We just returned from our most recent group trip to the K-Love Hope Center. The changes this trip were phenomenal, and it was so great to get to test out the new heat and set up the rooms with a full group. We had fifty-three travelers from Orlando, Colorado, and even Korea. Two youth groups traveled with us this time. Twelve students and chaperones joined us from Cross Creek Fountain Church, and twenty-seven students and chaperones joined us from Avalon Church. The Derek Janney Band, who was our connect with Cross Creek Fountain Church, joined us Thursday on the trip, and Matt Hammitt of Sanctus Real stopped by for the day on Friday.
The World Hope Detroit van made its trek to the K-Love Hope Center, which will now be its permanent home. Among other donations, Orlando Baptist Church’s Young @ Heart, their senior adult ministry, donated funds to purchase a brand new industrial size popcorn machine. This will be great for community outreaches and after-church meetings. Matt Hammitt from Sanctus Real brought his entire family and even performed a private concert for us on Friday night.
In the Hope Center, we installed new flooring, new door frames, and baseboards. All of the walls were painted in the newest center rooms. The Refuge logo sticker was also installed. Twenty-five ceiling tiles and numerous lighting fixtures were replaced, as well as new hardware for the doors. We also installed twenty new stair treads and two landings on the stairs. Together with a roofing company, we assisted in installing the torch down on the roof, which will be finished later this week. Downstairs, we removed a large amount of debris and increased the children’s ministry space. We also relocated the clothing closet and painted the rear stairwell.
In the Refuge rooms specifically, we installed new laminate flooring, new ceiling tiles, baseboards, doors and fixtures. We also did a lot of painting, adding a chalkboard wall. We installed cabinets and a ping pong table, as well as a pool game in the recreation room.
At a home donated to World Hope through the K-Love one day radio event, we were able to remove all trash, keep usable furniture in the garage, remove the carpet, and clean and sanitize the entire house, as well as the yard. It was a tremendously successful trip, and we are already gearing up for our next trip at the end of April. Thank you to all who attended, donated, and most of all prayed.
