The Publication of Habitat for Humanity International | October/November 2003
| The Publication of Habitat for Humanity International | October/November 2003 |
|
 'Words of Wisdom' From JCWP Build Sites by Rebekah Daniel, Leigh Powell and Shawn Reeves
As Habitat's most famous volunteer, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter traveled to all three Jimmy Carter Work Project sites during the week of the build. In LaGrange, Ga., he spoke at a press conference about the importance of the new relationships being formed as volunteers and homeowners built together: "It's almost impossible for one of us to get to know intimately someone from the 'other side of the tracks.' We don't break through the shell, even as Christians. Habitat breaks through that shell. This year in Georgia and Alabama we have 4,000 volunteers--most of them first-time--who are learning to break through that shell." Food for the soul Hugo Oropeza, homeowner of House No. 20 in LaGrange, Ga., came to the United States from Mexico seven years ago. He and his wife, Sandra Pullido, sang with a traveling music ministry based out of LaGrange for four years. On the day the ministry came to an end, Oropeza received a call from a friend looking for help with starting a Spanish-speaking branch of a local church, and they put down roots. As a gesture of appreciation, Oropeza and Pullido served a home-cooked Mexican meal to the volunteers of House No. 20 on Friday. Oropeza is a pastor; speaking is part of his job. Yet when it came to expressing how his family felt about the volunteers who had helped build their new home, words escaped him. "Maybe I will see them again in heaven," he says. "There are some things in life when words are not enough." Lessons learned After volunteering at the Jimmy Carter Work Project 2002 in Durban, South Africa, Elizabeth Santiago from Illinois couldn't pass up the opportunity to build in LaGrange, Ga., during this year's JCWP. At week's end, she reflected on the two experiences: "I walked away from the build [in South Africa] not only with a better understanding of the prevalence of substandard housing around the world, but also with a better understanding of the way I want to live my life," she says. "So much of what I learned in Africa wasn't related to housing. I saw how different people live their lives, and as a result I left with a better idea of how I want to live mine. ... While building in Georgia, I still worked with international volunteers, but this time I left with a great understanding of the families, and what a Habitat home means to them." Visions of home Tony Mims and Misty Howell, homeowners in Anniston, Ala., are most excited about having a safe yard for their children, 5-year-old C.J. and 4-year-old Caitlyn, to play in. As young as the children are, they're excited too. According to Tony: "Our little boy, C.J.--since he first heard about [our getting a Habitat house]--all he's been doing is drawing pictures--drawing pictures of the house with an apple tree in the front yard. ... He's going to see the real thing soon enough."
When new homeowner Veroneca Caver started her week of JCWP building in Anniston, Ala., she didn't know what to expect, but she found that people have goodness in their hearts that simply needs an outlet. "I will never forget this week: This has been a hard week, and it's been a good week," she says. "And I tell you, just being a part of Habitat, it's been a good thing, because we have a whole, big family now. I've had a chance to meet a whole lot of people.... It's been a joy to actually have people working on my house that don't even know me. And everybody has just been real good." (continued)
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| © Habitat for Humanity International | Home | Get Involved | Where We Build | How It Works | True Stories |
