This article is from Line of Truth Ministries titled “We Went to Arizona to Repair a Widow’s Home [Men’s Mission Retreat]” documents a faith-based service trip where a group of nine men and two young boys travel to the high desert of Arizona (around 7,000 feet elevation) to assist a widow named Judy, whose husband had passed away four months prior.

The Journey to Arizona

  • The Drive: The group documents a long, day-and-a-half road trip spanning from Florida (picking up a team member in Melbourne) through windy, flat sections of Oklahoma, and staying overnight in Amarillo, Texas. They stop in Albuquerque, New Mexico, for lunch before reaching their destination on Friday the 13th.
  • Camaraderie & Spiritual Reflection: Throughout the drive and the stay, the men reflect on the core theme of the retreat: moving away from strict doctrinal arguments and instead practicing “true religion” by focusing on unity, community service, and helping those in need.
  • The Lodging: They stay together at a spacious Airbnb conference center where they share meals (consisting of vegan and tofu-based dishes) and spend a restful Sabbath hiking and studying before starting work.

The Renovation Work

The construction site is describe as a collaborative effort where everyone pitches in according to their skills, rotating to wherever help is needed most:

  • Structural & Flooring Repairs: The home’s flooring was highly unstable. The men go underneath the house to reinforce the subfloor with cinder blocks to provide structural integrity.
  • Bathroom Build: They frame out completely new walls to build a proper bathroom, installing a new shower unit, sheetrock, and plumbing/electrical hookups for a hot water heater.
  • Well house & Plumbing: To fix water access and prevent freezing issues, they dig trenches, wrap and run new piping, replace the water pump, and build a dedicated well house. New Appliances: Because Judy did not have a functioning refrigerator, the group visits a local appliance store to purchase and deliver one to her.

The Impact

The volunteers share emotional reflections on how the trip transformed them, noting that working as a team to lighten someone else’s load brought them closer to their faith than solitary work ever could. The video highlights 12-year-old Edson, who spent meaningful time playing ball and harvesting corn with Judy, providing her with much-needed comfort and companionship.