What Was I Thinking?

Two and a half years ago Becky and I were in Springfield, MO to officially become a part of the Eden Village family. After almost two years of exploration and prayer, we pulled the trigger in May of 2022, shown here with Nate, one of the co-founders in Springfield. The concept started there about 7 years ago in development of tiny-homes for the chronically homeless. There are now about 12 cities either in development or operating using this mode, with Tulsa soon to be operational.

As I looked back on the expression on my face at that time, it reminds me of the old Dierks Bently song, “What was I Thinkin’?”  Frankly, If I knew then what I know now after two and a half years, I don’t know if I would have done this. It’s been so hard, challenging, and frustrating at times. So much had to come together to pull this off, so many people had to get involved, and I had to step up my learning curve with so many new challenges. After starting three different businesses from scratch over the years, I’m used to hard work and long hours. However, this project has been about the hardest, and at 70, the gas tank seems to get empty a little sooner!

However, this is God’s Project, and He has brought Eden Village in Tulsa to a reality, as our Helmerich Community Center is open (and beautiful), with our first 36 tiny homes soon to open for our new neighbors moving in off the streets. I’m tired, but so thankful, that God has given me the vision and fortitude to lead this project. We won’t solve the homeless problem with Eden Village, but we will solve it for 63 folks very soon, so thanks to all that have contributed to this. And if you want to come on board to help make Tulsa be a city where No One Sleeps Outside, we have plenty of opportunities to do so.