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Overcoming Obstacles and Finding a Dream
Thrivent Builds with Habitat and Completes LAHFFH 15th Build in 15 Years

by Carrie Michaelson, Family Selection Committee

Fowzia and her husband, Abubakar, (Abu), both arrived in the U.S. as refugees of war in 1997. They were not married at the time, nor did they know each other. Fowzia originally settled in Washington, DC with her mother and father. Abu relocated directly to Fargo. Their relationship began over the telephone while Fowzia was living in DC and on December 21, 1997, Fowzia made the decision to come to Fargo to get to know Abu better before making the decision to become his wife. They were married in Sept. 1998.

Ironically, both Fowzia and Abu were born and raised in Somalia and they each spent part of their teenage years in the Mombasa refugee camp.

Overcoming war and six years at the UN refugee camp, the two seperately made their way to America. Since arriving here, they have bravely faced more struggles and perservered because of their life experiences.

After arriving in America, and not long after the birth of their first child, Fowzia nearly lost her life in an automobile accident. While visiting her parents in DC, she and a friend were traveling to a college campus in Alexandria, Virginia. A driver drove his car off of a tall, elevated road, hitting Fowzia and her friend in their car. Fowzia suffered multiple injuries, including a severely broken leg and was hospitalized for a peroid of one month. The doctors said it was a miracle that she was not killed. The accident has left Fowzia with permanent damage to her leg and she is unable to stand for long periods of time. Although she can walk, she will never have a career in the field that is her first love, nursing.

Abu works a full-time job and attends NDSU part time. He plans on earning a degree in Business Administration and currently has completed 30 college credits. Fowzia desires to re-enter college and obtain a degree, possible in Political Science. Presently, she is an independent contractor working for West Central Initiative and she is on a diversity committee at Meritcare Health Systems.

Fowzia and Abu have five lovely children, including twins. This author has the utmost respect and admiration for the family, and has no doubt that they are, and will continue to be, a very positive influence and asset to the FM community and all peoples. They have worked very hard to not only survive, but to make a positive difference in the world. May God who is good and all-loving use us to give back to them, in love, what they have so freely given themselves.

13th House to be Built by Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity

Since 1991, Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity has partnered with area businesses to build 15 simple, decent and affordable homes for local families in need.  For our first of four 2006 builds, LAHFH has partnered with Wells Fargo and Home Builders Care to build our 13th home.  This build’s kick-off took place on April 8th at 10am and is located at 1212 39th Ave. S. in Moorhead. 

Habitat’s 13th home was built for a family of six, including four children (3 boys and a newborn girl) under the age of nine.  This family living in a small 3rd story, 2-bedroom apartment located on a busy intersection in south Moorhead.  The father works at a manufacturing company while his wife stays at home with the children.  The wife and mother of four has stated that owning a home is her dream-come-true and that she is looking forward to having a yard where her children can safely play and she can plant a garden.
        
If you are interested in making a donation towards our home builds or are interested in volunteering with LAHFH please contact us at (218) 284-5253 or email at habitat@lakeagassizhabitat.org.  With your help, we can make simple, decent and affordable housing a reality for all families in our community