She offers sound advice for other Thrivent chapters about taking part in a Thrivent Build. "It’s worth doing, and it’s worth doing well, and it requires work," Helen Hokenson says. "But the fun is worth all of it, and the joy. Just look at the joy in the homeowner’s face - you’ve got it right there."

Just look at the joy in the homeowner’s face—you’ve got it right there.

Bringing people together

When Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity chose to build a home in Morenci, Michigan, they invited volunteer Helen Hokenson, to recruit other volunteers from the local churches to help with the build.  But how to find them?

Helen learned quickly from the contact person for the local Habitat affiliate the secret to recruiting: just ask.  “With his motivation, I thought, ‘Yeah, we’ll just keep asking,’” Helen says.  “And so we did, and the volunteers, the champions, stepped up.”

Bringing people together for a common cause was the most fun part of the experience for Helen.  “I really like seeing Christians from different backgrounds pulling themselves together, focusing on something,” she says.  “God loves us to be doing something together.  It is such a celebration.”

In the process, Helen gained a deepened appreciation for what Thrivent Financial does.  “Thrivent Financial became the umbrella under which all Lutherans can stand,” she says.  “Many of the Lutheran people just come along and work and work very joyously with others.  It’s great.”

Helen was so moved by the experience that she would often go over to the site over her lunch hour.  “I love to see the faces of the volunteers; they made it and they are having a good time, and that’s wonderful.”

She offers sound advice for other Thrivent chapters about taking part in a Thrivent Build.  “It’s worth doing, and it’s worth doing well, and it requires work,” Helen says.  “But the fun is worth all of it, and the joy.  Just look at the joy in the homeowner’s face—you’ve got it right there.”