Bare ground was transformed into a leisure deck.

But it wasn’t just any deck. This deck is special - because it is attached to the Habitat For Humanity home currently in final stages of completion by volunteer workers.

The deck is also special because it was built by volunteers from Faith In Action.

Workers Cleo Emerick, Monte Reichenberg, Bob Staley and Bob Wilson worked quickly Tuesday morning in heat wave conditions to finish the project before noon.

New homeowners Ron and Brooke Shear watched with big smiles as the carpenters pounded the nails.

“I am so excited, you can see that,” said Brooke Shear.

Her husband responded, “It’s hard to put it into words. Everything is going very smooth. The excitement is overwhelming.”

The two said volunteers have put hours and hours into this project. This will be the first home they can call their own.

“The kids can’t wait to get into their own rooms,” said Ron about their three children.

Inside, Habitat volunteers Tom Dunn, Jake Payne, and Dr. Kenneth Wiehe worked on finishing the home’s interior.

“We are happy to join with other volunteer groups and work with different people in the community,” said Nila Nugent, director of Faith In Action.

The group has built 51 wheel chair ramps, several porches, steps and hand rails in the community to date. Faith in Action typically reaches out to the elderly or the physically impaired.

“This is the first time we have had the opportunity to work with another group to enhance our efforts in the community,” said Nugent.

Habitat for Humanity coordinator Bruce Smith applauded the idea.

“This is wonderful,” said Smith. “Bringing different volunteer groups together to work toward a community goal is what we’re trying to do.”

In fact, Habitat partnered with other groups from the beginning.

Smith said the Shears were first helped by ECHO, the Edgar County

“ECHO removed Ron and his family from substandard housing, and they were also assisted by the Lutheran Social Services,” said Smith. “Then Habitat connected with the prison to build the walls. Habitat is an organization that has volunteers, but to bring these organizations together is fantastic. In addition, several members of FIA have also worked as Habitat volunteers.”

Smith says working together should be the goal.

“That approach makes so much power in this country,” he said. “Just look at [Ron and Brook’s] smiles. That’s why we do it.”

According to project manager Matt Wiebers, the target date for completion of the house is Aug. 15.

“We expect the move-in date to be mid to late August,” said Wiebers about progress on the home.

Still on the to-do list are heating and cooling, plumbing, carpet, attic insulation and outdoor landscaping. The first three of those items are contracted to professionals.

Wiebers says he works closely with general contractor Jake Payne and Habitat for Humanity president Bruce Smith on the building project.

“We have to be flexible because we must wait for the contractors who are doing the work,” said Wiebers, but he anticipates work will be completed soon.

Then the Shears and their three children will have a home of their own.