Two dedications and two volunteers from far away this week. The first of the two dedications of completed homes came on Tuesday. It was the dedication of Patrice Johnson's new home that was "blitz built" in one week by the local firefighters. The mayor of Tuscaloosa, as well as representatives from State Farm and Major League Baseball, came out to take part in the celebration. The volunteers who were here this week with us, from another group, Valley Youth in Pennsylvania also came as representatives of the hundreds who came before and worked on other homes up to this point but got to see the finish. Two young ladies, Laura and Etian, came the furthest to help us build homes and they were from Ontario, Canada and Dublin, Ireland. We also now have working with us a new NCCC team, River 5. Habitat International has dispatched Bill Lifsey to work with us for a while also. He is a former Navy pilot, Vietnam vet and a Habitat veteran also of many builds around the world, most recently in India. The second dedication of the week was on Friday and it was to celebrate the completion of John and Pam Nero's new home. Theirs took a little longer than a week to complete, but they were patient and extremely grateful at all the support and help that they have received since the storm. Their pastor was there and led part of the ceremony dedication their new home to God. The dedications of the homes is what really makes what we do worthwhile. Very heartfelt, moving and mostly tears of joy from both homeowners and volunteers (and staff).    
     I have signed up to build ten homes in 5 days in La Florida, Peru in the first week in September for the third annual Millard Fuller Legacy Build . The funding of the ten homes is not yet fully in place, and is an excellent opportunity for anyone reading this to jump in and help out, as the spirit moves. . . The cost to sponsor one of the homes is only $5,500. Let me know if you can help. E-mail me at peter@salemme.net   That's all for this week.    Peter