[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 3]
[Senate]
[Page 3186]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



              PRAYER AT THE HOUSE THE SENATE BUILT PROGRAM

  Mr. BROWNBACK. Mr. President, this morning, Members of the U.S. 
Senate came together to kick off the House the Senate Built Program 
with Habitat for Humanity International. Today's event partnered 
Members of the Senate with HUD Secretary Mel Martinez, Habitat founder 
Millard Fuller, and a host of building partners to begin work with the 
Spencer and Williams families on their new homes in Capitol Heights, 
MD.
  Before the event began, Ms. Helena Spencer, mother of one of the two 
families who will be moving into the homes upon completion, shared with 
us her frustrations of living in substandard housing and her plea to 
God to help her find a new home for her family. Her message to us was 
that Habitat for Humanity was an answer to prayer. I want to share her 
prayer with you today, because I feel it reflects well on the work of 
Habitat for Humanity.
  Ms. Spencer prayed:

       Lord, my future looks so uncertain. It seems as if 
     everything dear to me has been shaken or removed. He answered 
     me, and said in His word, I will remove what can be shaken so 
     that those things which ``cannot be shaken may remain'' 
     (Hebrews 12:27). My life has to be built upon an unshakeable 
     foundation. He says I'm removing from you all insecure 
     foundation to force you to rest on the foundation of me 
     alone. A spiritual house, in order to stand, must not be 
     built on a flimsy foundation. Your false resting place is 
     being shaken so that you will rely wholly on me.

  With these words, Helena Spencer spoke volumes about how great a 
blessing Habitat for Humanity is to so many people in need. These words 
inspired us this morning as we worked side by side building the houses 
that the Spencer and Williams families will call home. These words have 
motivated us to see through the House the Senate Built Program to its 
stated end; at least one new Habitat home built by Members of the U.S. 
Senate in each of our home States.
  I am thankful for the work of Habitat for Humanity in this country 
and am encouraged by the faith and hope displayed today by Ms. Helena 
Spencer.

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