Better Grab My Red Shirt

*Sitting in the living room of my homestay on the couch*

Lolli(host dad): Koko (May I enter?)

Me: Tsena! (Enter!)

Lolli: Mogomotsi

Me: Erra (yes dad?)

Lolli: Mogomotsi I have brought a cow and you’re going to help me slaughter it

Me: Alright better grab my red shirt.

           During my time at Carroll College one of my biggest take a ways came not from my time in class, but rather the campus ministry I participated in. Service was at the heart of everything we did whether it was speaking to the incoming freshman or participating in local service projects. Everything led back toward serving the other in a direct capacity. With that being said, service is never easy. It’s a constant drain both emotionally, physically and you’re often placed into situations in which you don’t have the resources necessary. (Don’t worry we’ll get to the cow slaughtering in a bit.)

           The best example I can think of was my Junior year of college in Circle K. We had partnered with a local Habitat For Humanity chapter and were supposed to show up at 8am to help build a house. Our entire group rolled up still half-asleep clutching our Starbucks like 16 year old first time driver clutches the steering wheel. None of us have ever built a house let alone carried a nail gun. That being said, 2 hours later we were all fully participating in building this house. The students were laying tile, moving baseboards and rolling up their sleeves to the task at hand.

That mentality of rolling up your sleeves is essential for those who serve others because it says.

Alright, we have a problem, but were going to get through it no matter what.

We lost another sponsor? Alright, let’s call on the community.

I’m going to Botswana? Alright, better start my research now.

It’s a mentality of rising to the challenge at hand. So, when my host dad walked through the door and asked me to help him slaughter a cow all I could do was say. Alright, better roll up my sleeves because this is what the service is asking of me.

            Yes, the cow was fully alive when I first saw it.

            Yes, we skinned it, butchered it and cleaned it all with are bare hands.

            Yes, I’m glad I wore a red shirt.

            Yes, it was delicious.

           The rest of the story will be better told on the podcast at some point. Trust me it will be funnier that way. A few of the less gruesome photos can be seen below. 

-Ben Dulaney