A Blessing in Many Ways

By Shelby Abrams
Henry County High School

   It was Saturday, June 30th and the day was already starting to heat up as people gathered for a ground blessing at a Habitat for Humanity worksite on Louisville’s West Side.
    Habitat traditionally hosts a ground blessing as a new build gets underway. The blessing is a time for giving thanks and celebration.
This was a special event, though, celebrating a home that was the result of a partnership between Habitat for Humanity and the Governor’s Scholars Program, which offers a five-week college experience for selected high-school seniors. The Habitat project served as an intense public service project for the scholars.
As work ground to a halt in preparation for the blessing, the soon-to-be homeowner Omar Muse and his family, some relatives and friends huddled in the shade with scholars and Habitat volunteers.
“The family sets the tone for the event, often selects a member of their faith group to offer the blessing,” said Sue Martin, president of the Habitat for Humanity of Metro Louisville Board of Directors.
Sue was among several speakers at the blessing, including leaders from the Governor’s Scholars Program and Habitat for Humanity.
The new homeowners Omar and Ubah, who had immigrated to America from war-torn Somalia long ago, offered their thanks to all the volunteers and invited Mustafa Mohammed, a leader in Louisville’s Somali community, to offer a blessing.
“Worship is Habitat.” Mohammed said, reflecting the joining together of peoples from two religions.
Habitat’s Sue Martin said,” One of the greatest benefits of volunteering with Habitat is the opportunity to meet and work together with people of all faiths from different parts of our city. Habitat for Humanity is a Christian organization serving people in need of affordable housing regardless of their faith.”
    The family’s new home is near several other Somali families and many other homes built by Habitat. It was clear that the Muse family felt a sense of community here. Their new home would provide a safe haven for them and a backyard for their children to enjoy.

Chuck Sgro holds the youngest Muse at the dedication.

    “The house gives us a peaceful place to live,” Omar said with a smile.
     As Omar thanked the volunteers, Chuck Sgro, team leader at the worksite, picked up Omar’s youngest boy and placed a kiss on his forehead. Ubah and the girls handed out bags filled with food that they had made for the scholars to eat, and the little boys passed out popsicles. Everyone chatted about the house and got to know each other.
“I am glad I got a chance to be part of the ground blessing,” said Sara Biery a scholar from Pikeville High School. “I felt closer with the family, and it made working on the house in the heat of the day easier.”