Year 13 - 2024

A Fresh Start

Life had hit hard.

One challenge after another left this sweet family feeling like they were barely keeping their heads above water. Stress was constant and the house—once full of dreams—had become a place that reflected their weariness. They just needed a fresh start.

That’s when Team Holland came knocking.

Chosen for the November project, this precious family was about to experience what it feels like to be seen—really seen—and loved through action.

Over the course of a few beautiful fall days, volunteers poured into the home like a wave of grace. The entire inside of the house was painted—bright, clean, and full of new life. A brand-new dishwasher was installed, easing the daily burden just a little more. The front and backyard were completely transformed with raked leaves, trimmed bushes, and cleared-out spaces for play, rest, and peace.

It was more than home improvement. It was heart restoration.

But the moment no one would forget came at lunchtime.

Volunteers grabbed sandwiches and stood in the middle of the street in front of the house—dirty, sweaty, tired… and completely at peace. Someone started praying, and one by one, the group felt the love. The street became holy ground. Tears mixed with laughter. Hope thickened the air like sunlight breaking through clouds.

In that moment, there was no question: God was there. So was healing. So was promise.

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” — Isaiah 43:19 (NIV)

That house got more than new paint and a dishwasher.
It got a new beginning.
So did the family inside it.