Chasity Rollins had been submitting her application for a new house for years. Chasity was well aware that only the neediest families are chosen out of a pool of applicants for and with whom Joshua will build a house. With a yearly income well below the poverty level, Chasity and her husband Randall had pieced together a semblance of a house with their own hands. using whatever materials they could, in an effort to shelter themselves and their three children. The "house" however, was no match for the cold winds of winter. Floors and roofing began to rot, the lack of insulation and gaping holes around windows and doors brought inside temperatures to near freezing, and the lack of a proper foundation allowed termites to infest the walls. "We want a house that can be built right so our kids can be safe and warm." Chasity desperately wrote. Chasity ultimately learned that her family's prayers would finally be answered. She, her husband, and all three kids worked every day alongside the Joshua group raising the walls, putting up the roof, and constructing the porch. They finished the rest with the help of neighbors and friends. A few days before Thanksgiving, the Rollins family had moved into their new, clean, and warm home. It was an easy occasion on which to be grateful.

Kentucky - A Teen's Perspective

This past summer I had the wonderful experience of being able to go back to Kentucky and help build two houses with Joshua House. I went in 2003 as well, but I didn't go into it with the same attitude that I did this year. Last year, when I was asked why I was there, I said "my mom made me go." As the week went by I soon came to realize what I was doing and how great it was. This led to wanting to do it again, which I did, and I plan to do it a third time. One of the things I love the most about the trip is what a few regular people can do in a week. Not only did we all get to know each other, we also built a house and, most importantly, changed someone's life drastically. The morning before we left to go back home this year, I got a warm reminder of how much I affected these people's lives. Frank and Tammy, the husband and wife we built one of the houses for, came by the hotel we were staying at just to say thank you one last time. Not only that, but they had spent their whole morning trying to find us. That was quite touching Another thing I love about the trip is Kentucky. I have made up my mind that one of the places I want to live in my life is Whitley City, Kentucky. Everything there just seems so laid back, and everyone is kind and always very thankful no mater how many problems they have. I also like how everything there seems old-fashioned. If there weren't so much poverty it would be a beautiful little town. This year, there was an added bonus to the trip. I had the pleasure of being able to spend time with Preacher Pud. He chose one of the families we built for this summer. Besides his witty jokes and hilarious comments, I got to see a whole other side of him when I stepped in his home. He had pictures on the wall, and each had a story behind them. One story he told me was of a man who stayed in Pud's house. The man had robbed a bank, yet Pud seemed to think nothing of it as he told me the story. He gave him food and shelter and in the end, the man ended up stealing Pud's computer, but the thing that hit me the most was that Pud, even after being stolen from leaves his door open to anyone in need. That says a lot. It is truly a honor to know this man. The people I have met and the lives I have changed have also changed my life. I look forward to another week of building houses and changing lives.

Corey Bates
Wilton, CT