Hear from Leah, a member of the First Reformed Church (Sully) IMPACT team, as she recounts a day in Abaco with a man named Stephen, who rebuilt his 20-year dream for a community hub six times—even after the devastation of Hurricane Dorian in 2019. Discover a powerful story of perseverance, faith, and the true meaning of child-like vision.
From the time we were little, many of us grew up with big dreams for our lives—to be a teacher, a doctor, an electrician, or something else entirely. For some, those dreams are achieved through sheer dedication, commitment, and vision. Yet, for whatever reason, those “big dreams” often feel harder and harder to reach as we get older. We start to psych ourselves out over money, time, age, and various other obstacles, losing focus on the original vision.
This week, our team has had the opportunity to paint a man’s house. His name is Stephen, and let me tell you, he is no ordinary man. Growing up, Stephen often visited his grandparents on the island of Abaco, which began to feel more and more like home. More importantly, a profound vision began to take shape: a dream to spend his life serving the people there. He envisioned transforming his 20-acre property into a vibrant hub—a petting zoo and gathering place for kids, school groups, and visiting families.
Stephen, along with his family and friends, poured twenty years of time, money, and commitment into this immense dream. After two decades, it finally became the vision he had always believed was from the Lord.
The journey was anything but smooth. This land endured six major tragedies, including fires and storms. Each disaster destroyed all progress, yet Stephen chose to rebuild from the ground up, always knowing the vision ahead. However, nothing compared to the destruction of Hurricane Dorian in 2019. It brought a new level of devastation, forcing him to face separation from his family, physical ailments, a crushing lack of support, and struggles I can’t even begin to describe.
To hear Stephen recount trial after trial, on levels I cannot possibly imagine, and still witness his burning eagerness to fulfill the dream laid before him, is truly unlike anything I have ever seen. Once again, Stephen is choosing to rebuild the vision for his Land, honoring and trusting the Lord through the process.
Our team had the privilege of listening to Stephen describe what it truly means to grieve, yet how it is possible to keep your focus on Jesus through loss. I believe the Lord calls us to have a child-like faith because children can dream without being weighed down by the reality of what may lie ahead.
What dreams has the Lord placed on our hearts that we have yet to pursue, simply because we haven’t trusted Him with the details to make the vision come true?
— Leah
