Deeper and Clear Communication – A Reflection by BITD Corps Member Maddie
BITD Corps Members and Habitat Volunteers working on a Habitat build!
During my time in the Beloved in the Desert program, I have consistently been invited and challenged into deeper, more clear, and more honest communication. My placement at Habitat for Humanity requires me to give orientations to new volunteers—since this is about two hours of talking, it can be really challenging for an introvert! But the opportunity to meet new people and explain to them exactly what their role is and how they can best support Habitat’s mission has been tremendously rewarding. A new volunteer often has no idea what to do or where to begin, whereas I have been doing my job for a few months now and have some more familiarity. I have to remind myself of both their relative lack of information and their curiosity. Likewise, in a tight-knit, intentional community with people that a few months ago were strangers to me, there are a lot of things I have to explain about myself to “orient” my community members to my background, history, and worldview. I have grown in patience and self-knowledge simply from the amount of self-reflection required to ask myself, “Why do I prefer the dishes to be done in this way?” or “Why do I find it hard to request alone time?” and then explain that in clear wording to people who haven’t known me for very long. In doing so, I have increased my own capacity for openness, especially openness to others’ stories. During the early days of the pandemic, I was often both physically and emotionally closed—I did develop helpful skills around boundaries, so it wasn’t all bad, but I often found myself feeling mistrusting and like I couldn’t let anyone “in.” The depth of honesty required of me in intentional community and in my placement has caused me to begin letting people in again.
- Maddie, BITD Corps ’21-‘22
Note some exciting opportunities to learn more about the work of the BITD folks at the non-profits they serve at are coming up in November and December!
Habitat for Humanity, Beloved in the Desert, and Church Partnership Forum: November 21, 10:15-11am, Gallery
Community Food Bank, Beloved in the Desert, and Church Partnership Forum: December 19, 10:15-11am, Gallery
In the new year, look forward to hearing about and joining in partnership with the missions of the Boys and Girls Club of Tucson, Interfaith Community Services, and the Episcopal Campus Ministry at UA, and other local partners!
Madison (left, BITD ’20-’21) and other service corps members on a build site last year!