Helping to build a home built something bigger for students

By Michael Protacio

Teen correspondent

LEXINGTON, Va.

When I signed up to build a Habitat for Humanity home, I never expected to become part of a family.

I knew I would learn how to saw, drill, hammer and shovel - the skills that go into building a house. But when my friends and I arrived in Lexington, in Virginia's mountain country, we found ourselves as new members of a loving, generous community.

I traveled with a group from Norfolk Academy. It included two teachers, Kathy Hobbs and Stephanie Pope, and nine other students. Some of us had never met, while others were best friends. Nevertheless, we were happy to be on vacation and doing something for others, while Hobbs and Pope were overjoyed to have their first experiences as "camp counselors" with an added benefit: During construction, Hobbs said she was elated to "see all of these kids feeling empowered."

Dan Walz, director of the Rockbridge Area Habitat for Humanity, welcomed us to Lexington and briefed us on our week's mission.

Our lodgings in a vacated fraternity house had no air conditioning, which ultimately revealed the community's incredible generosity.

Washington & Lee University granted us the house for the second week in June, while Walz kindheartedly ferried fans and coolers across town to help us combat the sweltering heat indoors.

The next morning, Jeff Young, assistant construction supervisor, arrived on our doorstep and led us seven miles out to the nearby city of Buena Vista. On a hill, nestled in a corner of the woods, sat our work site: the cinderblock foundations of a new home.

Joe Reinhardt, construction supervisor, awaited us with a smile and a visibly radiant love of his work. Working with volunteers, he said, "is my No. 1 joy. I like seeing people come here with a sense of love."

We knew we were in good hands.

The generosity did not stop there. We soon met two Habitat homeowners who live across the street.

Jane Anne Welles gave us access to the bathroom in her home, as there was none on the site. "Anyone who comes down and builds a house they're not going to live in is awesome," said Welles. We even befriended her numerous cats.

Darnell Spinner also paid a visit. He praised our service and charity: "We help people with (our) willing hands." Welles and Spinner were not just acquaintances; they became our friends.

Perhaps the greatest welcome we had came on our last full workday. Amid the ruckus of nearly a dozen hammers, Janet Stevenson, the house's future owner, made a grand entrance with peals of delighted laughter. Soon everyone received Stevenson's warm, gracious hug.

"You have no idea what this means to me," Stevenson said through tears of joy. " This is a happy day."

Stevenson, who will soon begin her own work on the house, is a teacher's aide and day-care director at Buena Vista's Mountain View Elementary School.

S tevenson introduced us to her own smiling family: her daughter, Melissa Johnson, and her newborn grandson, Josiah Johnson. The three hope to live in the home after it's finished.

Norfolk Academy rising senior Abbi Sigler said, "It's great to know that we helped to make (Stevenson's) dreams come true."

Reinhardt said we "should walk away heroes."

We did our best, and in one week, we grew from an eager group of volunteers into a family. We became part of a beautiful community where, Stevenson said, "everybody gets along and loves to help out."

Michael Protacio, a rising senior at Norfolk Academy, protaciohome@cox.net