Summer - eSchoolView

There the young man’s two interests– service and travel – came together.“I had the opportunity through Habitatfor Humanity to take two working tripsto El Salvador, spend four months inMexico, and work three weeks inIndia,” Tim states.During one of the morning devotionsin El Salvador, Tim heard a girl readthis quote from Sir Wilfred T. Grenfell, aCanadian surgeon and founder of theInternational Grenfell Association:“The service we render to others isthe rent we pay for room on this earth.It is obvious that man himself is a traveler;that the purpose of this world is not tohave and to hold but to give and to serve.”This quote gave words to what Timand fellow volunteers were feeling.As a volunteer for Habitat forHumanity in Jimmy Carter's “blitzbuilds,” teams travel to areas across theworld and build, in just a few days,hundreds of homes. In Vera Cruz, theNDCL grad was in a group conversingwith former President Carter when thePresident of Mexico, his wife, and theirentourage arrived. Pictures weresnapped, and Tim was photographedwith the two world leaders. “Our sonfelt like Forrest Gump!” laughs Tim’sproud parents.“The projects on foreign soil are asmuch about building relationships andlearning other ways of life as they areabout building homes,” says thecontemplative, young man. Timcontinues, “It’s amazing to see howAmericans are viewed abroad. Manypeople in other countries base theiropinions on what they see on TV sitcomsand news programs. Habitat volunteershave a chance to show what Americansare really like and what kind of life welive in the U.S. It’s really amazing howquickly the lines blur between cultureswhen we’re working toward the commongoal of building simple, decent, affordablehomes for our brothers and sistersof this world.”On Tim's last trip to India, volunteersbuilt basic, 350-square feet, cinderblockhomes for 100 families. While workingon the project, Tim wondered if thesehomes were much better than thehomes they were leaving. A week afterthe project wrapped up, Tim watchedas a family marveled at their new home.Murphy's time with Americorps ledto his current position with Habitat,managing a Restore in Charlotte, NC.Contractors and individuals who buildhomes and have quality leftover items,due to over-runs or careful demolition,donate the items to Restore. Tim andhis staff then sell the items at bargainprices to customers. All profits gotoward building new homes throughHabitat.Upon returning to Charlotte to workat Restore, Tim cruised through a localMcDonald's one day to get a bite to eaton his way to work. The teen workingthe window called Tim by name. Seeingthe teen's nametag, Tim rememberedAl, a child in a family Tim built a housefor while working for Americorps. Alexplained he was working to help payhis way through college. Tim rememberedhow introverted Al was with poorgrades, when they met only two yearsbefore. The Habitat worker immediatelyrealized the impact of a safe, stablehome on Al and his family.Tim admits his favorite part of workingwith Habitat in the U.S. or abroad is thefolks he meets – either in the shoulderto-shoulderwork or among the peopleserved by the work. Furthermore, thecompassionate worker continues toinsist he takes as much away fromthe experience as he gives through abuilding project.His parents say Tim has a good senseof self, and gives 110% to everything hedoes. They continue, “Anyone who hasever received an email from Tim knowsthat he always signs off with hisfavorite saying, ‘Life is a journey not adestination.’ We're very proud that sofar his life's journey has taken him tomany corners of the world, helpingthose less fortunate. We look forwardto seeing where his journey will takehim next.”Tim encourages everyone to volunteerand reap the benefits of helping others.“What a volunteer gives can be invaluable.And you never know where volunteerismwill take you,” Tim encourages. “Openyourself up to a more rewarding life.”As Voltaire is quoted, “The biggestreward for a job well done is to havedone it.”Tim Murphy has done it, and theNDCL alum doesn't intend to stop anytime soon.Anyone interested in Habitat forHumanity projects can find details online at: www.habitat.org/jcwp/2006It’s really amazing howquickly the lines blurbetween cultures whenwe’re working toward thecommon goal of buildingsimple, decent, affordablehomes for our brothers andsisters of this world.”Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin Seasons Summer 2007 13