Tseganesh & Ashenafi

Tseganesh Tesema moved to Minnesota from Ethiopia in November 2002. When she arrived, she was taken back by the cold weather and snow. Coming from a more tropical climate, it took some time to adapt to the state’s four seasons and its frigid winters. "Now I like it," she says today. "I like the snow."

It was here in Minnesota that Tseganesh met her husband, Ashenafi Yacob. The pair was married two years ago and has since welcomed their son Kaleb into the world. While she feels their life together has been blessed, their living situation has not been ideal, leading them to pursue homeownership through Habitat.

When Tseganesh found out her family had been approved for a Habitat for Humanity home, she says, "I was very, very happy! I was screaming."

She had first heard of Habitat through her Ethiopian Orthodox church, which the family attends every Sunday. Despite moving neighborhoods, the family will not change churches, keeping ties to the community even after getting settled in their new house.

Tseganesh and Ashenafi are looking forward to having a home of their own and having the freedom to customize it with personal touches. The building where they currently live is uncomfortable for the three of them, and it allows little room for a growing family.

Both Tseganesh and Ashenafi are excited to get to work with Habitat volunteers and crew to construct their new home. The onsite experience will create a valuable learning experience that will add on to the homebuyer classes they are taking at the Habitat office. Tseganesh exclaims, "It’s like another school!" Everything about the process is new to them, and they are excited to learn.

Their new Habitat house will provide a solid building foundation and will help the family save money in the long term. This is a first step towards making their dreams come true.