Year 8 - 2019

From Helped to Helper

For years, she quietly carried the weight of widowhood. The house she once shared with her husband had become both her refuge and her burden. Time had worn down the deck, the floors had faded, the walls dulled with age—and the long list of home repairs only grew longer. She was strong and independent, but even the strongest hearts grow weary when carrying so much alone.

Then came November.
And with it—Team Holland.

When her home was selected for the annual Team Holland project, she didn’t quite know what to expect. But what she received was far more than paint and power tools—it was love in motion.

A brand-new deck rose where the old one sagged, inviting fresh air and coffee mornings once again. Floors were replaced, rooms painted with warmth, shelves reorganized, and décor added to make the house feel not just tidy—but alive. Volunteers filled her home with laughter, prayer, and a deep sense of community.

She was overwhelmed—but not just by the transformation.
By the way they saw her. Cared for her. Carried the burden with her.

And something changed in her that weekend.

She didn’t just receive help—she found a renewed purpose. Since that day, she hasn’t missed a single Team Holland event. Every November, she shows up—gloves on, heart open, ready to serve. Whether it’s painting, cleaning, or simply hugging the next recipient who feels overwhelmed like she once did, she’s there.

She went from being the one who needed help to the one giving it.

Her story became part of the legacy. And her presence now reminds every new family: healing is possible, and hope always circles back around.

“Praise be to the God... who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” — 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV)

That comfort she once received?
Now, she gives it—beautifully.