The Khan's Home Dedication in Chaska

Last week we celebrated the sponsors, donors, volunteers and staff that helped with the recent build in Chaska – a place that the Khan family now calls home.

The Journey

Sabiha and Abdul Khan first applied to become homeowners back in November of 2011. After attending homeowner training, and putting in 400 “sweat equity” hours helping build Habitat homes, they are now at the point where they are both prepared and excited to take on the joys and responsibilities of homeownership. 

The Build

Volunteers began building the Khan’s home on May 6, 2013. The supplies and materials were provided with assistance from sponsors like Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, Breck School, Cigna and Mary, Mother of the Church, and roughly 650 volunteers dedicated time and energy to the build.

Abdul was thankful that he had the opportunity to buy this house for his family, and that he was able to take part in the building his future home. Site Supervisor David Michaelson shared memories of Abdul working on site, and recalled an instance when Abdul brought some unique hats with him to share with the other volunteers.

 A Place to Call Home

The night started with an opening prayer from Pastor Susan Weaver of Immanuel Lutheran
Church before the introduction of the homebuyers. Remarks were then given from Abdul, the Site Supervisor David, and Stephanie Nelson of Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity. Stephanie reflected on the importance of partnerships during the homebuying process, and how the dedication of a home is the culmination of the many relationships involved when building a Habitat home. There are connections between the homebuyers, the volunteers, the corporations that sponsor and provide volunteers, donors, and Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity. Mark Anema, a former Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity Board Member, presented the family with a bible and a framed golden rule on Habitat’s behalf. The program closed with a prayer from Mark Halvorson of Shepherd of the Lake Lutheran Church, after which he shared his memories of watching the house building process with his children. He told stories of their excitement as they saw the installation of the windows, the addition of shingles, and more recently, the laying of the sod.

After the conclusion of the program, there was time to enjoy cake provided by the local chapter of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, take a tour of the home, and share in conversation with the volunteers, neighbors, family and friends that had gathered to help celebrate the dedication of Abdul and Sabiha’s new home.