You can help our affiliate make a difference in 2007 by helping to build 355 homes through Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity. One home is planned to begin this spring in Hillsboro. To get involved, email thrivent@wwhfh.org or visit www.thriventbuilds.com.
From the first nail to the last, building a home through Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity is a profound experience. It’s not just concrete and wood. It’s tears and smiles, born of hard work and faith. And it’s the knowledge that you’ve helped change lives.
Ali Farah and Fadumo Omar fled their native Somalia with their 5 sons when civil war erupted. They moved to Kenya and later obtained visas to move to the United States. During the visa application process, Faduma became pregnant.
Although Ali, Faduma, and their 5 boys were granted visas, they were unable to secure a visa in time for their new baby girl Ansal. Because their own visas might have expired before Ansal was granted her own visa, the family made the difficult decision to leave Ansal with relatives in Kenya.
The family has been working diligently to make a new life here in Oregon and secure permission for their little girl, now 3 years old, to join them. Last year, they were blessed with a second baby girl Ahlan.
The family has been working at Lindsay Lane helping to build their neighbors' houses for the past year. Ali Farah has also acted as an interpreter for other Somali families applying for Habitat homes. Their sons have helped prepare our newsletters for mailing.
As with all Willamette West Habitat homes, the structure will include two parking spaces, a outdoor storage shed, a large kitchen with a range/oven and fridge donated by Whirlpool, and privacy blinds donated by Hunter Douglas. Due to the large number of bedrooms in the home, the Farah/Omar family will have a half bathroom on the first floor and a full bathroom on the second floor.
The foundation was poured in late 2006 in preparation for the April start date.
Photos of the build can be found in our Photo Gallery.