SPONSORS' REMARKS at Dedication

Chapel Hill Presbyterian Church
3534 Tates Creek Road · Lexington, KY
(859) 272-2311

SPONSORS' REMARKS

A house has been raised at 407 Chestnut. Thanks be to God--and to the multitude of volunteers in his name! It has been built through the collaborative efforts of four Presbyterian churches-First, Hunter, Chapel Hill, and Lexington Korean-and Lexington Habitat for Humanity. Although these churches have sponsored other houses, this is the first house of this group's collaboration. For the Sponsors, this house has many meanings. First of all, it symbolizes the success of our cooperative efforts in a mission that in a small, but important way, helps to improve the lives of people in our community. It is an effort that began months ago with raising money to purchase the lot, to build the house, and to gain commitments of members to construct it.
Planning of the actual construction of this house began almost four months ago with meetings of the coordinators-Pat Render and Jane Bond from First Presbyterian, Kathy Knight from Chapel Hill, Soonie Shin from Lexington Korean, Martha Alexander our Construction Coordinator, and myself from Hunter--and representatives of Lexington Habitat. For us this beautiful house is the happy conclusion of a lengthy process which started in mid-spring.
But, this house made of wood, nails, vinyl, and paint is made of much more; it is made of the hands and the energies of more than 160 volunteers from these churches, assisted by a score of Habitat workers. When we, the volunteer builders, look at this house, most, if not all, of us here today can see our handiwork in the studding enclosed within the walls, the strips of roofing and siding, painted walls and doors, the sodded lawn, or clean windows. Looking at this house, our minds conjure images of sweaty faces measuring, sawing, pounding, painting, shoveling dirt, spreading sod, or carrying food and drinks. This is our legacy which will be forever with us.
From the beginning, the aim has been to build a house for Latrice Brown and DeAngreco. So, this house at 407 Chestnut Street is not just any house; it is Latrice's house, and she has been very much in our minds from the start. Her presence with us during the build provided encouragement not only to keep working but also to create the best house that we can for her. It is a great pleasure of the Sponsors, therefore, to have shared through its construction a symbolic ownership of this house that we now dedicate to her.

Chapel Hill Presbyterian Church
3534 Tates Creek Road · Lexington, KY · (859) 272-2311