God’s Timing and the Disney Cabin

For three years, that old trailer at New Life Village weighed on me.

When we purchased the property in 2021, it was packed with mildew-ridden clothes, shoes, and household items — remnants of its past life as a clothing closet for foster girls at Hacienda Girls Ranch. Once cleared out, we discovered holes in the floor, missing plumbing, and a failing septic system.

On every tour, I’d point to it and say, “That’s just a placeholder for electrical.”

I dreamed of replacing it — maybe with a new trailer or a tiny home for a caretaker. I could see it, but I couldn’t quite SEE it.

The Waiting Years

Year 1: I shared my vision with anyone who would listen.

Year 2: I avoided looking at it.

When I finally priced out a remodel, the estimate came back at $85,000 — more than a new unit. With other priorities demanding attention, I set it aside.

By Year 3, I’d made peace with the eyesore. Sometimes I’d sit on its broken steps — my “outdoor office” — and pray for inspiration.

What we still need:

Purchase and installation of a deck or a volunteer group to build one
Volunteer group to purchase and apply stain to exterior

Email development@newlife-mission.org or call (321) 480-9100 Ext. 110

The Spark

Then one fall morning in 2024, I read about Disney selling their Fort Wilderness cabins — 500 square feet of furnished charm. Perfect! I emailed Disney, explaining our mission and asking if they’d donate one.

Silence.

Months later, a friend sent me a Facebook listing for one of the cabins — a seller in Rockledge offering it for $59,999. I quickly gained board approval, only to learn it had sold that morning.

But another seller in a tiny town called Lithia, near Tampa, was also selling one. Same price. I drove two hours with a friend to a storage lot. The cabin was on wheels, and I needed a boost to get inside. The original Fort Wilderness Cabin furniture was wrapped in the center of the kitchen/living room. There was no electricity, and I used the flashlight on my phone to see around the space. A wave of uneasiness came over me, and I didn’t feel equipped to make such a large decision on behalf of the mission.

I climbed on top of the furniture to get a look into the living room and the kitchen. The sparkle caught my eye. There, on the countertop, shimmering back at me was a butterfly pendant. I stared for a moment before I stretched over an upside-down chair and scooped up the pendant. I squeezed it tight in my hand.

Once outside, I flipped the pendant over in my hand to see that it was actually bow. I smiled. A present. I offered $49,999, and the seller agreed — with a $10,000 in-kind donation.

God’s Provision

As costs for transport, demolition and setup rose, I held tight to God’s voice urging me to trust His timing. Even with the lowered purchase price, the total reached $75,000.

Around the same time, a couple toured New Life Village and later returned — led by prayer — to give $60,000, covering the cabin purchase, transport and hook-up. Then Lt. Joe Downs from the Sheriff’s Office arranged for the old trailer to be demolished and hauled away for free — a $15,000 savings.

The total cost was covered!