Habitat for Humanity
One of the major mission programs
of St. Andrew’s
St. Andrew’s Habitat for Humanity 2010 Project is Completed
Thanks to the more than 130 volunteers from St. Andrew's and 40 volunteers from our coalition partner, Fiserv Inc., a new Habitat for Humanity home is standing at 1044 Bush Ave in St. Paul. This will be the home for Rypa and Xarerine Bantari and their children. Volunteers built, provided delicious meals, and served as site hosts for five weeks between May 17 and June 25. St. Andrew's members contributed over $20,000 including in-kind to pay for building materials. Our group started with a bare foundation and left it with sheet rock ready for taping by a St. Andrew's member who is donating his services. Other groups will finish construction for a fall dedication.
Just down the street from the Bantari home, members of the St. Andrew's Tuesday Habitat crew have been working since March to complete the renovation of a 100-year old house at 1071 Bush that had been subject to foreclosure.
Habitat for Humanity is a major local mission activity of St. Andrew's. This is a great way to put one's faith into action, as well as learning new skills and seeing tangible results each day. St. Andrew's is the largest individual church Habitat sponsor in the Twin City metro area in terms of volunteers and sponsorship. To see photos of the project go to the St. Andrew's website for a link.
Rypa and Xarerine Banteri, their eight children and their nephew are excited about their new home because it will provide the 11-person family a much needed bigger space. Their children range in ages from 8 to 23; and each of them either attend school or work to help with family needs. They moved from Congo as a family in 2004. As a family they speak more than 5 languages and enjoy sharing stories with each other. After they buy their home they hope to advance their careers and continue to support their children’s advancement in education. The family will complete 500 hours of “sweat equity” as a down payment, and will have a zero-interest mortgage set at 30% of their income to cover the actual cost of their home.
Over 60 Habitat homes will be completed this year in the metro area, including a significant number of foreclosed houses that are being renovated and turned into Habitat homes.
Contact Dave Engh at 651-482-8642 for more information about how you can put your faith into service for Habitat and the people it serves.
Check out photos of this project on this link: http://sites.google.com/site/standrewsfiserv2010hfh/photo-gallery
Join the St. Andrew's Tuesday crew year-around. Contact Dave Engh at 651-482-8642.
Project is a single family home at 1044 Bush Avenue in St.. Paul.
• Work dates are May 17-21, May 24-28, June 7-11, June 14-18 & June 21-25.
• This is the 19th year St. Andrews has put its faith to work on this project.
• Last year over 200 individuals showed their love for neighbors in need.
• Habitat for Humanity is NOT a charity program:
• Homeowners put in 300 to 500 hours of their own sweat equity time.
• Homeowners pay actual cost for home with a zero interest mortgage.
• Only one in 10 qualified applicants is selected for one of 50 homes.
• More than 98% of Twin Cities habitat families succeed with their mortgages.
My brothers, what good is it for someone to say that he has faith if his actions do not prove it. Can his faith save him?
If it is done alone and includes no actions, then it is dead.” James 2: 14 & 17
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