A Step Up

Ever since a damaging storm tore through the area, a member of our church community had been plugging away at the repairs needed on his home. Doing it alone as a widower meant progress was slow, but he was making a dent—until everything came to a sudden halt.

It started during a church mission trip to Stillwater, Minnesota. He went to serve others, but a sudden medical emergency took him down, sidelining him for several weeks. He finally made it back home, eager to pick up where he left off, only to be hit by a second, completely different medical emergency. This one was worse than the first. The double blow drained his energy, required a long recovery, and completely wiped out any momentum he had left for his house projects.

This widower isn’t used to being the one sitting on the sidelines, trapped inside by his health while his home remains damaged. Most concerning of all was his back deck; the storm had separated the steps from the house, cutting off a crucial safety exit from his home. Physically, he just couldn't fix it.

That’s when Christians in Action came into the picture to come alongside and bridge the gap.

When our volunteer crew pulled up to the house with tools in hand, the frustration of the past few months eased. The team didn't waste any time. We tackled the main priority: building and reattaching new deck steps securely to the back of the house, ensuring there was a safe second exit.

After three days of hard work, the steps were sturdy, safe, and locked into place. Our brother in Christ was super appreciative of the help he physically could not do himself. Standing on his secure deck, the burden of the past few months was gone, replaced by a renewed sense of safety and the realization that he didn't have to face these challenges alone.