Raising the floor levels throughout the Surinam escape.

I recently received a photo of our wellness escape in Suriname. They are getting ready to start raising the floors.It might seem like a small step in the bigger picture of renovating a house, but for us, it is an important one.

During the rainy season, water can collect around the property and enter the house. Before we can move forward with our plans, we need to address this problem by raising the floors and improving the drainage.

When I think about the house, I often find myself imagining what it could become. I picture the garden, the people who might visit, and the opportunity to create a place where people can step away from their daily responsibilities and take time to rest.

Because that is our goal with this wellness escape, we hope to create a temporary retreat for vulnerable people and caregivers, as well as opportunities for professionals, including church leaders, to share their knowledge with local communities.

There is still a lot to do before we get there. But receiving that photo made the next step feel a little closer.

Sometimes, progress begins with something practical. Not the part you dream about most, but the part that needs to happen first. For now, our attention is on the foundations, quite literally. There is no finished space to show yet, only the work that needs to be done before the next stage can begin.

I think this is something we can recognise in our own lives, too. We often focus on where we want to be, imagining how things could look once everything falls into place. But sometimes, before we can move forward, there are things we need to address first. These are not always the things we look forward to. They might be practical matters we have postponed, habits that no longer serve us, or situations that need our attention before we can take the next step.

Of course, having a vision does not mean knowing exactly how everything will unfold. There will be decisions to make, unexpected challenges, and things we may need to approach differently than we first imagined.

I think that is part of building something, whether it is a place, a relationship, or a new chapter in life. We can have an idea of where we want to go without knowing every detail of how we will get there.

There is also something about this process that reminds me to trust, even when I cannot see the complete picture yet. I would love to know exactly how everything will turn out, but that is not always how life works.

Sometimes, we have to do what we can with what is in front of us and trust God with the things we cannot yet see. For me, that means continuing to take responsibility for the steps ahead while leaving room for the unexpected.

As I look at the work beginning in Suriname, I am reminded that not every important step looks exciting from the outside. Some things need to be put in place quietly, long before we can see the full result.

Perhaps there is something in your own life that you are eager to move forward with. A dream you have been working towards, a change you want to make, or a new beginning you are waiting for.

What might need your attention before you can take that next step? And can you give that part of the process the time it deserves, even if it is not where you hoped to be by now? We do not have to see the entire path ahead to begin. Sometimes, we simply need to recognise what needs our attention today, take the next step, and trust that the rest will become clearer along the way.