Understanding your trip

How it all fits together

What is the Fuller Center?

• Incredible founders: Millard and Linda Fuller (www.fullercenter.org/history)

• A young organization with old history. Millard and Linda also started and led:

–Partnership Housing (1969-1976)

–Habitat for Humanity (1976-2005)

• At work in 60 U.S. cities and 15 countries.

•Has helped over 2,000 volunteers travel the world.

What is the Fuller Center?

• Based on a simple, powerful idea: that humanity needs partnership with one another and with God.

– Not a handout – each family pays it forward through a no-profit, no-interest loan

– Grassroots structure – each project is called a Covenant Partner and is locally-led. Each Covenant Partner shares the same principles and asks to partner. The Fuller Center only goes where it is invited.

That’s great. But how does it really work?

Volunteers

Volunteers carry this work. It rides on our shoulders.

It’s not carried by government. Or corporations. Or a large staff.

It’s people. Like you and I.

All of our Covenant Partner host sites rely heavily on volunteer leadership, and many of them are entirely volunteer-run.

You’ve given a lot – but so have they.

So remember to be kind and appreciative to your hosts. They, too, may be volunteering today.

Partnership

Partnership.

It’s a profound word.

It denotes equality.

It gives an image of two people working together as equals, facing the world as a team.

It’s how the Fuller Center operates.

What’s the goal?

Our vision

At least decent homes for all.

Peace between peoples.

A healthy community for every child.

Why send teams?

To help provide better homes. That’s obvious.

More subtle: To give you a chance to experience and serve.

Get a small taste of how others live.

Do something that matters.

Participate in the Kingdom of God.

The Kingdom of God?

“Poor” people living in stick houses with dirt floors.

“Rich” people who have never even met any of those who live like that.

Does that sound heavenly to you?

We act to close that gap.

That takes real people.In living color.Flesh to flesh.Sweating and playing together.

What’s all this God-stuff?

We’re a Christian organization.Unashamed.Moving on faith.That’s who we are.

But anyone can help.Volunteers of any religion or no religion.All given equal chance to receive housing help.And we won’t pressure you or try to make you feel bad.

Because that’s how we think God wants us to treat others.

What difference does a house make?

Health

Goodbye leaking roofs and dirt floors.

Hello improved sanitation and indoor air quality.

It’s true preventative care: no wonder the kids get sick 44% less often.

Education

Healthier kids focus better.

A safe place of stability to do homework.

The kids get degrees their parents only dreamed of.

What difference does a house make?

Economics

An affordable home means more $$ for everything else.

The partnership process opens minds and doors.

We’ve seen entrepreneurial self-employment rates triple!

Self-worth

Pursuing happiness.

Fulfilling dreams.

Discovering that others think their lives have value.

What difference does a house make?

Strengthens familiesNo more multi-family overcrowding.Eases the financial stress that is the #1 cause of family disagreements.The home becomes a garden in which they grow together.

Strengthens communitiesHealthy families are the building blocks of a healthy community.Home ownership means they care, because they are there to stay.All benefit.

What difference does a house make?

Remember this:

A home is the physical foundation upon which human development occurs!

How does my trip help?

1. Show the love.You’re giving of yourself – your time, effort and attention.

Demonstrating that you care.

Because some things you just can’t do from afar.

2. $$$.

Your trip fee supports the work financially.

Every dollar counts.

It’s one of the best ways we help.

How does my trip help?

3. Construction.

You help get homes built.

That’s important.

We don’t do make-work.

4. Jobs.

Think of all those construction workers, drivers, cooks, and

lodging hosts.

Then add in all those in the supply chain of the locally-purchased building materials.

Huge ripple effect.

How does my trip help?(Hint: It also helps you!)

5. The meaning of life. 85% of our volunteers report greater life meaning.

It’s doing something that matters – and getting hooked.

Now that’s priceless.

6. Learning. We learn so much on these trips.

Read up on the country and on global poverty while you’re motivated.

Ask questions!

7. Encourages local initiative. It’s theirs, not ours.

We support them, don’t undercut.

This is all-too-rare for mission trips.

8. Long-term benefits to both you and them. The impact of a home lasts decades.

Let your trip inspire real changes in your personal habits and choices.

Keep the relationship alive – become a Country Champion monthly donor.

We let their smiles be our sales pitch.

How does my trip help?(Hint: It can help for a long time!)

Final note…Expectations

We come to serve those in need……and discover they have just what we’ve been needing

We come to help……and discover that they are helping us learn so much

We come to help “those people”…and find ourselves learning each others’ names and becoming friends

We come to share the love of God…and find them sharing it right back

We come to change the world…and find ourselves being changed.

One thing more…

THANK YOU!It is only because of volunteers like yourself

that we can “build a better world” together.

www.fullercenter.org/global-builders