THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, June 25, 1995 TAG: 9506250084
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY JENNIFER CHRISTMAN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: MANTEO LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines
Rosa Carver has been waking up a little earlier these days.
Carver, a 33-year-old single mother, devotes her extra morning minutes not to laboring in her house, but to looking at it.
``I've been getting up extra early just to inhale every bit of it,'' says the First Flight Elementary teaching assistant, brushing a happy tear from her right cheek.
Less than one month ago, Carver and her three children settled into the first Habitat for Humanity house built in Dare County. Habitat for Humanity, founded in 1976, is a nondenominational ministry that aims to eliminate substandard housing and allow the working poor to own homes.
On Saturday afternoon, neighbors and friends brought prayers, spirituals and fried chicken to Carver's house-blessing party. Through smiles, hugs and the occasional ``Amen,'' Carver hosted tours of her one-level, three-bedroom home nestled in a nook of George Daniels Road.
It's a place where marigolds and green plants greet visitors on the wooden front porch. It's a place where posters of kittens and Jackie Joyner-Kersee mingle with bunk beds in the room Carver's daughters share.
It's the first place Carver has truly called home.
``I love that smell,'' Carver says about the aroma in the air - a mix of the new plush blue carpet lingering with the new wood from the kitchen cabinets.
But it's not just the clean beauty of the almond-colored home that Carver loves, it's the feeling of pride she has.
``I feel so very, very lucky and fortunate,'' Carver says. ``I have peace of mind. This is my dream, and I am so very proud to have this. It's a place that my children can take pride in.''
Dare County Habitat for Humanity began work on the home in September 1994. The house was originally supposed to be ready by last Christmas, but the opening was delayed until May.
Habitat for Humanity purchased the plot of land for Carver's house for $500 from Resolution Trust Corp. About 250 people and 37 companies and government organizations donated weekend time and contributions to building Carver's home.
Skip Saunders, president of the county Habitat for Humanity and a general contractor for Outer Banks Homes, says he admired the selflessness with which people contributed to the project.
``It was really interesting to see a house come together with no profit motive,'' Saunders says. ``Love was the motivation for this - people helping one another.
``I've never experienced anything like this.''
But Saunders hopes to feel this way again. Habitat for Humanity is looking for other property sites where it can begin to build homes for other needy Outer Banks residents.
And when Habitat for Humanity begins those new homes, Carver says, she will be right there with hammer in hand.
``I want to help other people to feel what is in my heart right now, this pride and love,'' Carver says, smiling. ``Helping other people benefits everyone. This is what God intended for us to do - help others help themselves.
``And thank God, he sure helped me.'' by CNB