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PAGE 2—The Southern Cross, October 25,1984 "Habitat" Groundbreaking The Story Of Millard Fuller - Man With A Big Vision Millard Fuller, who heads the Americus-based movement called “Habitat for Humanity” is a man with a big vision -- a decent house in a decent community for people in need. A successful lawyer and businessman who in 1968 divested himself of his property to address the needs of the poor, Millard is Executive Director of a movement which now has projects in 64 American cities and has sponsored homes in 11 overseas nations. World wide, Habitat is building at the rate of one house per day, using as a basic pricniple the “economics of Jesus.” Each local project works with funds created from gifts and no-interest loans. Construction is a cooperative effort involving both volunteer workers and the recipients of the houses. The completed homes are sold to selected families Amerasian Children ATLANTA (NC) -- Amerasian children need special help to adjust to their new lives in the United States, Don Hohl, associate director of the U.S. Catholic Conference Office of Migration and Refugee Services, said here. PICKING A PUMPKIN - Ann Shalosky of Dover, Ohio, selects the biggest pumpkin she can find for her Halloween jack-o-lantern. (NC photo by John Fesler) Divorced/Separated on a no-profit, no-interest basis. The capital is returned to a Fund for Humanity” in each project location through the families’ monthly payments over a 20 to 25 year period. The money is then used to build more houses. In Savannah recently for the groundbreaking for the first home to be built by the Coastal Area Habitat for Humanity, Millard and his wife Linda talked about Habitat as a movement which has captured the imagination of people of all kinds - from former President Jimmy Carter to the poorest of the families who have become home owners through the program. Volunteers range from architects and lawyers willing to donate their expertise to the former Klan leader in one Southern town who offered his services as a plumber. The advisory Board includes people of different racial and religious Need Special Help Amerasians, children of Asian mothers and American fathers, are called “children of the dust” in Vietnam and are outcasts in most Asian societies, Hohl told a regional MRS conference in Atlanta. But, he said, the United States is making efforts to bring more of these children and their families into the country. From October through May 650 Amerasian children arrived in the United States with 731 of their relatives. Officials have estimated that thousands more have the right to come to the United States but have been unable to do so because of bureaucratic problems. Secretary of State George P. Shultz announced Sept. 11 that the United States is ready to admit more Vietnamese children fathered by Americans. “Because of their undisputed ties to our country these children and family members are of particular humanitarian concern to the United States,” Shultz said. Hohl said the possibility of resettling additional Amerasian children “makes it increasingly important for us to set in motion the appropriate volunteer efforts to help Amerasians make the sometimes difficult adjustment to American life.” Most of these children are teen-agers, not infants, he said, and adoption is not usually a possibility. The children usually are accompanied by their mothers and some are accompanied by half brothers and sisters and stepfathers. The children often have health problems and little formal education, Hohl said. Foster homes and tutors for English lessons are needed. Many do not know their fathers or are not accepted by them. MRS and other agencies help provide the things all refugees need first - food, clothing and shelter. “Ultimately, however,” Hohl said, “it is the volunteers who link these children and their families in a personal and sensitive way that are crucial to their finally feeling at home in the world.” backgrounds, the wealthy as well as the poor, and Republicans as well as Democrats. All share one vision - that “the poor need capital, not charity ; co-workers, not case-workers.” Because the movement’s main offices are in Americus, the Fullers are neighbors of former President Jimmy Carter, who has taken an interest in Habitat and joined its work camps in Georgia and in New York. Travelling to New York to take part in the rehabilitation of a multi-family project there, the Carters rode the bus with other volunteers and slept with them in dormitory-style accommodations en route. The Board which has been established for the local Savannah project is headed by a Catholic - Tom McLaughlin, of St. James Parish. Members include Father Liam Collins, Pastor of Most Pure Heart of Mary Church, and Dorothy Owens, parishioner of St. Anthony’s Church. Also on the Board are lawyer Charles Bell, dentist Lou Castilian, retired librarian Ursuline Law, who is a member of the First Congregational Church, Mary Johnson, a Baptist and former Union worker, and architect Murray Barnard, who is an Episcopalian. The site of the first house, to be built for Frances Williams and her two children, is in the Cuyler neighborhood, on West 35th Street and Florence Street. Lack of funds should be no drawback according to Fuller, who urged the group to move with faith and God will move with you.” “If you have money in the bank, any pagan can build a house, but it takes faith to build a house with no money,” he said. “We started our first house (in Americus) in 1968,” he told the Board, “and we didn’t have the money to finish one house. We now have 165 houses finished over there, and there is no debt. They were all finished and paid for as we went along.” He is proud of the fact that there have been no foreclosures, and that no government funds have been used for the Habitat homes. Municipalities are asked for water and sewer services but not for grants. “You have to have a big vision and work at it systematically,” Fuller said. “And you have to mobilize the poor. No person is too poor to give.” The phenominal growth of the program shows that the idea behind it is right for the times in which we live, Fuller believes. “It is a historical movement that we are privileged to be part of.” A man who takes seriously the biblical admonition against money lending at interest, he frequently quotes another scriptural phrase which has provided the impetus for his work: “Unless the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it” In Georgia, projects are built or planned in several areas including Cartersville, Rome and Atlanta as well as Savannah and Americus. Groups are also forming in Columbus and in Ellajay, Ga., and a ground-breaking will be held in Forsyth, Ga., within a week. (Contact Habitat for Humanity at 419 West Church Street, Americus, Ga. 31709). Good Turn Out Expected For Nov. 9-11 Retreat Mary Kay Persse, Family Life Director for the Diocese Retreat for Divorced and Separated Catholics, scheduled Some of last year’s participants will probably return, of Savannah, predicts a good turn out for the annual this year for November 9 - 11. and enquiries from newcomers are also expected “We look forward to meeting many old friends as well as new participants,” Mrs. Persse said at a recent planning meeting. Support for Catholics who are divorced or separated is growing, as Church members become aware of the difficulties faced by people in this group. The annual retreats include time for Conferences, Liturgy, Prayer and the Sacrament of Reconciliation. “They go away with a feeling of support, and they have developed or renewed friendships,” Mrs. Persse said. “The retreat is open to all ages, and to men and women.” The Retreat, entitled “Crossroads to New Life” will be led by Rev. Thomas Lynch. Representative for Family Life at the United States Catholic Conference. The Sunday program will begin with morning prayer and breakfast. A final conference will be followed by a closing liturgy at 10:45 a.m. Registration forms should be sent to the Diocesan Family Life Office, St. John’s Center, Grimball Point Road, Savannah, Ga. 31406. Retreat For Divorced/Separated Catholics Name: . Address: City . Phone: Sex (Dormitory style facilities) State. Zip Weekend Registration OR Day Sessions Only . .. Please enclose your pre-registration deposit of $10.00. Total cost is $35.00 with the balance due upon arrival. Deadline for reservations is November 5th. Send To Diocesan Family Life Office, St. John’s Center - Grimball Pt. Rd., Savannah, Ga. 31406