THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, August 25, 1994 TAG: 9408240189
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
SOURCE: John Pruitt
LENGTH: Medium: 71 lines
When members of Whaleyville United Methodist Church joined volunteers from Magnolia United Methodist for a home-renovation project in Whaleyville, both my wife and I made one thing clear right up front: I was willing to tackle just about any job, but they wouldn't find a paint brush in my hands!
Several years back, when we had bought our first home, I had painted practically around the clock to get every room in the dwelling covered in ridiculously little time. That, I figured, was enough painting for my lifetime. And, since then, Judy had known better than to even try uniting me and paint brush.
With that background, I share - with some amazement - that, gallons and gallons of paint later, I continue to apply paint to this very special house. I count that among the miracles of a project that has touched the hearts of every person involved in it, from children who scraped windows and filled holes with spackling compound to retirees who devoted countless hours of elbow grease and took on every imaginable chore that goes with transforming a dream into reality.
As anyone who's ever taken on renovating an old house knows, about the only thing to expect is the unexpected: floor supports that look whole on the outside being termite-eaten hollow on the inside; angles that look easily matched being nowhere near those marked on mitre saws; paint that looks readily covered demanding multiple coats.
And as anyone who's ever joined such a volunteer project knows, willingness often exceeds ability.
I offer proof: Determined to spray aerosol-packed foam into cracks for insulation, I encountered a can that started spraying and wouldn't stop. I got it everywhere: all over my hands and, in a futile attempt to dissolve the mess with water, deep into the kitchen drains. It continued to expand, blocking pipes that a plumber had installed so expertly.
That little venture involved about three hours of stripping from my hands a covering that transformed them into a horror-movie spectacle and, later, disassembling the drain pipes.
Even with such mishaps, the volunteers who set out to make this home for two very special people share a pride that can only come from involvement. To the person, these workers had projects waiting at home, things begging our attention.
But there was a motivation not to be found in those elective projects. This was about getting two people out of a rundown dwelling and into the place they've long hoped could one day be home.
Problem was, the place they had bought had become rundown itself after health problems halted renovations by the husband. As time lapsed, things just got worse, and the possibility of fulfilling their dream became more remote with each new medical bill. The dream never really died, but the thread with which they held it frayed steadily.
Other churches joined the effort, Somerton United Methodist providing proceeds from a very successful yard sale and other churches making donations for supplies. Individuals also contributed, and community members and members of the Whaleyville Volunteer Fire Department volunteered their talents.
In a city of tremendous housing needs, this seems a model way to enrich the lives of needy persons by helping them get out of dilapidated shacks and into places worthy of calling home. It would be difficult to find a better mission for churches looking to heed biblical admonitions of going into the world and of loving one another.
It's difficult to think of a mission more worthy of our time or of a reward sweeter than the growing pride and excitement of the people who will benefit directly. And I can think of nothing more enriching than the message we now can give to the Whaleyville couple: Welcome home! by CNB