With a drone flying overhead to capture the scene, the crowd that gathered on South Lee Avenue in Oakdale on Saturday afternoon waited for word that “the bus was around the corner” and got ready to join in the surprise of a lifetime.
The Aguayo family of Oakdale – 10 people altogether – live in the house on South Lee, a house that was selected for the largest project ever taken on by Love Oakdale – an Extreme Home Makeover.
Family members were required to leave the house on April 25 – the day of Love Oakdale – and crews then went to work on the makeover, finishing it just in time for the May 9 return of the family, two weeks after they left. They were brought back to their refreshed and upgraded home on a motorhome bus, exiting on the opposite side of the street and then having a chance to turn around and see the transformation once the bus was moved.
Nominations were taken and three finalists ultimately selected, with Jesus and Antonia Aguayo and their extended family chosen for the makeover project.
“It was a difficult process to sort through the many homes that had been nominated and yet we knew God would lead us to the right family to help. Antonia and Jesus are such incredible examples of sacrificial living that we were all thrilled to gift them with this makeover,” said Love Oakdale Director Lisa Kjeldgaard. “Russ Gerber agreeing to take on the initial general contractor role allowed the project to happen and I’ll always be so grateful he signed on. Leslie Onsager stepping in as the general contractor with her leadership and resources definitely pushed us over the finish line that some of us doubted could happen.”
Kjeldgaard said Antonia and Jesus – who are both still working – are the home owners; their adult son, his wife, and their two young children live there and Antonia and Jesus have also taken in their four teenage grandchildren.
“Since I began dreaming about this project, my biggest wish was that we’d help a helper. Antonia and Jesus are incredible examples of grace, forgiveness, and sacrifice and I’m thrilled to bless them with the gift of this makeover,” Kjeldgaard said when the family was first announced as the recipient of the makeover. “This project is filled with stories of incredible generosity, hours of unpaid labor, and amazing gifts of love.”
The home originally had just one bathroom; a second was added during the makeover, providing an additional shower, sink and toilet.
“The team figured out how to make it happen even though it meant digging an unplanned 20-foot trench through the interior of the home to upgrade the sewer line,” Kjeldgaard explained.
While the family was away, work continued nearly non-stop, with new flooring, painting, addition of air conditioning units, installation of doors to offer a little more privacy and a special unique touch coming at the end.
“Kristi Riva of Riva Design Co. gave the homeowners a gift we didn’t think would happen,” noted Kjeldgaard. “She stepped in at the last minute to fully furnish and decorate the master bedroom into a beautiful retreat for Antonia and Jesus; the look on their faces when they saw it was priceless.”
All 10 family members touring the home – with a crowd of family, friends and project volunteers joining in – were overwhelmed by the transformation, sharing hugs, laughter, joy and tears.
For 16-year-old Angel Aguayo, the makeover was more than he ever could have imagined.
“It feels very good, I’m very excited, I’m happy that I get to have some privacy now,” the Oakdale High School junior said of doors being put on his room. “I’m very grateful for everything; this is life changing … ever since I walked in, everything smells fresh and clean, everything, I was so excited, I don’t know what to say, I’m so grateful.”
The teen also expressed his thanks for the countless volunteers that poured their heart and soul, time and talents into the project.
“I’m very thankful for you guys and honestly, you changed my life, you changed everything,” he said, adding that Jesus and Antonia no longer have to worry about the home. “They don’t have to struggle with stress about the house; they were stressing a lot because they didn’t know exactly what to do with the house … it’s just a weight off everybody’s shoulders.”
Two weeks, a massive undertaking … and a family brought to tears by the kindness, generosity and dedication of people stepping up to help.
“This is a project that didn’t make sense to begin and shouldn’t have worked. I sat with Dan Sibley in the middle of March and told him what I wanted to do. I confessed that I had no money and no general contractor; just an idea to bring hope to a local family,” Kjeldgaard admitted. “I actually asked him to talk me out of the project. After listening to me dream Dan said, “You’re not going to get me to talk you out of it, kid. That’s God’s thumb on your back; let’s do this!” This is a house that Oakdale built and I’m so incredibly humbled by the amazing people who joined in to help.”
