WEB SPECIAL: ‘Extreme Build’ a success

By JANIE SLAVEN<br>Record Staff Writer

July 24, 2008 03:01 pm

— WINDING RIDGE — Bessie Watson has realized her dream of becoming a homeowner with some help from Kentucky Baptist Fellowship and McCreary County Community Housing Development Corporation.
On Saturday the agencies dedicated the home they built for Watson and her two children, 14-year-old Sarah and 10-year-old Jacob, as part of the third Extreme Build in McCreary County.
More than 100 volunteers came together last week to construct the three-bedroom/two-bath home over the course of six days. The group returned to the Winding Ridge community where a home was built for single father Richard Garland last year.
The Watson family was selected after Bessie Watson heard about the program from a friend. Mrs. Watson became a single mother 15 months ago when her husband Frankie drowned in the Big South Fork at Yamacraw. She told The Record that owning a home means stability for her and her children.
“It was mine and his dream to own a home,” Watson said. “Frankie’s dream was always to build our home. This is overwhelming; I will never be able to thank these people for what they have done for us.”
Watson, her mother and two sisters were on hand all week to assist with construction. The First Baptist Church of Whitley City provided three meals each day for the crew. In addition to local volunteers, groups came in from Georgia, Indiana, Texas and Ohio. Two were originally from New Zealand and Russia.
Crews worked under the supervision of Team Leader Steve Holm, who retired in 1995 after 32 years with Ford Motor Company.
“My wife told me she married me for better or for worse but not for lunch,” Holm, 71, joked about becoming involved with Habitat for Humanity, through which he has helped build 75 homes.
Holm’s Extreme Build experiences include homes in hurricane-ravaged Mississippi and Louisiana, but he noted that the Watson project presented its own challenges with scheduling conflicts and rainy weather delaying work on the foundation and trusses.
Still Holm managed to keep his humor about the time crunch. “Sleep is like a good golf game; it’s a waste of time,” he laughed.
KBF’s John Lepper heaped praise on Holm and all the volunteers but noted the real glory belongs to God.
“He is the reason these people can give hope; it’s all for the love of Jesus,” Lepper said.
Bessie Watson told the crowd Saturday that this gift has restored the hope she lost a year ago. Struggling between tears and laughter, she thanked the organizers and volunteers before jubilantly shouting, “I’m a homeowner, you all!”

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