Families

Highland Park United Methodist Church

Carpenters for Chris t

Families We Served in 2006

HPUMC House #	Family	Neighborhood
2006
46	Humphrey	Exeter
45	Sextion	Bon Ton
44	Evans	Joppa
43	Arnold	Joppa
42	Hardy	West Dallas
41	Macias	South East Dallas

“Why We Do It”

Roney and Debra Humphrey with their granddaughters, Dym’unique 5, Daniesha 7 and De’Shala 6.

Debra Humphrey and her husband, Roney, empty-nesters, middle-agers, had their lives change dramatically four years ago in November. It came as a soft tapping on their door around 4:00 in the morning. Going to investigate they found on their apartment threshold, alone and shivering in the dark, their three granddaughters, Daniesha 3, De’Shala 2 and Dym’unique 11months, with no sign of their mother or father.

A lot has happened since that fateful night when Debra and Roney became parents to young children again, and the five of them have been inseparable ever since. It was clear they needed more living space than was afforded by their small South Dallas apartment, but Roney didn’t make enough money at his job and Debra was too busy with three children under four years to hold a full time job, to provide better during the next several years.

At last, to the rescue came a donor for $40,000, HPUMC’s Carpenters for Christ ministry and Habitat for Humanity. The Humphreys received the keys to their brand new, 4-bedroom, 2-bath home on Saturday, December 9^th. Everyone who attended the dedication ceremony at 2518 Exeter Avenue felt, once again, in this season of Christmas the rich blessings that come from the giving of oneself. Special accolades for this home go to HPUMC’s Single Adult Ministry, who oversaw the volunteer recruitment, work scheduling and lunches for workers. Thanks also are due the United Methodist Men of Highland Hills United Methodist Church and to SMU’s Lambda Chi Alpha and Delta Sigma Pi fraternities for their volunteers. Now three great kids have a chance at a normal life.

And that’s why we do it!

First Home of the Fall Is For ‘Katrina’ Family

Carpenters for Christ was pleased to greet its first ‘Katrina’ Family when Michael and Vebra Sextion received their new home at 2624 Rogers Road on October 14^th. The Sextions are joined by their three children, 5-year old Michala, 3-year old Michael, Jr. and 9-month old Mikayla. A died-in-the-wool Saints fan from his years in New Orleans, even Michael had to break down and wear the Cowboy’s Star in honor of his new hometown for the dedication festivities. It was a special time and place for Carpenters’ volunteers and friends because this 45^th home is located only a few blocks from where HPUMC’s first Habitat home was built 10 years ago this fall.

Blitz Build Concludes Spring Construction Activity

Harold and Vickie Arnold received the keys to their new home on May 20^th, and Carpenters for Christ became a part of Dallas history, as Carpenters and Habitat for Humanity completed their first homes in the 1870s freedmen’s community of Joppa in southern Dallas. Joppa means “beautiful”, and the locals refer to the area of “Joppee”. HPUMC volunteers refer to the area as “beautiful” in the way that the homes nestle under 60-foot elm, cottonwood and pecan trees that cover the reclaimed bottom land of the Trinity River.

Spring Started in West Dallas

Following the completion of the Macias Family home Carpenters for Christ directed its attention to West Dallas, where it constructed a home for the Kimberly Hardy Family. This beautiful home was built on an in-fill lot at 3516 Chicago Street and joined several other properties being developed for “Habitat families” at the same time on lots purchased from the City of Dallas. Work on this neighborhood makeover commenced on March 11^th and was completed and dedicated at HPUMC’s Great Day of Service on May 6^th. House #42 was a proud achievement, and Carpenters hopes to return to West Dallas before the end of 2006.

The Miracle on Howard Avenue

There were tears of happiness for hope and a new life mingled with tears of sadness for times past that made the dedication of their new home so powerful for the Macias Family on Sunday, February 26^th. Even the toughest among the volunteer building crews were moved as they saw the transforming effect on the Family wrought in the previous two weeks by ‘Home on the Lawn’ workers from HPUMC, SMU, Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity and a small army of her friends led by resident angel, Melinda Russ.

Sharing the experience of the beautiful, new four-bedroom home with Elvia, David, Isaac and Rebecca Macias will be their grandparents, Aparicio Enriquez and Elvia de Moreno Enriquez. Those at the dedication learned there will never be any mortgage payments to make because the home comes to the Family free and clear, thanks to the generosity of the Harry Bass, Jr. Foundation and a number of donors who contributed materials and supplies. The miracle that began years ago reached a significant milestone on a late winter day not long ago.