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Global Village Dominican Republic: A Special Reflection

Picture of Guest Blogger Guest Blogger : 2:40 PM on February 12, 2020

Global Engagement 2020

Global Village Dominican Republic: A Special Reflection

Guest Blog by Mary Bolkcom,
Global Village Volunteer,
Written on February 6, 2020

Today I'm repping Devin Smith (pictured on shirt). Here is the reflection I shared with our crew today:

Mary Bolkcom posing in the middle of a partially-finished concrete house, with volunteers behind her. Today I think about the meaning of home. Because what that means to me clarifies why I'm here.

The place that is my shelter from the storm.
The place where I am most at peace.
The place where my memories reside.
The place where my people and my friends come for food, for fun, and for the shelter when they need that.
The place where I am most creative.
The place where I can simply look out the window and enter a joyous place.
The place no one can take away.

I hope by being here, in some small way, I can—with all of you—give others a chance to have that place, a home. Which brings me to today. On February 6, 1989, my son Devin Smith was born. He passed away 8 1/2 years ago. Dev was a world traveler, but he loved home most of all. Today, I will say his name and honor his life by my work on this home.