Baby steps

    Step one for building Betty's House was finding out if the home can be saved.  Frank Greene, Michael Stedman, Michael Stewart, Jerry and I met the Saturday after Betty's home burned to assess the fire damage.  What we needed to find out was if there was a benefit to doing a partial demo and then rebuilding on the remaining home.  While it was a possibility, both contractors, Michael Stewart and Frank Greene agreed that a completely new home was a better solution.  Just having a team of people, committed to working together made the leap a little less scary.

      
Meeting Manny
     One of our first calls was to Our Towns Habitat for Humanity.  Although Manny Rosado was not in the office, he soon called back.  Jerry communicated him that we hoped Habitat would be willing to share some of their knowledge and expertise in building inexpensive homes.  Manny enthusiastically told Jerry that Habitat was "all in" and that they were actively looking for partnerships with local churches to build communities.  Manny's enthusiasm and faith was infectious and just the boost  we needed.  What a gift from God!
     Jerry, needs to know the scope of a project, who will be involved, what it will cost, where the funds will come from, and what the 200 steps are to get us from here to there.  My style is to jump in, pray and then worry about whether I have gotten myself in too deep (If I had stronger faith I would pray first, then act and not worry at all, but, obviously both Jerry and I are works in progress.) 
     Betty's house is a big project (big for us, not for God), Jerry and I are remaining true to our natures.  Jerry has a long list of questions, he has started creating agendas for meetings and lists of contacts and other data.  I have started laying awake worrying.  So, for both of us, we need God's reminders that this is God's build, not man's.
     That's where Manny came in.  
     On June 5th, less than 3 weeks after Betty's home burned, the team met at the Habitat offices to figure out what we could do.  Manny Rosado is a man on fire for Christ.  His excitement and enthusiasm were infectious.  We talked about the Habitat model and he showed us plans, samples, detailed drawings, everything we need to put a home together.  For almost 2 hours Manny, Ann Gibert, Kirk Sipe, Doug Bostic, Jerry and I talked about building and Christ.
     Doug Bostic brought up the concerns for asbestos removal and the cost involved with that as well as needing to assess the well and septic system.  We talked about fundraising.  Based on a 100sf  home we are looking at needing to raise between $50K and $60K.
     God has a plan!  We just need to listen and follow.