Normally for my job I go to meetings, read reports, and push paperwork around and through. Sometimes I get to help plan events. Sometimes I enjoy this, sometimes I do not, but it always makes for an interesting change of pace. Recently, some in my team were involved in planning an event for some members of the military. We requested their assistance in performing some infectious disease education. Through a series of meetings, conversations, emails, etc, the activity morphed into painting a health clinic in an extremely poor section of the city.
About nineteen of them showed up all bright eyed and bushy tailed, carting white paper coveralls (that frankly reminded me of patrick bateman for unknown and best undiscovered reasons). Due to miscommunications, we had to do a last minute paint run while I had the joy of stalling by trying to pull some old peace corps/native english teacher tricks out of my rather small hat. I noticed one gentleman rolling his eyes at my antics, which I couldn’t blame him for. I finally released them to go tape up the clinic and ‘get it ready’ and hurriedly called my paint-runner to demand in a hushed yet fervent tone WHERE THE HELL IS THE PAINT?!?
The military folks (we never figured out the best way to refer to them. what is the proper name? no idea. still.) successfully taped, covered, and prepped the room. The paint finally arrived and SURPRISE! It had to be mixed. With water. Oh, didn’t I mention that the clinic didnt’ have running water??? Oh yeah, no it didn’t. Awesome. We finally rustled up some water, random sticks to stir the paint with, and parceled out the brushes and rollers and everyone got started. I ran around trying to make sure everyone had everything they needed, figuring out what time they’d leave so that they’d make it to the next activity on time. I learned what my life would have been had I been a personal assistant for a D-list celebrity. That’s an alternate future I’m not sure I want to glimpse again.
One military folk (really? is that a singular? but you can’t say folk person…) showed extra kindness to the clinic and enabled them to get a dvd player to play educational videos in the waiting area.
I was shocked and amazed by their kindess and willingness to do for others. They gave up their personal time to go to the clinic and paint (and do other activities in other parts of the city) and fix things and … I was just so struck by their work ethic and desire to do MORE. We had to leave before everything was finished in order to make the next activity and they were all unhappy with leaving things as they were. The village had agreed to finish up the painting and do the next coat. And the village also fixed the plumbing so that the clinic would have running water. Which might not have happened as quickly had these men and women not shown this attention to the clinic.
I wish I could send each of them a note to say thank you.
