SEAGOVILLE—After a lifetime of serving others, an elderly couple living in Seagoville had their well-worn home blessed by the service of a nearby church, their community and Texas Baptist Men volunteers.
Gary Carrier worked as a plumber and provided service to others earlier in his life, said John Hanson, project coordinator. Since then, Carrier has retired and suffers from moderate Alzheimer’s, which has caused difficulty in maintaining his own home.
Gary and Yvonne Carrier’s daughter, Tammy Norton, often sent contractors to assess the house’s condition and determine the cost of restoring it to decent shape.
However, most contractors offered services that would only partially repair issues or would give an estimate that exceeded what the couple could afford.
‘The Lord has been so faithful’
Norton voiced her frustrations to her in-laws, John and Cherlyn Hanson. With time, Norton said, “I surrendered it, and the Lord has been so faithful.”
The Hansons wanted to help the Carriers. They knew they needed to start with their church, Central Baptist in Crandall, which happens to be where David Wells, TBM state director of disaster relief, also is a member.
Hanson came to the church’s Great Commandment Team, and the group agreed to pray and work with him in pursuing the project, Wells said. Various church members donated siding, windows, flooring, paint and other materials and labor. TBM installed drywall.
“I saw God’s hands all over this as a lot of people became the hands and feet of Jesus, coming together to make the impossible possible,” Wells said.
When the project began, the house’s condition was almost unlivable. Pier and beam floors had completely worn away from termites.
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“The decking completely rotted—so much that if someone walked on it, they could fall through,” said Curt Neal, director of TBM’s Collin County rebuild team.
Water damage had impacted drywall and wiring throughout the home, Hanson noted.
“With time, the wiring could have caused a fire,” he said.
Additionally, windows throughout the house had no insulation, leaving the elderly couple feeling extreme weather conditions throughout the year. Ultimately, the house was in horrible condition and needed a miracle.
‘There’s nothing that God won’t help us do’
Although it was a huge challenge, Hanson said, “There’s nothing that God won’t help us do.”
Beginning May 15, about a dozen volunteers came to work on the house. Each volunteer gave up countless hours to serve the Carriers.
“Many volunteers have never served with TBM, yet their efforts made a significant difference,” said Rupert Robbins, associate director of disaster relief.
TBM volunteers hung and taped 75 drywall sheets around the house in five days. Church volunteers put in all-new floor beams.
Norton was impressed by how the team was “thinking about my parents’ needs and making the home handicap accessible for them. They have gone above and beyond.”
Volunteers built a laundry room, installed an easily accessible shower, installed new siding around the exterior, insulated windows and installed new electrical wiring throughout the house.
‘Display the love of Jesus’
Church members, friends and family covered all expenses needed to complete the rebuild for the Carriers, Neal said.
“Many people donated everything for this project, because this couple had no resources to complete it on their own,” Neal said. “The ultimate purpose of this project was to display the love of Jesus to such a deserving couple.”
The house will be like new in the coming weeks, and the Carriers will not have spent a penny. Norton said here parents “are overwhelmed and grateful beyond belief.”
Faith Dawood is a communications intern serving this summer with Texas Baptist Men.
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