Week 7: "Do you believe in miracles?"

By Lynda Haddy

Future homeowners and neighbors Lynda and Shannon

My name is Lynda Haddy. I was divorced with a family of three boys ages 21, 18 and 12. I was renting a house in Cedar Rapids which was expensive, but I wanted my boys to live in a neighborhood versus an apartment. After a few years the landlord decided he wanted to sell the home. I considered trying to buy it; however, it needed many repairs and the mortgage payment would have left me “house poor” with no means to fix anything. I began to pray. I am a medical secretary with a good job at the hospital and receive child support but money was still very tight. I tried going back to school, but the boys were always my first priority and I wanted to be available for them and their activities.

I have a picture in my bathroom that says: “Believe…all things are possible if you believe.” Mark 9:23. I am a strong Christian raised Missouri Synod Lutheran. With the help of scholarship monies, the boys were sent to Trinity Lutheran School here in Cedar Rapids and attended church regularly. I sacrificed “wants” because it was important to me that they would have this Christian foundation.

Cedar Rapids was flooded in 2008 and many homes and businesses were lost. It was a major setback and devastating to our city. Help arrived from everywhere and we began steps to recover. Habitat for Humanity was going to build 22 homes beginning in the spring of 2009. The house I was renting had water throughout the basement but we were lucky compared to others who lost everything.

Lightting a candle of hope during Lynda's home dedication

I happened to see in our local newspaper the announcement for the build. It was offered to flood victims and anyone else who would qualify financially. I don’t see the newspaper everyday and know it was Divine intervention that brought me to read it. I immediately applied. I attended a meeting for prospective applicants. I did not know much about Habitat for Humanity. Jeff Capps was the brand new executive director for Cedar Valley and spoke that night starting with a prayer as he held a Bible in his hand. After he spoke I was convinced and knew in my heart this was an organization that truly helps people like myself and I wanted to be part of it. After crunching numbers, I knew I could never afford a house on my own on my salary.

I will never forget when Jeff called me and told me I would be getting a house! It was a true miracle!! I had renewed hope and faith for the future – that I could provide a house that the boys could call home, in a safe and new neighborhood, with a yard and their own bedrooms. At my age also having a mortgage with a zero interest rate was an incredible blessing!

That summer it was like going to summer camp. My boys learned about tools and building but most importantly they saw how people volunteered their time and efforts to help build our home. We began the day holding hands in a circle, praying, sharing inspirational messages, ending with our hands in the air saying, “Habitat is a hand-up, not a hand out!” Strangers became dear friends. I have to say it was the best experience of my life. The Build-A-Thon week with AmeriCorps volunteers and Kurt Warner was beyond wonderful – their enthusiasm and caring lifted me spiritually. By the end of the week I had “adopted” all of the AmeriCorps volunteers working on my home!

My brand new home came with plenty of space for me and my boys and brand new appliances (stove, refrigerator and washer/dryer). As I sit and write this I become teary-eyed knowing that I was lucky enough to receive this unbelievable miracle in my life. There is such a need for affordable housing in this country. Things continue to sky rocket in price and sometimes if I don’t live a day at a time I can get very overwhelmed.

God is a good God! Habitat for Humanity IS an extension of God’s grace and love for all people. Working toward homeownership with has been an incredible gift for me and my family. I will end with this scripture: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7