also plan on purchasing a power saw and 18 volt drill. J
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