I loved this story, mostly because it reminded me of everything that made my experience as affiliate coordinator of Clarksdale HFH a truly amazing and life-changing experience. (I am currently working on a master's thesis on my experiences with Habitat in Mississippi, and found this article on a quick search.) I couldn't believe it when I read that Pastor Thomas had died - I volunteered with one of your alumni, Nate Mathews, who joined New Covenant M.B.C. during our stay in Mississippi. Pastor Thomas was an integral part of our experience in Clarksdale - he always welcomed our volunteers and visitors with love, faith, and seemingly inexhaustible quantities of food. My favorite [paraphrased] quote of his was, "I can preach all I want in my church, but my ministry doesn't start until I set foot out that door." We always found a wellspring of hope in the most dismal of circumstances in Clarksdale, not in small part due to the generosity of people like Pastor Thomas. I'm so happy to hear that Uni is still going strong in Mississippi, along with Bill Sutton! Your dedication is a testament to Pastor Thomas' life and work. Jen DeVeau