(March 4, 2009) Mat and Noelle Wilson are feeling particularly blessed as the 2009 Easter season approaches. The theme of new birth runs through their family life this spring. They are the designated homeowners for this year’s Thrivent Builds-Prescott Area Habitat for Humanity (PAHH) house.
For the third year in a row, PAHH is partnering with Thrivent Financial for Lutherans to address substandard housing in our community. Once again, PAHH will construct its Thrivent Builds house in Diamond Valley. The Wilson family will be just doors away from last year’s Thrivent-PAHH family, Ashley Darling Spicer, on North Lapis Drive.
More links these two Thrivent-PAHH families together than a shared street address. Ashley gave birth to her second child, Anna Elizabeth, on Feb. 16. Noelle gave birth to her third child, Mia Isabella, less than 24 hours later, on Feb. 17. As neighbors, these little girls and their families will share the blessings of safe and healthy Thrivent-Habitat home environments.
A healthy living space for their children is crucial to Mat and Noelle. One of their young sons has developed asthma, which has worsened due to the mold growing in the walls of the two-bedroom mobile home where they currently live. Cracks in the walls add to physical discomfort and higher energy bills for the family.
The prospect of working for a decent, affordable home in the context of the Thrivent Builds-PAHH alliance so excited Mat and Noelle that they earned 252 hours of sweat equity within the first 26 days of having been selected as prospective Habitat homeowners in May 2008. They earned these hours by volunteering at the PAHH Re-Store and working on construction sites of several PAHH houses, including Ashley’s. They first learned of the Thrivent Builds program from the site sign at Ashley’s house, where they worked last summer. To date, their construction tasks have included digging a hole for a septic system, hanging drywall, installing siding and insulation, and staining floors. They have earned 300 hours of sweat equity toward their home.
Mat and Noelle Wilson are excited and proud to be on the path of home ownership with the guidance and assistance of Prescott Area Habitat for Humanity and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. They feel blessed by the generosity of the Thrivent organization and its fraternal service outreach performed by local Lutherans.
Volunteers are scheduled to begin construction of the Wilson’s home April 4. Easter’s promise of new life is blessing the Wilson family like the opening of flower petals during spring: the birth of daughter Mia, the prospect of improved health for sons Malakai and Michael, the construction of their first home, and Mat’s commitment to becoming a law enforcement officer in Chino Valley.
Happy Easter, Wilson family!