When Whitey Whitman expressed concern that the 10th house being constructed by the Pike County affiliate of Habitat for Humanity was moving too slowly, the potential homeowner reminded him that God was in control.

“She would tell me that God was in control in the selection process and that He was in control of when she and her family would move in,” Whitman said. “She told me that her family would move in according to God’s time. His time is today.”

On Sunday, Jan. 11, 2009, Whitman handed over the key to the owner of Pike County Habitat for Humanity house. Habitat volunteers built the house, the family will make the house a home, Whitman said.

A large gathering of family, friends and Habitat board members and volunteers attended the dedication ceremony for the 10th Pike County Habitat for Humanity house and the third built in Brundidge on property donated by the Earl Helms estate.

“The city of Brundidge has been very helpful in building this house and we appreciate their support,” said Christi Magath, president of the local Habitat organization. “So many people helped make this dream a reality and I won’t try to name them all but I do want to mention Lockheed Martin, the Wesley Foundation at Troy University and the Wal-Mart DC in Brundidge. This is definitely a house that the community built.”

Dana Goodwin, Wal-Mart DC human resources manager, said this was the first Habitat project involving the DC employees.

“At our general meetings we talk about opportunities for community service and we had a lot of employees to volunteer to donate time and skills to the Habitat project,” Goodwin said. “Sixty employees and managers donated 263 hours to this build. At Wal-Mart, we are dedicated to helping those less fortunate and the Habitat for Humanity house was an opportunity for us to give something back to the community.”

Melissa Mikul, Habitat board member and Troy University student, expressed appreciation to all of those who had the mind and heart for the project.

“We had a lot of university students who worked on the project, especially at the beginning and we want to take everyone for making a dream reality for a very deserving family,” she said.

Fred Johnson, Americorps VISTA with Habitat, cited a 1990 hurricane on the Gulf Coast where all except five homes in one section were destroyed.

“The only thing that those houses had in common was that they were Habitat for Humanity homes,” he said. “It was said that they survived because they were built with love. This house today was built with love and kindness. God and human labor made the dream of this family a reality.”

The homeowner expressed deep appreciation and love for those who had given so generously of their time and talents to make a home for her and her children.