Can you feel the excitement, the joy, the amazement, the hope, the love?  Three weeks ago, a dilapidated trailer was Jim and Alexa’s home.  It had mold, the floors were bad, and the walls creaked whenever the wind blew.  Their utility bills were sky high.  Three days ago a new foundation and floor system were in place just in front of where that old trailer used to sit.  And now, some 55 or 60 hours later, their new home is complete.  Two bedrooms, a sewing room, a handicap accessible bathroom, a kitchen and living room.   It is finished.  It is safe, secure, and energy efficient.

Can you feel the sense of accomplishment that the volunteers who labored with our staff are feeling tonight?  Can you imagine the joy and hope and peace in Jim and Alexa’s hearts at this moment?  Can you sense the amazement in Sandy Lake today?  Close your eyes for just a minute.  Picture the sunrising on Monday morning over a pile of lumber and an empty floor system.  Picture the people’s faces as they were ready and willing to get started but unsure of what the week would hold.  Now fast forward three days and picture the sun setting behind the house tonight.  It is complete.  It is ready for Jim and Alexa.  It is safe and secure.  Look at those faces again.  They are a little wearier, perhaps, but do you see their joy?  Do you see their satisfaction knowing what their labor has accomplished?  Do you see their excitement because they were part of making a miracle happen for two of God’s children?

Wow!  It has been a big week for Jim and Alexa, for the amazing volunteers who willingly agreed to do whatever was asked of them, for Hosanna. Thank you for sharing in this week with us!

Read more details about this project here.

Day two started with a beautiful pastel sunrise, and another prayer circle.  It was warmer today and the sun was shining.  A really nice day to be building!

At the end of the first day the exterior looked like a house and now the interior is starting to look like one too. The drywall is hung, textured and painted. The trim and interior doors have been stained and are ready to be installed. Some 35 boxes of flooring are staged and ready to go tomorrow.  The ground has been graded, top soil raked out, and grass seed spread.

It takes many hands to make such wonderful things happen.  Young and old, male and female, experienced and inexperienced.  It’s all part of the miracle.  Exactly the right people at exactly the right place to do exactly what needs to be done at exactly the right time.  God’s hands can be seen through it all.

Alexa was there for most of the day today.  Jim was there for as much time as his work would allow.  Alexa’s parents and neighbors came over to see the new home.  I heard many times what a blessing this is. How much they needed this.  What a difference this house is making already.  Tears of joy and gratitude filled more than one person’s eyes.

You know, I’m reminded of a verse from the book of Joel in the Bible. “Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.”  What dreams will the older folks dream because they were a part of building this home?  What visions will our young people see, what prophesies will they have to share because of what they witnessed this week?

At Hosanna it is often said that God’s work is everyone’s business.  Thank you for all of you who have chosen to help with the work God is doing through Hosanna Industries this week!

Read more details about this project here.

Today was the first day of the blitz build for Jim and Alexa. As I walked across the building site just a couple of minutes after 8AM I looked around at the many people present. Some were old familiar faces. Mission workers I have worked beside for years, former and dearly loved mission workers, and some who have volunteered with us many times in the past. Some faces were new. Young children eight or nine years old, good folks who had taken time off from work, and others who had been retired for many years. Everyone there, though, had come to give a day of their lives to helping two of God’s children in need.  These good people were gathered between a floor system and a pile of trusses.  Off to the side were trucks and storage containers with more materials and tools.  As we prayed, you could sense everyone was anticipating what the day would hold.

It was cold, about 28° and the wind was blowing.  Most of the people there had no construction experience.  Could we do this thing?  Could we build a house in just 3 1/2 days?  How could an elementary age girl who’d never used a hammer before be helpful?  What about the elderly man, would he be warm enough outside all day?

Well, it’s just over twelve hours since we stood in that circle and said that prayer asking for God to help us.  That floor system is no longer empty.  Some cold fingers and toes are warm again.  A couple of well-deserved blisters have bandaids on them.  A few sore muscles are starting to relax for the evening.  And a house is well under way.  The walls have been stood.  The trusses are on.  The windows and exterior doors have been installed.  The siding is finished.  The shingles have all been nailed down.  The rough-in plumbing and electric are complete.  The panel box is up and running.  The insulation is nearly finished and the ceilings have drywall on them.

A miracle is happening in Sandy Lake this week.  Jim and Alexa will have a new safe home in just a couple of days.  Thank you to all who are part of making this happen – your prayers, your dollars, your time, your talent – we couldn’t do this without each and everyone of you.  God bless you.

Read more about this project here.