My daughter Heather and I thank and praise God each and every day for Habitat, Shiloh Baptist Church members, and the community who have so graciously given their time, talents and supplies to build our home.

Several years ago, our financial situation worsened. I was working as a contract seamstress in our home. Work began to become very sporadic, with some weeks in which I had no work. There were dental & medical problems which were causing considerable pain, and therefore, the expensive treatments could not be postponed. We had to purchase a (new to us) used car because our current vehicle was, according to several car mechanics' opinions, "on its last legs" and would leave us "on the side of the road" one of these days. I began to seek more stable work and eventually obtained a much better job.

At the same time, our already dilapidated trailer began to disintegrate. The toilet broke down and was no longer repairable. Our floors were rotting and beginning to sag and collapse with weight. The plumbing was in such poor condition that our wash water flowed directly onto the ground underneath our trailer and the whole system needed to be completely replaced. Our only source of heat was a wood burning stove. The hot water heater malfunctioned, causing water to flood the hallway and one bedroom, further weakening the floor's condition.

It was obvious we would need a new home soon, very soon. I looked into many options, including FHA housing and mobile homes, but none were affordable on our income. Someone in my church, Shiloh Baptist, informed me of Habitat and encouraged me to apply.

Our home was finished in September as a result of the love, support, and financial backing of Shiloh Baptist working through Habitat. Had it not been for their efforts, we would never have been able to obtain a simple, decent, affordable place to live and never could have even dreamed of owning our own home.

Through it all, God has provided all Heather and I ever needed. This has been a dream come true for us, and we are so excited we now have a fresh, new beginning.