Habitat celebrates another success story

Polly Miller, wife of the late Frank Miller, handed new homeowners, Jay and Chasity Sherman, keys to the second Habitat for Humanity house in the Frank Miller project Wednesday at Linton's Trinity Lutheran Church.

The house is named after the late Naomi Wetzel.

The Rev. Jim Wetzel presented the Sherman family a Bible and speaking of his wife said, "It is a blessing to have had this number of people turn out for such a project. There were a lot of selfless hearts. The beauty of this is doing for other people, and it was Naomi's spirit to do for others. This represents the spirit of my wonderful wife."

In tribute to the 200 people who helped build the house, Harry Huber, president of Greene County Habitat for Humanity (GCHH), presented a video of the four-month construction project that began with workers laying the foundation and ended as finishing touches completed the interior.

The Rev. Mike Roth, pastor of Saron United Church of Christ, also contributed to the ceremony by reading a poem written by a recipient of a Habitat house and leading the dedication song.

Members of Trinity Lutheran's Women's Guild made the Sherman family a "Holy Comforter." It was an emotional moment when Jean Brown handed the comforter to Chasity and said, "We give you this in Naomi's name."

In his dedication remarks, Huber said his thoughts were from his heart, and the building of these two homes, the Frank Miller home and the Naomi Wetzel home, was different. He noted that one of the reasons was that so many people took part in the construction.

"Frank and Naomi were the other two reasons," he said. "A lot of people wanted to get their hands dirty because of Frank. You don't always get to say thanks to people like Frank and Naomi. Throughout the years, I learned a lot from Frank Miller."

Huber went on to say that the first time he met the Wetzels was when he was elementary principal and Naomi and Jim enrolled daughter Sarah in school.

"I knew they were special people, people of faith," noted Huber. "We had our plans, but God had his plans. After their deaths, Naomi and Frank still have positive impacts on us. I want to say thanks to them for having those impacts."

The impact that the Habitat home has on the Shermans was best conveyed by their young son, Chance, when exuberantly he cried out, "That's my house!" while watching the construction video.

"I don't know why they (selection committee) chose us for the home, but I can't say 'thank you' enough," said Chasity Sherman in her dedication remarks. "It's an awesome experience. We love it, and we all sleep better. There were so many mold spores in our apartment that none of us slept well. We are all healthier."

The Naomi Wetzel House, located on E Street NE in Linton, is the fourth home built by GCHH. The first home, the Elmo Dowden House, was built in Lyons in 2000. The second home is the Rainbow House on Cold Springs Road in Bloomfield. The Frank Miller house is located on 11th St. NW in Linton.

The HFH homes are not free to the owners. In addition to mortgage payments, each homeowner invests hundred of hours of their own labor, called "sweat equity" into the building of their house.

Millard Fuller is founder and president of HFH International. His leadership has helped forge Habitat into a world-wide Christian housing ministry. Habitat is at work in over 89 countries.

In addition to Huber, Greene County Habitat for Humanity has 15 board members who are now beginning plans for another Habitat house.