I can't believe 2024 is coming to a close; I remember this time last year as if it were yesterday. I opened my 2024 planner to begin planning, and I felt overwhelmed. Our vision began taking shape much faster than we anticipated, and what was supposed to be done over three years was gaining momentum. The completion of our first big project, Hope House Coffee, was slated to be finished in the spring.
Hope House Coffee opened its window for operation the second week of May. From May to the present, it has been a wild ride. There is never a dull moment as you experience the highs of opening week and the love of community to the lows of dropping a generator off the truck onto a bridge, causing an accident at rush hour, all because the lock mechanism broke. Training a team of "experience creators," sharpening up leadership skills, and making a great cup of coffee is not for the faint of heart.
Paul and I thought we had a minute to catch our breath, but God had another idea as he began moving and opening doors to conversations, lining up partnerships, and making way for the launch of our Hope, Healing, and Recovery program. No program can run without a team of volunteers. We only had a handful of names to contact, and that was it. It would be a great turnout if we could get 35 people in the room to hear about our plan and have a successful meeting if 12 signed up and committed to joining us in the launch. On October 27th, 2024, exactly a year to the date of the coffee truck ribbon-cutting ceremony, 80 people walked into our volunteer meeting, and from there, 40 signed up, saying they saw the need for Hope, Healing, and Recovery in Chesapeake and wanted to be part of it.
Y'all, I can't take any credit for what has happened throughout 2024. My responsibility was to take God at His Word and His promise. Some days, I was great at that part; other days, I failed miserably. In Philippians 1:6, Paul writes a letter of encouragement to the church of Philippi, reminding them, "I am sure of this: He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. This year has stretched me and challenged me in so many different ways. In the beginning, my overwhelm was the belief of the lie that I had to do this or could do this in my strength. However, God quickly reminded me that it was not in my strength, not in my might, but in His Holy Spirit power that would accomplish His plan. God did just that; the blessing was that He allowed me to partner with Him along the way.
Liz
Comments