Ma Guadalupe Guerrero took some time off from her job as a full-time housekeeper in Chapel Hill to come and get to know the men and women who will help build her Habitat home this spring. Ma Guadalupe currently lives with her teenage son, Juan, and eight year old daughter, Daniela, in a noisy, substandard, one- bedroom apartment. Her son must sleep in the living room while Ma Guadalupe shares the bedroom with Daniela. Ma Guadalupe is frustrated by the lack of attention the property manager gives to the problems of noise, repairs, and other neighborhood problems. "We have no privacy, and do not feel at home. I want my children to have rooms of their own and room to play outside," she says. Ma Guadalupe is a woman of faith and she prayed that God could lead her to a better place.
On February 29, Ma Guadalupe met more than 50 people who will help her family, and nine other families like hers, to a better place. Members and staff of the Home Builders Association of Durham, Orange, and Chatham counties, Habitat for Humanity staff, and home-owner families gathered to celebrate their common goal, to build 10 homes in Orange, Durham and Chatham counties in 7 days during the week of May 31-June 7 as part of a national Home Builders' Blitz.
This gathering proved moving for all. The builders spoke of what they receive for all of their planning, financial generosity, and hard work. Families, who have qualified for Habitat homes and are currently completing their sweat equity, shared what this opportunity means to them with the builders who have been organizing for months in preparation to build their homes.
Frank Wiesner, Chair of the Home Builders' Blitz for the Home Builders Association of Durham, Orange and Chatham counties emceed the luncheon and told the families: "We build houses everyday and for that we receive a check. This time, we are building homes in order to see smiles on people's faces, and the satisfaction of knowing we are changing lives and securing futures for these children."
When asked if homeowners had a few words to say, there was a moment of nervous silence until Ma Guadalupe raised her hand and began to express in Spanish her feelings about this experience. She asked one of the contractors who will help build the homes to translate what she was saying. He paused and said first, "Wait, a minute, what she is saying is going to make me cry." He gathered himself and repeated what Ma Guadalupe shared. "It is a miracle to me to have all of you meet me on this path that God has opened up for me and my children and to see all the people that are willing to help us. I give thanks to God and to you for meeting me on this road."