Habitat for Humanity Shack-a-Thon!

I had the privilege to go out and cover Habitat for Humanity's Shack-a-Thon. There were over 100 kids who came out for the over night affair at a local middle school gym. They were given two hours to build a house out of cardboard. There were prizes given out for the most creative and other awards. They had a couple of bands that played and all the kids spent the night at the gym. I was out of there by midnight. Getting too old for sleeping on hardwood floors. :-)
The event was a success is that it illustrated to over a 100+ teenagers what some people have to do just to put a roof over their heads.
Barbi, as always, thank you for asking me to come out and help with your event.

Cabarrus County Habitat for Humanity

double click on image to enlarge.



























I had the privilege this past Saturday to go out and capture some images for the local office of Habitat for Humanity. I met Barbi Jones, their Marketing Director at the Montgomery Gentry concert that was one of their joint fund raising events along with Motor Racing Outreach and the Women of Racing. She asked me to take some pictures for them and in our talking I volunteered to help them out whenever I can. They had a blessing of the above house that was being built and then they proceeded to frame up this house. The workers also wrote notes and prayers on the studs of the house. Very Cool.
I heard the older gentleman that is at the top of the blog say that this was his 30th or 40th home that he had helped to build. This is the type of stuff that doesn't get the play on the news or talked up in the media. It doesn't rank up their with the local death toll. If you are from the Charlotte region, you know which TV news station I'm referring to here. Never any good or uplifting stories, but just how many people were killed down in Charlotte in the last day. All the volunteers that came out to help build this home is the type of thing that helps me to feel good about my fellow man. I know that there are still good people all around that are trying to give someone else a helping hand.
Just giving whatever your talents may be to help someone is answering what Jesus called us to do. To go out and preach the Gospel, doesn't mean standing on a street corner and shouting at traffic, nor does it always mean even uttering a word. My wife and I like this phrase, "Preach the Gospel wherever you go. When necessary, use words."
Jesus ministered to people where they were. If they were sick, he healed them. If they were hungry, he fed them a fish dinner. Meet people where they are, minister to their needs, and they will listen to your words with a "softer" ear.
Well, Cynthia J. and her children will be moving into their new home in the next few weeks and it was because people cared. That makes me feel good.
Cynthia J., may God bless you and keep you and may His face shine upon you and give you peace.
Sincerely,
daryl


I received the following email on Monday morning:

From: Barbi Jones
Date: Mon, 14 Jan 2008 11:36:56 -0500
To: 'Daryl Brewton'
Subject: RE: Saturday

Wow! I cried! I can’t begin to thank you for your beautiful pictures and your touching words! I used your blog for our morning devotion, and if it’s okay with you, I’d like to use it in our annual report in some manner. I’m just beginning to work on that. You are truly blessed by God to have such a talent, and I am so pleased that you share that talent with others.
Thanks so much!


Barbi Jones, Marketing Director

Habitat for Humanity Cabarrus County

Follow the link below to see what this wonderful organization is all about:

http://www.habitatcabarrus.org/