The Room You Didn’t Know You Had (But God Did)

Raise your hand if you’ve ever had that dream — the one where you discover a hidden room or an entire wing of your house that you somehow never knew existed. It’s surprisingly common, and supposedly it represents untapped potential.

Well… that’s probably one dream the Sowers4Pastors staff doesn’t have.

Why? Because they are firmly in the “use what you’ve got” camp — and then use it again, and then maybe repaint it and turn it into something else entirely.

Case in point: the old office space.

This particular space has had more career changes than someone in their twenties. At various points, it has been a storage room, a temporary living space for Kirstin (back when “no shower” was apparently just a minor detail), an office, and — once again — storage.

But now? It’s stepping into its newest role with confidence, purpose, and a fresh coat of paint.

The space is being transformed into an apartment for longer-term visitors.

And not just any apartment. This upgraded version now includes a working shower and a repaired bathroom sink — luxuries that earlier versions of the space could only dream about. It’s functional, practical, and, most importantly, right where it needs to be: on the ministry property.

You might be wondering, “What about Mary Faith’s house? Isn’t that already used for hosting?”

It is — and it’s been a huge blessing. But it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. For starters, it’s a rental, which means its long-term availability isn’t guaranteed. And for nexters (which absolutely should catch on as a word), it doesn’t provide housing for male interns or certain long-term guests.

The newly revamped space solves all of that. It’s owned by the ministry, located right alongside the coffee farm and vehicles, and perfectly positioned to support the day-to-day rhythm of ministry life.

It’s also incredibly practical. When the mechanic comes to service the ministry vehicles, he may stay for weeks — or even months. A freshly updated on-site apartment is far more cost-effective than extended hotel stays, and infinitely more convenient.

In fact, the timing couldn’t be better. A new intern is arriving this evening and will be the very first to stay in the newly repurposed space. Nothing like a soft opening with a real, live human.

Of course, a project like this doesn’t come together on its own. A well-earned shoutout goes to Nathan and Michael, who jumped in to help Brandy get everything ready. From painting to general elbow grease, they brought both skill and willingness — two things that tend to make any project go faster (and look better).  And all of this? It’s happening in the middle of everything else. Because, naturally, there is always an “everything else.”

 Work continues on the coffee farm, where the long-awaited rains have finally arrived — just in time for fertilizing. At the same time, the team is moving from backpack and dental team season straight into medical teams and VBS teams. It’s less of a slow transition and more of a full-speed relay race.

In fact, members of the upcoming medical team are already beginning to arrive, with plans to serve in four different communities next week. And immediately following that, the VBS teams will jump into action.

It’s a full schedule. A meaningful one — but definitely a full one.

Brandy summed it up simply: “Please pray for safety, endurance, and that we would serve in the way God wants us to serve. Pray that we will be a light and show the love of God.”

Because at the end of the day, whether it’s a repurposed room, a backpack distribution, or a medical clinic, it all comes down to the same thing — faithfully using what God has already provided.

No hidden rooms required.

 - posted by Christi