October, 2018 Newsletter
This month's theme:
Habitat Harvest
Building on Faith
Executive Director's Message

 I’m a country girl and harvest paints in my mind’s eye a picture of hard work. Harvest time represents an opportunity for everyone to pull together to bring in the crops. Months of cultivating crops, fighting the elements, and guarding against predators finally yields abundant fruit. That fruit doesn’t magically appear in barns and silos. A lot of time-intensive back-breaking labor ensues to assure you reap a bountiful harvest. In fact, harvest time utilizes the most labor-intensive, expensive and sophisticated supports at the hands of farmers. Harvest time marks the end of the growing season and a celebration of the fruits of a year’s worth of labor.
 
Akin to farming, Habitat marks the end of our building season with Habitat Harvest each fall. We work hard to gather together true Habitat Champions to celebrate with us the families impacted by safe, decent and affordable housing. This time last year we were doing heavy lifting to prepare for Habitat Harvest, with a goal of raising money to build the Harvest House in partnership with a hard-working local family. Right now we are putting finishing touches on that very Harvest House.
The Zuniga family will move into their new home right before Habitat Harvest 2018.

So guess what? We invite you to work in the fields with us, so-to-speak, as we strive to raise funds to build our next Harvest House. One square foot at a time, we aim to raise enough money to build a home.

On the evening of November 15 th many opportunities will be posed so that everyone can do something to help us make another dream of homeownership come true. As you prepare to come to Harvest, think about how you can stretch your faith and give to build homes, communities, and hope. When you arrive, invest to help gather in a bountiful harvest.
 
In the Bible, Jesus talks about the harvest several times. I really like what is recorded in the gospel of Matthew. Jesus made the rounds through all the villages and towns, and while there He spent time with people. When Jesus looked out at great crowds which followed after Him, He felt deep concern for people: His heart ached for people often overlooked and treated badly. Jesus provided focus and pointed out the obvious, “What a huge harvest I see in the fields but how very few people I see willing to come out and do the hard work!” He went on to implore, “Get on your knees and pray for the harvest.”
 
I encourage you to pray with us for an abundant Habitat Harvest on November 15 th . The laborers are few, so I encourage you, “Come and work with us in our fields!”

Brenda Shuttlesworth, Executive Director
Harvest, a Celebration of Achievements Realized
and Those Yet to Come

Join Waco Habitat for Humanity staff, board members, homeowners, sponsors, donors, and friends as we share experiences from last year and give in anticipation of the year to come. Habitat Harvest is an annual event at which everyone can express appreciation for those who give of time, talents, and resources so that everyone in Waco can have an affordable home.

This year's harvest will feature a cash bar happy hour, a silent auction, dinner, a presentation by Coach Brian Bolton, varsity tennis coach at Baylor University, and a live auction of unique and valuable items.
Habitat Staff and Volunteers,
Ready to open, Spring 2017
ReStore Half-Off sale
On the Calendar -- Upcoming Events

October 1st -- World Habitat Day

October 6th Game Day Parking at Extraco Banks (605 S. University Parks Drive)
Recommended Donation: $20 per vehicle

October 20th -- HALF OFF SALE AT THE RESTORE!
9:00 am - 3:00 pm, 1224 Franklin Avenue

November 15th -- Habitat Harvest
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm, Phoenix Ballroom

December 7th -- Elf on a Shelf at ReStore
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
1224 Franklin Avenue

December 11th -- Homeowner's Christmas Party 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Habitat Administrative Office
220 N. 11th Street
Building on Faith

Waco Habitat for Humanity is part of a global, nonprofit housing organization operated on Christian principles that seeks to put God’s love into action by building homes, communities and hope. Throughout the Bible there are references to home as a place of peace and safety, having meaning extending far beyond the physical structure.

Home based on wisdom, understanding, and knowledge, to be blessed.
Proverbs 24:3-4 “By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.”

Home as an embodiment of faith.
Psalm 127:1 " Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the LORD guards the city, The watchman keeps awake in vain."

Home and the importance of community.
Hebrews 3:3 " For He has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, by just so much as the builder of the house has more honor than the house."

Home as a permanent place of safety and peace.

2 Chronicles 7:15-16 “Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place. For now I have chosen and consecrated this house that my name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will be there for all time.”

Every Habitat home is built on Faith: Faith of the homeowners on many different levels; Faith of the builders that materials will be delivered; Faith that volunteers will help; Faith that no one is injured; Faith in the inspectors that construction is safe and will withstand attacks by the elements. Ultimately, Faith by all that the home will be an active part of the community and that it will provide safety and peace.

As Waco Habitat moves toward our next Building on Faith home, each person who contributes to the process can take a few moments to reflect on the experience. A Building on Faith home may look like many other Habitat homes, but "hidden" within the walls are messages from the builders: verses from sacred texts, words of spiritual encouragement, and inspirational thoughts. The homeowner family is surrounded by the peace and safety of those who hammered, painted, lifted, connected, moved, carried, and completed all the tasks, little and big, that are required to construct a home.

Perhaps we all can pause for a moment and feel gratitude for our own living space, for it, too, where ever it is--was Built on Faith.
World Habitat Day - - Think Globally, Act Locally!!!

World Habitat Day is October 1, 2018. This year's theme is timely for Waco: Municipal Solid Waste Management . Waco Habitat's ReStore is part of the solution. Since June, 2016 there have been 1,984 separate donations of building materials and household items to the ReStore. Of these, 12% come from businesses and 88% from individuals. We have diverted 3,684 tons of sellable materials that would otherwise have been sent to the Waco landfill. We sold 520,031 tons of unusable metals and glass, a significant diversion of waste from the landfill.

The ReStore is located at 1224 Franklin Avenue, between 12th and13th Streets. Hours of operation are Wednesday through Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Special sales and events occur throughout the year. Watch for notices in this Newsletter, or visit the ReStore for details.

The ReStore accepts new and gently used building materials of all kinds, and household items such as furniture, appliances, lighting, cabinets, windows, doors, and many, many others.
Look for this colorful truck as it makes pickups and deliveries around the Waco area. The pickup and wrap were sponsored by the Cooper Foundation, Allen Samuels Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, First National Bank of Central Texas, and Precision Wraps.
Mission Moment--
 Grants and Contracts Specialist


The October Mission Moment is with Jay McMillen, Grants and Contracts Specialist for Waco Habitat. Jay contracted Habititis in 2002, as a volunteer for a week-long blitz build in Lubbock, TX. Following lesser stars, he found himself retired and living in central Texas and in need of spiritual meaning in his life. Jay's experience called from the past and he started volunteering with Waco Habitat.

Several months of work on construction sites inflamed an old back injury, and Jay was forced inside. Staff changes opened a position in grants and contracts administration. After months of waiting for a divine call to "Come and follow me," the way had opened.

Discerning "the way" was finally easy, as Jay had retired from Texas Tech University after 17 years working in - - - grants and contracts administration . There could be little doubt that this opportunity was a mission in waiting, and an answer that Jay had sought for most of the previous year.

Responsibilities of the Grants and Contracts Specialist include searching for and applying for grants. In addition, Jay's experience in government funding makes him the logical choice to review
Jay McMillen, Grants and Contracts Specialist
agreements that include interminable government regulations. He also writes the newsletter and lends creativity to other communications from Waco Habitat.

An active artist, Jay's abstract paintings frequently can be found at the Waco Winery and Cultivate 7Twelve.

In addition to finding spiritual meaning at Waco Habitat, Jay found his soul mate in Waco. Plans for a wedding are well under way, and Jay expects to remain in Waco, working for Habitat for as long as he can.

"May that which is holy comfort your body and soul, and grant you peace" Jay McMillen 
Waco Habitat for Humanity
Administrative Office -- 220 N. 11th St., Waco, TX 76701 Phone: 254-756-7575
ReStore -- 1224 Franklin, Waco, TX Phone 254-756-0131