Hello everyone! My name is Kristen Dyke and I’m from Grand Haven, MI. Currently I am a junior at Central Michigan University studying Communication Disorders, Psychology and Global Justice. I’m a member of Circle K International and the President of the Habitat for Humanity Club at CMU. Also, I’m very involved in my church, His House. I love to go on service trips, volunteer and read, also to educate myself on the problems going on in this world and how I can help.
Last summer I was on a mission trip in Biloxi, MS and one night the Southern US Bike and Build group slept at the church we were staying at for the week. I was able to speak with some of the bikers and loved what they were doing and the cause it was for-so I looked it up for myself.
For the past two plus years I’ve been actively involved in my local Habitat for Humanity, whether that be at home (Tri-Cities Area Habitat for Humanity) or at college (Habitat for Humanity of Isabella County). This past summer I actually worked for HFHIC through AmeriCorps as the Volunteer Recruiter. I absolutely loved it and now have a better understanding of the need for adequate affordable housing in our community, nation, and world. While Habitat has been one of the largest non-profits I have volunteered with; working on five different houses and three different ReStores, along with family selection, office work and volunteer recruiting, I also like to volunteer in other areas of my community.
I frequent the animal shelter and nursing home, and enjoy helping out at the mobile food pantry, and have mentored at local elementary schools. Service trips are the biggest passion of mine, and I have been on eight disaster relief trips and three international trips. The summer after I volunteered in the Dominican Republic and Peru I realized that my purpose in life is to love and serve, especially those less fortunate than me.
“If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth” 1 John 3:17-18. I serve to love and love to serve, I hope to continue in my volunteering and that my passion will help to impassion others. I serve because I can’t comprehend not serving. If I have the ability, time, resources and will to help someone in any way there is no reason for me not to. I believe that with privilege comes responsibility. For some reason I cannot understand, I was born into a life of privilege; never going without food, clothing, shelter, clean water, education, never having fear for my life or my family, the list goes on and on. I have learned that when I serve and love people, I get much more satisfaction out of life than if I would spend time and money on myself alone. This is why I have served, am serving and will continue to serve my neighbor.
What most excites me about this trip is the opportunity to reach a huge range of people to educate them about the need for affordable housing, and to raise so much awareness and money for such a great cause! I’m also excited to push myself physically, I‘ve never been athletic, so this will be a challenge-a challenge that is worth the sweat for adequate, affordable housing. Can’t wait to be the change!
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