Monday, May 30, 2011

It Takes Dedication

May 30, 2011

From Grandma's 1914 Diary:
May 28, 1914 Thursday, set out sixty sweet potato plants and one hundred and thirty five red beet plants, the painters came at two o'clock was here for supper and stayed all night.
May 29, 1914 Friday, baked six loaves of bread and a pan of biscuits, planted tomatoes, cucumbers and lettice and hoed in garden, had the painters for three meals, Uncle Eph, Leo, Tillie and Etha Keiser called in the evening, painters were here overnight.
May, 30, 1914 Saturday, baked nine pies, done saturdays work, planted corn, beans, and twenty five sweet potatoe plants, Mr. and Mrs. Numbers father and mother called in afternoon, had the painters for three meals and all night, Lew, Addie, Leland and Virginia called in afternoon, Leland stayed for supper and all night.

Habitat Dedication Day - May 22, 2011
Today turned out to be a beautiful day with plenty of sunshine and a few white fluffy clouds.  A perfect day weather wise for the dedication of two homes.
Myself and Joan were asked to participate in the dedication by presenting the keys to one of the families - Paulo, Seta and their four children.  This was a real honor for us to participate in the ceremony especially in this manner.  There's no greater pleasure than being able to present a family with the keys to their new home.

I think that I mumbled something in my short speech about thinking that we were coming to New Zealand to pound a few nails, maybe put up a wall, dig some dirt or whatever was asked of us as on any other Habitat build site.  But then we were given this wonderful honor of presenting the keys to a family and we really considered it an honor.

The street on which the current homes are being built by the Greater Auckland affiliate was named after one of the founders of the affiliate.  Clarrie Wills had given many years of service to the affiliate and it will be a lasting memento to him.  He passed away last year.



Looking down Carrie Wills Way.  A beautiful community of Habitat homes plus a few others by another housing organization for low income families.  The ones on the left I think are all Habitat homes.


Here Richard, Marilyn, Kathy, and Dwight are checking out some of the dedication details in the program.


Sami and her family are being presented the keys to their home.
Sami has four children.


Here Sami and her family are being presented the Keys to the Kingdom (Bibles).


Titia is presenting a collage of pictures of the construction that she created.  Titia is one of the construction supervisors and a good leader.  This is the third time we have worked under her guidance and we consider her a very good friend. 


Joan and I getting ready to present the keys to Paulo's family.


A very short speech prior to presenting the keys.


Congratulations!


A number of Paulo and Seta's family were there for the occasion of the dedication.  They (Paulo and Sita and family) had immigrated to New Zealand about 2 or 3 years ago from Samoa.  The minister presenting the prayer for the family said it in Samoan.  He said that if he presented it in English it would sound a lot like the one that was done for Sami so he did it in Samoan.  He was joking about that and it was nice to hear the prayer in Samoan and it had a nice flowing sound to it.

Paulo's family, missing one, in front of the entrance to their new home.


Sami and her family inside the entrance to their new home.

Some of the team, some of each family in front of their new homes.  It was hard to get everyone together after the party started.


Part of the audience.



Well it was a great day, a great occasion, great food, and I think a great time by all.

Life is good !

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