Testimonials from JACE Participants

St Alban’s

Two years ago, I helped build a house in north St. Louis for the Penny family. I must admit when I first committed to the project I didn’t think I’d become so “committed.”  I didn’t know anything about construction and most of the volunteers were much older.   Lifting drywall at 7:30 a.m. on a Saturday morning was a challenge! But, I kept going back on my free Saturdays. I hammered or painted with members of my parish who were all taking time out of their busy schedules to make a difference for one family. Their spirit encouraged me. Then, I got my father involved. We both labored over constructing the basement stairs. Habitat for Humanity wanted all the houses completed by winter.  Our team made progress quickly and decided to try to finish the project before Thanksgiving so the Pennys could enjoy the holiday in their new house.  Our goal was achieved. I will never forget how proud I felt and how happy Jewel Penny looked when she crossed the threshold of her new home. 

-Peter Murano, FM1621@aol.com

We have enjoyed our experience as a family partner.  It has given us an opportunity to meet and work personally with one of the families.  We truly felt like an essential part of the Habitat experience.  We were able to work with the Wood family and help make their dream of living in a home a reality.  It was wonderful to know that when Sterling had a problem we were able to help solve it.  We worked along side Sterling so that he could meet his personal goal of getting into his house before Thanksgiving.  It is hard to describe how amazing the day was that Sterling had his house dedicated.  He and his daughters could not believe it had finally arrived.  He was so thankful to everyone.  His disbelief that he was able to meet his goal and his immense gratitude will remain one of my favorite memories.  I think I can best sum up our experience by telling about our three year old son's reaction.  He met and played with Sterling's daughters several times.  Ever since that time when he says his evening prayers he will bless "his sisters."  This is something he started without any prompting from us and for a long time we didn't know about whom he was talking.  We were surprised when he finally told us who they were.  At that point we knew this has truly been an experience that has positively impacted our whole family.  We look forward to continuing our involvement with Habitat. 

-Laura Kinnunen, kinnunenl@prodigy.net

Working with Habitat to build a house was very gratifying.  Knowing the family that we were working for and with, made  the effort  a time of fellowship.  I couldn't imagine a nicer group of people to be associated with.  A job well done and worth it!  

-Mary Griesemer, St.  Joseph Church, Manchester MO

One of the rewarding pieces of working on a habitat home is the people who come to help come from all backgrounds and different career expertise.  People are there to help any way they can.  There not ashamed of what they don't know.  They are proud to help yet not too proud to do any task necessary to help the cause.  And when the day is done they were glad they could be a part of the effort.

-Kevin

 I had my first experience with Habitat in 2001 when I shared the positition of House Leader with another person during the regular build.  It was a challenging and rewarding experience, unlike any that I have ever known. It was challenging from the standpoint of directing an all volunteer workforce, many of whom had little or no construction expertise but had a desire to help their fellow man.  It was rewarding in that most of the volunteers seemed to have a good experience and many came back time and again to do more work. It was also rewarding in that the homeowners seemed to gain as much from the experience of working with the volunteers as they do from owning a home. But most of all, it is also easy to imagine the difference these new homes will make, not only on the neighborhoods in which they are located, but also on the future of the children moving into these homes.  The new homes, the imroved neighborhoods and experiencing the build will provide them with a better environment to grow in and better role models to follow, all of which should enable them to go far in life and become valuable members of society that are able to give to others what has been given to them - a chance to succeed.  

-Phil Didion.

I will never regret my decision to get involved with this project, nor will I have to give any thought to my response if the opportunity presents itself again. Throughout the project, it was amazing for me to discover how much I was able to contribute, how well so many different people were able to work together, and how willing people were to share their knowledge. No one I met, was doing this for personal recognition or glory. On the day of dedication, seeing the houses completed and the faces of the recipients as they were handed the keys just gave me the "warm fuzzies". It was a feeling like no other that I have ever experienced and I was proud to have been a part of Habitat for Humanity.

-Cindy 

The experience was phenomenal. Our family served as the family partner to a woman purchasing a Habitat home.  Although initially fearful of the unknown and concerned about the time commitment that might be involved, we truly learned that what you give you get back tenfold!  We now have a life-long bond and friendship with a family that would not otherwise have existed on either of our parts.  I believe that both of our families can truly say about the other--"to the world you may be just one family....but to one family, you may just be the world".  God has truly blessed us indeed and enlarged our territories as a result of our participation in the Habitat program.

-The Moorkamp Family (Family Partner with the Jewel Penny Family)