Watching your new home being built always is exciting.

But when your home is a Habitat for Humanity house, it's exciting for the whole community to see it being built.

Connie Smith of the Mower/Freeborn Habitat for Humanity says the organization is a non-profit ecumenical Christian group that builds houses with low-income families. Families qualify for homes based on their income, "their need – they must have inadequate housing and be able to make payments because they purchase the house. They pay for the land and the materials used to build the house. They also qualify based on their 'willingness to partner.' That is, their willingness to work on their home, to work on homes that are built before theirs, to do community work, volunteering," explains Smith.

Currently, a home is being built at 308 Third Avenue SW for Santino and Monica Deng.

Originally from Africa, Santino came to the United States six years ago and Monica came a year later. Monica explains they left Sudan, their home country, because of religious conflicts between the Christians and the Muslims.

After living briefly in South Dakota and Rochester, the Dengs came to Austin, hoping to find someplace to settle down and call home.

Two years ago, they were living in an apartment, but were in need of someplace bigger because of a growing family, which now includes their 4-year-old son, 21-month-old twins and a 9-year-old daughter, who is in Egypt at the moment.

Monica says her husband went to the Austin Housing and Redevelopment Authority to inquire about other housing options in town and it was suggested he apply for a Habitat for Humanity house. He did and last year the Dengs were told they had been selected.

They were overjoyed. "When you have kids, it's hard to live in an apartment, and when buying a home, you need so much," Monica says, smiling. "Having your own place makes you feel good. We're very happy and give thanks to God."

Coming to the United States because of wars in their home country "has given us the feeling that we are displaced for a long time. We feel people have accepted us now. It's been very kind of the organization and the community. It will be a place we can live for long years to come," Monica says.

In Sudan, she says Christians are denied many services and aren't allowed to do many things or go many places. "This organization, I believe that even if you are not Christian, they can help. It's just for humanity," she says. "I believe this is God's plan for us. This house has given me a lot to think about."

Smith says the outside work on the Dengs' house is nearly complete and after that it will only be a matter of time before they can move in. She says the organization is looking for volunteers to help with the construction of the interior of the home and also is looking for more families to build homes for and land where they can construct homes.

Smith also says the group will auction off a playhouse and quilt as a fund raiser, Aug. 15. The playhouse is eight feet by 10 feet and has greentreat deck that's three feet by eight feet and was made with materials donated by the Home Depot.

The quilt was made by the Keepsake Quilters Club of Austin.

Raffle tickets for both items are $1. For more information, contact the Mower/Freeborn Habitat for Humanity office at 433-1349.

Amanda L. Rohde can be reached at 434-2214 or by e-mail at amanda.rohde@austindailyherald.com