Our Strong Tower: Neighborwork Week

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Neighborwork Week

Just got a flyer in the mail today. We are going to start cleaning up our lots this Saturday from 9-10am. Then we will go some place else to have our meeting. Not sure how much we will get done this Saturday, but it is exciting because it means we are getting closer to starting. I asked if we could bring other people to help clear the lots. They said no, but we will be looking for help soon.

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Home Ownership Program

We are doing a program through a organization that has been building homes in our area for 40 years. The program is designed to help lower income families buy homes. There will be a total of 24 homes built. The homes are divided into two groups. We are in the first group of twelve families. We work together to build all twelve families' homes. By the end of the process we will know our new neighbors very well. We are required to work 40 hours a week, split between two people. We do most of our work on the weekends. There is a contractor working with us to teach us how to build a home. We can not move in until all twelve homes are complete. It usually take one year to build twelve homes. We don't do plumbing, electrical, drywall, or stucco. We are the labor. The labor is our down payment down, sweat equity.

Hi I’m Debbie and I have 3 children, Natasha 27, Amanda 21, and Stephen
14.

I’m grateful for God’s providence these many years of living in the United
States, 22 so far. As a single parent for the past 11 years, He has faithfully
provided for my children and I.
PSHHC requires that if you are single head of household that you have a
“permanent helper”. Pat is the husband of my dearest friend and sister
of the heart Karen, and I asked him if he would prayerfully consider my request
to be that helper and make this incredible journey a reality for me. He said yes
and now the American dream of home ownership is becoming mine.
But it isn’t just a home but one that comes across the street from a family
who I have already been neighbors with for many years, John and Tricia. Just up
the street from another single parent from our church, Deena and her
sons and surrounded by a community of neighbors with whom I have shared, sweat
“equity”, dirt and just a smidge of blood and bruises with!

Deena and the Boys

Hi, I am Deena. I have four awesome young men (21, 19, 17, and 12). We have always wanted a home of our own. The place we are in was supposed to be temporary housing sixteen years ago. Now God is giving us a new adventure. We are going to build our own home and eleven others with our new neighbors. And God blesses us with neighbors who we already know! Jacob is my co-builder and my two teenagers will be helping as much as they can. God is always providing
for me when I least expect it. He is so amazing.

Where did this journey start?

For me, Tricia, this journey began with me wanting to own a home and God using this desire to grow my faith and dependence on Him. I have been trying to buy a home for 6 years with my husband, John. We tried many times to buy a home, but God always said no. A year ago, we finally decided to stop our search and learn to be content where God has us. God had different plans for us. In August, we applied for a self-help housing project. In October, we were accepted. I then told our neighbor (for 7 years) and friend Debbie. She applied and was accepted. In January, I told Deena a friend from church. She applied and was accepted. These homes are such a blessing. We sit in awe of what God has given us. We are excited to get started on the homes. God is our strong tower. He will give us the strength to build these homes.

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Neighborwork Week

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