The Beginning of Restored Hope For Many

In September of 2022 I started a new journey. It was time apart from everything I had known. I moved into a frog studio of a dear friend and former neighbor. She was allowing me the time and space to regain some strength and rebuild a business, in return for help on the farm. Mrs. B, has always been a seeker of broken souls. She takes in just about any wounded animal or human. Even in her elderly age she constantly gives her time, energy, home, and land to reach those within her community. I’m very thankful for my mentor and the faith and encouragement she gave me and many others. Our world would be a different place if there were more like her.

I had been feeling a major shift in my personal and spiritual life and by November of 2022 I knew what had been laid on my heart to accomplish. So much so that I posted a headline on Facebook to remind myself that two years from that date that God’s promises would be fulfilled.

Then I saw the listing for an old home in need of a lot of restoration. There are a couple acres and an old red barn tucked away in a small rural farming community. I had been searching, but never felt the time, finances, or place was right. This was it. This was the place where it was to begin.

‘If we build it, they will come…’ A place for people to come to regain strength, heal, learn a new trade, to rebuild confidence and be part of exciting opportunities that could turn into creative full time work. There is no age limit. There are no judgements or preconceived notions. It’s a safe house. It is a community of people who encourage and help one another grow and succeed within one’s passion and inherent gifts. It’s a place for the disheartened, the soul searchers, the down on their luck individuals. It is for the creatives and tradesmen. It’s both a platform for teaching and learning. Where the only agenda is to see one leave with an intact spirit.

‘If we build it, they will come…’ A property filled with small shops - each shop outfitted with a different trade or medium. Painting, pottery, wood and metal, and multimedia and design shops. As more people come they bring their own talents and skill sets that give them the opportunity to help establish another trade within the community. Teaching and learning as we go. The trades are all within these shops. Welding, carpentry, masonry, forging and even hospitality and culinary can come out of these basic art forms. Eventually opening a restaurant and exhibits and store for people to come help support the community through renting out studio time, purchasing a painting, or just sitting down for lunch prepared by a culinary artist. The idea is for people to come as they are and leave more fulfilled than they were. For all.

‘If we build it, they will come…’ I want to make this endeavor completely free for those in need. Their costs of living will be used to forward the community. If they are naturally gifted in wood work - their task while in the community might be to start a new tiny home for the next person coming in, or making repairs to an existing one. If they enjoy flora and working the earth, they can help upkeep a working garden and help upkeep the grounds. So on and so forth. In exchange for their work they collect the time and space needed to mend and grow through reflection, connection and purpose. They will have use of the shops and be encouraged to both learn and teach a new skill set that perhaps they once felt was unattainable. When ready to leave - we want them to leave invigorated and excited not only about their regained sense of peace and confidence but to go out into the world and help encourage others who feel hopeless and forgotten to the world.

‘If we build it, they will come…’ will provide unique and exciting opportunities. I have fulfilled jobs like, statue restoration for museums, medical device prototyping, product design, fabricating classic car replacement pieces, produced wall tiles for restaurants and homes, and a collaboration that led to a fabricated prototype that went to the 2022 Environmental Summit in Switzerland. The newest undertaking is an extensive international project due to start this October. It is my goal to make this be an opportunity of a lifetime for many. A job like this could give the hopeless hope, and not just hope, but reinstall a drive for moving forward in life and feel they serve a purpose. I believe I was given this opportunity for two purposes: in order to share it with others and to establish this place of rejuvenation through creativity and unique opportunities.

God has perfect timing. But that doesn’t mean that the situation itself is perfect. No, but through faith, persistence and obedience the situation can get better. We tend to be the most influential when we can carry a good attitude outside of our comfort zone. That’s not easy to do without faith in something greater than ourselves. When we see results materializing from blind faith, we know we’re on the right path. All we need to do is remain open to listening and receiving more guidance, far more knowledgeable and superior to our own.

I’ve been homesteading for the past two months. The house currently doesn’t have electricity or running water. From what I can understand, everything has been winterized since 2016. I have a camping toilet, sink and shower. I use a small charcoal grill or propane stove for cooking. I make the 25 minute drive into town for 15-20 gal of water, ice and to fill up gas cans for the generator 2-3 times a week. I’m able to run a small standup AC unit, a box fan, my computer, wifi, a couple security cameras, fairly comfortably. I do my laundry in totes and line dry. The past month and half has been rewarding but I can’t say it has been easy to balance work and homesteading. There is a lot of upkeep and forward thought involved. It has tested every part of my own will in accordance with His to affirm, this is indeed a calling I need to fulfill. Even in the discomfort there is an excitement and forward drive I cannot explain.

What I Need:

Please pray the right people are integrated into this project. A community like this will need a strong yet understanding foundation of leaders, teachers and those with understanding. Please pray that these people hear and answer the calling.

Please pray for the county of Newberry and the town of Whitmire. That all of the council members' hearts, eyes and ears be open to the pursuit. I truly believe it could not only change lives but breathe life back into the small rural town. It could bring not only jobs but people willing to go back out and build flourishing small businesses throughout it. 

Please pray for the owner of this extensive job that is due to start this October. Everything I personally make from it will be going to furthering this creative mission community. I have been working with him since February of 2023. This gentleman is very influential in many parts of the world, so please pray for his heart and his spirit, so he can lead and influence for the greater good of this dying world.

Time and Material Donations. I need people who know wells and running water pipes, roofs, and floors. I need people who can help me with a non-profit. I’m looking for those who are willing to give off their time and energy to brainstorm or even come stay on the property for a week or two in order to accomplish one of the many things that needs done. I am looking for contractors and shop owners who may find the need and calling to purge, drop pieces or equipment that will serve the community within time. People are needed who are willing to help establish these shops that are out of my expertise. Call me. Email me. Come visit and stay awhile so we can reconnect. Maybe you yourself are at a crossroads in your life and not really sure where to go next. Get a hold of me, and let’s see if we can’t get you here to brainstorm and start working this thing together.

Financial Support. I have established a go-fund-me account. There is a good bit of restoration that needs to be done to get the home and grounds up to code. Even the restoration is to be an opportunity for those in need of work. My vision for the home would be to use it as a community center which will need to be sustainable first and foremost.

The home needs:

~The floor joists need to be leveled.

~Most of the sub-flooring is in good condition, but there are a few boards needing replaced.

~Some pretty major roof work will need to be done.

~There are three wells on the property and one will have to be brought back to function order. So far I know the pump and holding tank will need to be replaced.

~There are three septic tanks on the property. The main one will need to be lightly maintained.

~Electric boxes and wiring are nearly finished and ready to be turned back on! This was a huge selfless donation of time and materials.

You don't have to give funds! If you felt led to help through time, talent or materials, anything would be greatly appreciated and will help forward us to the next phase. Phase two will involve appropriate permits, insurance, and to get a non profit up and running.

I will be starting a weekly blog to help keep supporters up to date with all that is going on behind the scenes. I can't wait to share with you what God has already done and the people already placed within this venture. Photos, videos and commentary will be used to show those who have donated equipment, time or funds to the cause, how everything is being used. You will find the links needed for the go-fund-me and the blog at the end of this message.

I encourage you to rewatch Field of Dreams. There are many good applications within it. It is full of restoration, hope, promise and fulfillment. That is the goal of this creative mission community. Please feel free to reach out with questions, ideas, how-to’s or to just talk and pray. I will offer and take any prayers and encouragement. I will be praying for each of you that receives one of these letters, emails or links. This is just my initial reach out to family and friends. Please share with like minded and hearted people who you think would like to help forward this calling. I will be posting something similar to the public and local community within the next few weeks. You will be able to find it on my Facebook, Pinterest, Youtube, Etsy and Blog sites.

Thank you for your time. I pray God calls those who are able, willing and excited to help. We have the opportunity to save many that otherwise might remain lost to the world. There are many.

I look forward to speaking with you!

Be well, safe and remain high in His favor.

Elizabeth LaPorte Thompson

https://thecallingtoawake.blogspot.com https://gofund.me/adee510d

In the 1989 film Field of Dreams, a man and his family are bequeathed a working farm. Ray, Kevin Costner’s character, was given a vision and calling to fulfill. Throughout the movie he is driven by an invisible force; something unfamiliar, but it was so nagging and powerful that he feels compelled to pursue, to understand. Through that understanding, the man is able to see and hear things others cannot. By uncomfortable obedience, Ray takes his family on a journey of uncharted faith; unbelievable encounters of equally unbelievable accomplishments.

As we watch the stories and the accounts of the Shoeless Joe Jackson, Moonlight Graham, James Earl, and other’s lives come to light, we can see the regret, loss of hope, preconceived notions and misconceptions. It shows us a dark contrast of sitting stagnant in the past, or confronting the regrets and disappointments in order to change, not just one’s future, but gives potential to change many.

At the cost of his reputation, Ray follows a voice louder than reason. He cut out a large portion of profit in faith and obedience; not fully understanding why, but feeling within his soul that it was something he had to do. He kept a tunnel like vision on acting on the task given. His reputation was clouded by his obedience to something unseen and misunderstood by most. “Not everyone equates extreme faith outside of madness.”

Moonlight Graham’s character had a dream to be in the big leagues. Instead, he became a doctor: a very good one during a very crucial time in history. He saved many lives who otherwise may not have been spared. There had been a time he regretted that he had to put down the bat, but he came to an understanding that made him thankful that he was used the way he was.

Ray’s daughter shows us a beautiful and simple faith. We tend to over complicate things the older we get. Near the end of the movie, Ray is tempted to sell the farm due to lack of funds. His daughter spoke up and proclaimed what would happen if her dad’s faith remained strong within the promise. Her parents backed their daughter’s claim in further faith and in further action. Through this final and probably hardest form of faith, Ray's biggest critic; his brother-in-law Mike, finally sees and hears what Ray’s family had been experiencing. Now everyone can see the long line of cars forming to enter the baseball field. This goes to show us that faith is a multiplying source of power.

Kevin Costner‘s character thought he was building the field for Shoeless Joe Jackson in order to restore his hopes and dreams. In reality, his sacrifices also became his own healing as it brought years of regret and missed opportunities to a head. It restored a relationship with his own father. Sometimes the things laid on our hearts work parallel to our own restoration.

Throughout the script, you can see how each act of blind obedience is followed by another set of eyes and ears opening. That uncomfortable obedience started an unstoppable ripple effect. Through our own growth we can encourage and show others what is right in front of them. Sometimes it takes experiencing faith, opportunity and understanding to have things unveiled.

The movie shows us that even if our dreams do not materialize as we expect, we should never lose that youth-like zeal in our initial pursuit when trying to achieve them. It is that very power of hope and pursuit that will lead us to a satisfied and inherit purpose and give us a fulfilled life with understanding and a sense of accomplishment.

The movie is about taking back lost chances. About rewriting the outcome. About blind faith, about persistence, obedience, and the result of the understanding, so that we might live life - instead of being controlled by it. It is about the restoration and returning of things to their appropriate place.

The movie is about passion. We are only given one life and often there is something we are inherently passionate about. However, some lose their confidence in the search to obtain a fulfilled soul by means of abandonment, ridicule, loss, disappointment, regret, through pain and anger. These things can lead to other oppressive things that only cause the cycle of repression to deepen. They get stuck in the lack of motivation because advancing seems unattainable. We are sitting next to them everyday. They are part of our families and circle of friends. They are the homeless, and wayward souls. They are those that have lost hope.

There are many of us who have been blessed to have come out of such hopelessness, and we offer a unique gift to those still struggling to find their confidence and place within the world. With time away from outside influences and a stillness and quiet space for people to hear and see God work within the community and their lives - this gives a chance for the Holy Spirit to reconnect with that individual. With confidence building tasks and exciting creative opportunities each person's discomfort has an outlet, and a creative one. It can help make the healing softer, full of application and life changing lessons. When the creator of a project that they have seen it through from concept to finished product, stands back and look at what they have, "accomplished"! This is when self confidence can begin to be restored, this is when they start believing they are worth someone's time and effort. This is when they are willing to sacrifice old ways to make time and space for these new and exciting opportunities. Habits, painful memories, the suffering of loss, the self loathing, the very cycle of repression, begins to shift. Some people like me feel a conviction greater than any sacrifice. It is about passion - it is about purpose.

The farm represents the expectations of what life demands and the realism we adopt in order to survive, “the real world”. That’s all it is though. Surviving. The baseball diamond is a symbol of lost dreams and true spiritual qualities being reclaimed out of mundane worldly expectations. This is LIVING.