God’s Beauty

By 7017444915 July 22, 2025
At Hope Haven, we believe in the profound power of transformation. Every individual carries the potential for growth when given the right support and opportunities. 2 Corinthians 5:17 reminds us of this truth: ‘Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!’ Josh Canny’s story is a powerful testament to this belief. His journey of growth and resilience exemplifies how faith and support can lead to extraordinary change. Josh, born in Spirit Lake, Iowa, found his home at Hope Haven at the age of 18. Now 35, his journey illustrates the power of compassion, opportunity, and community. Josh began in Hope Haven’s Parkview workshop, where he struggled to find fulfillment. However, everything changed with the introduction of the My Choice Employment program, offering Josh the chance to explore community employment. He took this opportunity and thrived. Today, Josh works nearly 40 hours a week at Double HH Manufacturing, contributing across multiple departments. From running machines to packaging, Josh’s versatility and uplifting attitude have become invaluable to his team. Austin Vande Vegte, Operations Manager at Double HH, shares, “Josh’s contributions have had a positive impact on our team. His willingness to learn and help across the plant ensures we deliver quality to our customers on time.” Josh’s journey to independence hasn’t been without challenges. Losing his mother at 13 and experiencing an unstable upbringing left him with little structure or support. For a time, he lived with relatives who didn’t encourage his growth. But at Hope Haven, Josh found stability, relationships built on trust, and the structure he needed to thrive. Over the years, Josh has grown immensely—both at work and in life. He now lives independently in Sioux Center, enjoys cooking, video games, and going out to eat or to the movies with his friends. He has transformed into a kind, respectful person; taking pride in his work ethic and relationships. Amanda, Josh’s longtime Double HH Job Coach, reflects, “Josh has grown so much. Watching him mature and succeed has been like seeing family flourish. I am so proud of the person Josh has become.” Josh’s journey from instability to independence is a powerful example of how lives can be transformed through faith, compassion, and community. At Hope Haven, we know that every individual we serve has their own unique story and potential—just like Josh. Our dedicated staff helps individuals realize their potential, providing the support and encouragement they need to thrive. This story of resilience highlights the importance of supporting individuals in difficult circumstances. With your help, more people like Josh can receive the guidance, care, and opportunities they deserve. Your generosity allows us to expand our programs, equip individuals with necessary resources, and foster environments where they can truly flourish. Together, we can make a lasting impact on their lives and the communities they call home. If you wish to contribute, please CLICK HERE to donate today. At Hope Haven, we extend our heartfelt gratitude for your support and prayers in serving our mission now and in the future.
Show More
A group of people are playing instruments on a stage in front of a crowd.
By Hope Haven August 25, 2025
February 13, 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM
There are many different types of cakes on the table.
By nicole.andree August 6, 2025
October 7, 2025
More Posts →

In this blog Direct Support Professional Stacia Spaulding shares her experiences working at Hope Haven: 

This summer I lost someone I loved. There were days where I didn’t want to get out of bed. Where I didn’t want to see anyone. Where I wanted time to stop and reverse. I was angry. I was confused. How could a God so wonderful allow something so horrible to happen? I remember working one day and overhearing a client tell another client “it’s okay to be sad.” Wow. “It’s okay to be sad.”

That really hit home. Such a simple sentence yet is hard to carry out into application. It’s easy to put on a brave face and go through the motions. The ‘I’m fine everything’s fine’ face. But sometimes everything’s not fine. And that’s okay. It’s okay to be sad. It’s okay to mourn. It’s okay to not understand and be upset. God is there through it all and everything we go through. Life isn’t meant to be easy. If it was would we rely on God as our source of strength? Would we understand the depth of needing redemption?

“It’s okay to be sad.” When I overheard that I thought also of how anytime I’d felt some joy throughout the summer it was at work. Whether it was an adorable quote a smile a hand shake a hug with a happy “hi!” clients would give me a reason to smile every shift. They continually show me God’s beauty. And they’ve shown me that amongst trials there is beautiful lovely triumph and joy. They are not diagnoses or medical records or a name on lists. They are lovely beautiful human beings. And without their knowing it they were a great source of peace and comfort this summer. They were a reason to get out of bed in the mornings. Yes there is client and staff but we are also like a big family. And what a wonderful family it is.

My favorite part of working at Hope Haven is building relationships with clients. To be a part of their lives is a great privilege. To see there personalities shine brings joyful butterflies and I find myself doing a happy dance in my heart when watching them grow. Staff care deeply for clients. But staff doesn’t just care deeply for them; Believe me when I say that when clients care for you. They deeply care for you and will care for and think well of you forever if you let them. Hope Haven shows me how deep God’s beauty and love runs. A real-life look at the gospel. And let me tell you the gospel is truly a beautiful thing. 

The post God’s Beauty appeared first on Hope Haven.