Dedication of Interfaith Habitat Home

Habitat Interfaith Build House Dedication

Sunday, February 21st turned out to be a beautiful warm and sunny day for the dedication of the Rahlan-Sui house at 1009 Carroll St. a wonderful contrast to the four previous weekend that had been snowed out or too cold for work to be accomplished. After four months of hard work by members of the Durham Episcopal churches, Beth El Synogogue, the Ar-Razzaq and Mohammed Islamic Centers and members of the Duke University Episcopal, Jewish and Muslim campus ministries, all were able to celebrate together, the creation of a new home for the Rahlan-Sui family. The family is Vietnamese Mountianyard and has 10 members. Members of the family had worked with volunteers each and every Saturday to make this dream come true.
As each of those attending “attached” ourselves to the house or trees we said together the Litany of Life:
To the deep and abiding love that binds the Habitat family together,
We dedicate this home.
As a symbol of cooperative goodwill, work and sharing,
We dedicate this home.
That this house may serve as a place for rest, shelter and laughter
for the Rahlan-Sui family.
We dedicate this home.
To the training of the bodies, minds and souls of the beautiful
children that will live in this home.
We dedicate this home.
Because this home was made possible through the generosity of
so many friends who gave their time, their enthusiasm and
their financial support,
We dedicate this home.
To Habitat’s ministry of peace and reconciliation.
We dedicate this home with salam, shalom and Peace. Amen.

During the dedication Anne Hodges-Copple, our rector, gave the family a Bible.

Special Thanks to Rebecca Hix, house coordinator! She REALLY made it happen!! You GO GIRL!

What a great family! Mom, Dad and the older boys all worked almost every weekend, more than earning their "sweat equity"!

Our very own Anne Hodges-Copple presenting the family their bible, a Habitat tradition. Below is the "attached" crowd joining together in the Litany.

Duke Gardens in the Winter

John spent a few hours at Duke Gardens today enjoying a little warmer weather (55 degrees) and the flowers and birds.

More Memories

More pictures from the 2010 Mission Trip

The morning checkin by email!

Standard VI students traditionally make and sell cupcakes at the Valentine's Fair. Then to increase their profits, they sell raffle tickets for special ones they make.

Most evenings we met at 6:00 for a short service of Compline, or other evening prayer and then reflections on the day. A wonderful way to share the little things that happened during the day.

Wow...look at all that new land!!

Standard III students practicing their keyboarding skills in the computer lab.

What a great commute to work!!

David the welder working on his security fence. This fence is going nowhere!

Administering Communion to each other on our first Sunday with Team 1. We celebrated with the Minnesota group that was visiting for the weekend after working in Punto Gordo.

Amy tutoring one of her students in the library.

Some Team Memories

Below are some favorite pictures sent by team members from or 2010 Mission Trip.

The Palace Theatre now greets you as you come across the bridge. It is as yet unopened. Mr. Gordo's house (Freddy's Dad) is in the forefront. We used to eat our meals their in the early days. Had to watch your step getting to the tables, but the view was stunning.

Ah, and there to the left is Holy Cross Anglican School.

The kids keep us coming back year after year!

All dressed up for the Valentine's Fair! What a day!

Kids patiently (?) waiting for their vision screening.

Dr. Peter examining the cooks in the kitchen. Their first encounter was when the scales came out! Most had not been on one for years.

Pam Spatola's skills in Spanish were invaluable this year, particularly with the adults and the very young students, most of whom spoke very little English.

Cleaning up the endless pots, pans and dishes from lunch!

Mr. Freddy sharing the story of the Mahogany tree ( in white planter) planted by the children with Mr. John.

Miss Rosalia, Freddy's wife and head of the kitchen, and her crew of five produce wonders every day. They feed over 525 students, all staff and any volunteers who are around a wonderful nutritious lunch as well as a liquid breakfast supplement along with a carbohydrate of some kind for the students who qualify and then a nutritious fruit snack mid morning. The Anglican schools are the only schools in Belize that have feeding programs. All other students are released for the lunch break to go to their homes. For many Holy Cross students, this is the only food they consume during the day.

The Jacks come out before school while the students are waiting to go to their classrooms. Note the bagels for breakfast and the glass of liquid supplement on the table behind...part of the feeding program for those in need. The boys play marbles in the sand beside the school.

Ah our fearless leader waiting for more sand on the deck. Note all that new land beyond the deck....tons of sand into the swamp made that possible.....all shoveled off the deck into a wheelbarrow and then moved to the edge. There's lots more land behind the tool shed to the right. Some sore shoulders from this activity!

The view from the deck at Ruby's provided us a good vantage point to watch the Guatemalan women who came each day to sell their wonderful weavings. Some had small children with them and some sold with their husband, particularly on the weekends when the men were not working on construction jobs.

Destiny's Mother's House. We met Destiny four year's ago when we first came to Holy Cross. and have followed her history since then. It's been a sad tale from the beginning of illness, neglect and unheaval. This is where Dr. Jim, Sandra and Kim (a visiting Social Worker) made the video on the blog. Note the board pathway leading to the house.

Dr. Jim examines Destiny two days after his home visit and treatment. She came to the school to be seen at the clinic on the porch.

If it's Monday, it must be the Medical Clinic on the porch! We had it up and running by 11:00 to see first acute patients. What a great team!!

Dr. Jim seeing first patient.

Dr. Peter getting down to some serious questions.

Below, Ginny Atwell doing the first of hundreds of vision tests. "Left, Right, Up, Down."
Nurse Joyce in the background doing a check on a patient and the desk staff, Joanne and Pam the runner are getting ready for another group of kids.

2/7

Just because we're in Belize, it doesn't mean the Super Bowl doesn't go on! Deacon Jan was kind enough to entertain us all at her little abode for the evening. Food was great and the drink the standard and great sportsmanship was shown by all. A really fun night...probably more fun than any of us would have had at home :-)

R&R Day

Ron and Kathy took off at 7 for a day at Lamanai. They took a boat to the mainland, then took a bus to the New River, then a boat up the river to the ruins. They had a great time, though it was a long trip. They really enjoyed the monkeys, and the rum punch on the bus ride home!



















John and some hold overs from week 1 and a bunch from week 2 headed out for a day of sailing on John's favorite blue sailboat. He has admired this boat from afar for years and finally, one day after breakfast at Estelle's it was docked nearby and he went over to talk to the Captain. Turns out one of his kids goes to Holy Cross. He found the boat abandoned on the reef and claimed it, took it off the reef and has repaired it and does day and multi-day trips for groups. He gave them a really great rate and they headed out for the day of sailing, snorkeling, fishing and just relaxing. John got some great pictures snorkeling in the Coral Gardens, a new area for all. The seas were a little rough so the water isn't quite as clear as usual, but still good.

Meanwhile, Jean, Jan and Joanne headed to Caye Caulker to see what had changed there in the last 5 years. Not much. It was a wonderful trip down memory lane and a stop for the fruit plate with yougurt, granola and fry jacks and lunch of conch fritters really made the day.