August Update

It seems about time to update you as to the progress of Hope’s Journey. A lot has been going on in the last couple of months.

I just returned from our annual missions trip with our youth group (Audience of One). We spent five weeks on the East Coast in Monroe, NC; Taylors and Greenville, SC; Elon, NC; Raleigh, NC; Spotsylvania, VA; and Washington D.C. We had an incredible time praying for and ministering in our own nation. I met several burn survivors in our travels and made many relevant connections. I’m excited to see the outcome of these encounters.

We are still under contract for the property located in Ridgway, CO. We’ve been doing research, contacting lawyers, having multiple board meetings, working on our loan approval, and making connections. On July 30, we applied to Ouray County Land Use Department for a zoning amendment. We are proposing that the county add an allowance for “Residential Assisted Living” into their code as a special use so that organizations such as Hope’s Journey can legally operate in Ouray County. Our application has been accepted. We are now waiting for a meeting along with approval from the county commissioners, which should happen around September 15th. In the event that this zoning amendment is accepted, we will then have to apply for a “Special Use Permit” and undergo local and state inspections as well as public meetings before our permit is granted.

Our contract is dependent on our ability to get approval from the county, all of which takes time and leaves us a little uncertain as to when we will be able to take possession of this property.

Needless to say, the last two to three months have been busier than ever. God’s grace has been more than sufficient. My directors, board members, real estate agent, friends, and family have all pitched in and helped. This project is huge, but each day I’m more and more convinced that Hope’s Journey is a real need for those that are recovering from life-changing traumas.

In October, I will be attending the annual World Burn Congress held in Raleigh, NC. I look forward to sharing the vision of Hope’s Journey to other burn survivors and burn care workers that meet at these conventions from all over the world.

Our short-term fundraising needs continue to be great. We have been encouraged by God’s provision through your giving. In the near future, we need to see our “in earnest” payment completely funded as well as our basic start-up costs covered. We also need to pay for the costs associated with our presence at the burn conference and the materials needed to promote Hope’s Journey, Int’l.

If you would like to contribute to these funds, please make checks payable to Solid Rock Foundation Ministries and attach a note specifying your gift to Hope’s Journey, Intl. Checks can be mailed to P.O. Box 2149, Montrose, CO 81402. Alternatively, you may make a donation using the donate link found here.

I would like to thank all of you for your continued prayers, encouragement, and financial contributions as we jump into these founding stages of Hope’s Journey, Intl. Your input is significant, and we pray that you will be mightily blessed for all the ways that you have blessed us in this process.