Ramona - Habitat Homeowner - October 2011

I would like to thank the board and all the people in the office for all their hard work behind the scenes and in front that made it all come together and possible for my family to get a home. I would also like to thank everybody who was not able to come out to the house but gave money or materials. I would like to thank all the volunteers who put on the wall build at the hospital (Indiana University Health West Hospital) and for everyone who hauled the walls to the job site.

I thank all of the volunteers who came out and worked on the house. I especially want to thank you for all of the love and care you put into building the house. There were times that someone would be working on something and not think it looked right. They would go and ask another volunteer and together they would figure out the best way for it to work and look good because they knew this house would have to last my family and me a long time. They wanted it to be the best it could be.

I would like to thank all the guys for the way they handled themselves on the job site. They were mindful that there were women and girls around and there was no cursing or inappropriate talk. They handled themselves just as God meant for them to and spoke about in the Bible. They truly behaved like gentlemen on the job site. I don’t know if anyone else appreciated it or not, but I did and I thank you for it.

I would like to thank all of the ladies who came out and put the roof/shingles on. I was not there the day they came out and I wanted to be there so I could tell them “thank you” in person and see the ladies work. My kids pushed me into taking a day off to spend time with them because with work and all I hadn’t spent much time hanging out with them. I knew the house was in good hands. I did have a good time with my kids and when I returned the next day the ladies were gone. The roof was up and there was nothing on the ground or anything. I would also like to thank all the spouses of the volunteers. I think you had the hardest job of all because with the high temperatures and heat, the guys were sweating and their clothes were dirty and smelled really bad. I know you had to wash their clothes and I thank you.

There were times I would go to the house and look around to see the windows in or the cabinets up or something and I would try not to cry around the guys (most of the time because they don’t handle women crying too good). I know people put up houses every day but they didn’t get the blessings that God has given me by seeing all that went in to my home. I sit there and look around and see this one over there working or over there working up in the rafters. I thank God for the blessings He has given me and my kids. I thank all of you for allowing God to use you for His work. Thank you.

Words cannot begin to express our gratitude to all of you. Partnering with all the volunteers, working towards our own home, knowing that others were being Christ with skin on FOR US…is both awe-inspiring and humbling. We apologize for not being able to be present in person—unfortunately, both children have extracurricular activities that require our presence.

Working alongside so many people and knowing we were working towards our own home was exciting and exhausting (as I’m sure it was for the many volunteers that passed through our home site).  Watching the foundation be poured, the walls go up and this empty plot of land become our home reminds me of all Christ does for us.  Obedience is never easy. When we walked away from a home that was making our children sick, it was not painless.  Living in the city, away from all we had known and into an apartment where every noise, every tenant made could be heard was difficult and sometimes depressing. Yet it was where God led us to be. 

As this Thanksgiving approaches—2 years after our application was accepted (because we got word the Tuesday before Thanksgiving 2009), you all, have reaffirmed Gods promise to us that He would take care of us.  That blessings are in store for those who seek to do His will.   Habitat answered a promise God made to our family when we let go of the only home our children had known.  And He kept that promise through the time, energy, effort and donations of all of you—and so many others like you whose prayers and presence followed us through this journey. 

At our dedication, the song “Sanctuary” was played and sung.  It is our prayer that this home will be a sanctuary and a testimony to those in the community.  It kind of already is. If you drive past our home on any semi-decent weather day, you will find a group of young kids playing in our yard.  Many of those kids live in the trailer park and don’t really have a yard to play in. Some of them have parents who don’t seem to care where they are…but we have the ability to be Christ with skin on to them…in the same way you have been to us.

Our prayers and praises go heavenward—as we pray for God to bless each of you for your role in allowing us to own our beautiful home.  We ask that you continue to hold us in prayer that we may strive to be a beacon in a dark world.

God’s blessing on each and every one of you. Thank you, sincerely and deeply, for all you have done.

Mike, Vicky, Cassy and James Klindt - Habitat Homeowners - May, 2011