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Dear Friends
Spring has sprung in Chelan, Washington— where our family is currently living while Holden remains closed to guests. The blossoms and emerging plants offer a beautiful reminder that new life is on the way. A new season has begun, one full of growth and abundance. We can bask in the joy of Easter’s miracle, knowing that God’s grace is stronger than anything.
It is also a new season for our beloved Holden Village. After a long winter, both literally and figuratively, we are beginning to see new sprouts of hope and possibility breaking through.
The USFS, in partnership with Rio Tinto, has begun the initial assessments of the damage to Forest Service Road 8301. They have observed what they call "catastrophic geotechnical failures” in at least eleven spots between Lucerne and the water treatment plant. Notably, the damage is not just to the road itself, but to both the upslope and downslope areas of 8301, which will greatly affect how the road is rebuilt.
These assessments are an important step in determining the scope of work for reopening FS 8301, and will be completed in May or June once the snow has fully melted. Then we will have a clearer picture of the timeline for repairs, though it is generally believed that some construction may be able to start in 2026 and hopefully be completed in 2027.
Even though we don’t know yet when we’ll reopen, Holden Village is on the road to recovery. We have a small team that remains in the Village, continuing care and maintenance of our physical location. Other staff positions and teams now operate remotely downlake, continuing the vital work of Holden’s business operations, communications, fundraising, and programming.
All of us are working together to prepare to welcome 5,000 Villagers back to Holden during the first 12 months of our reopening. Our work is focused on these three priorities:
- Maintain and care for Holden’s current operations, people, and infrastructure.
- Connect with the Holden Village community around the world.
- Improve Holden’s systems and resilience so we can return to an even better Village.
You can read more about our Road to Recovery, as well as ways you can help, on our website.
This new season for Holden, one where we are able to focus on recovery and the hope of what comes next, is possible because of the generosity of our community. From the many donors who have given to Holden over the years and helped us build strong reserves and investments, to the over 1,000 donors who have given already this fiscal year and helped us survive a devastating financial storm — your support reminds us that new life is on the way. That this beloved community, rooted in Christ’s love for the world, is resilient and full of abundance.
On behalf of all of us at Holden Village, thank you for helping us enter this new season of hope and possibility.
With good courage,
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