Two Week Habitat Blitz Begins July 9th
Faith without action
is merely a dream.
Action without faith just passes the time.
Faith with action can transform the world.
Paraphrase of Joel A. Barker
Beginning Saturday, July 9th,
our dream of building a home for Wade Morris and his family will take a
significant step toward becoming a reality. On that day, in collaboration
with several Habitat Chapters, multiple churches in Smithville, Tupelo and
the surrounding communities, and support from interested Episcopal churches
in Mississippi and beyond, we will start a TWO WEEK HABITAT BLITZ so
the Morris Family will have a comfortable home they can call their own!
What began as a dream has
suddenly gotten legs and is moving forward very rapidly:
• A one acre tract of property just south of Smithville has been donated to
Wade and Jennifer. Their new home will be constructed there.
• ERD has given its tentative verbal approval for a $20,000 grant that will
cover approximately 30% of the costs of construction materials. The Bishop’s
Disaster Relief Fund has contributed $10,000 to this effort and $10,000 from
other sources has been received. We believe the remaining balance will be
covered through other cash donations and donations of building materials.
• St. Peter’s by the Sea, Gulfport, has graciously loaned us its
construction trailer loaded with all kinds of construction tools. Those
tools will enable us to build a beautiful and functional home for this
family.
• The Northeast Mississippi Habitat for Humanity chapter, located in Tupelo,
is taking the lead by supplying financial and other support, as well as
supervision and planning for the construction project. Other Habitat
chapters have also offered to assist.
• Individuals from Episcopal parishes and missions from Southaven to
Pascagoula and from Meridian to Clinton (and places in between) have
contacted us and told us they want to take part in the construction project.
• Surveying, title work, utility hookup and other preliminary site and
related work are underway. We’ll have a foundation on which to begin raising
the house on the 9th. We want to complete construction of the home by
Saturday, July 23rd so Wade and his family can move in and get settled
before school starts.
• We will open our buildings to individuals and groups who want to camp out
here while helping with the construction project.
• Your vestry has organized itself around four areas (food, volunteer
hospitality, utility and construction) so as to provide coordination of the
project. You’ll soon hear more about those efforts and how you can help.
Everyone in our parish can be
part of this worthwhile project in some way. Please complete a Volunteer
Sign Up Sheet (available in the office, in the Sunday Bulletin or on our web
page at
http://allsaintstupelo.com/2011-blitz.html
) so we can better prepare and organize our efforts.
Thanks in advance for your support and prayers!
Paul+
