Homes of Love

10/05/2026

You're invited! 🧡

Join us on Thursday, October 29 at The Venue at Lenoir City for Hope: The Homes of Love Banquet Celebration.

It will be an evening of good food, great company, and stories of what God is doing through loving families in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Zimbabwe. Every child deserves to grow up in a family, and together we're making that possible.

Come celebrate with us, hear what's ahead, and be part of bringing hope to children who need it most.

RSVP at the link in the comments below.

09/24/2026

Over halfway to the summit.

Thanks to your generosity, Hiking for Homes has raised $16,890 toward our $25,000 goal. That's real progress toward welcoming 10 new children into safe, loving homes in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Zimbabwe.

We're not done yet. Help us close the gap and get every one of those children home!

https://www.homesoflove.org/hiking-for-homes

09/14/2026

Buen Camino, Gary!

After walking over 130 miles of the Camino de Santiago, Gary Chesney has crossed the finish line, and he sent us this from the road:

“This has been an incredible journey. Lots of unexpected delights. New friends, joy of sharing God’s love, observing friendships acted out in many ways, experiencing how hard it is to just put one foot ahead of the other. Loving and appreciating my wife more than ever. I have a deeper awareness of how much the Lord loves me. I know there were many miracles that had to happen for me to finish this journey.”

Psalm 18:29 says, “For by you I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall.” Gary put it his own way: By my God I can walk over 130 miles.

What’s your blank? By my God I can ______. Tell us in the comments.

Thanks to everyone who’s walked alongside Gary. Through prayer and giving, we’ve raised $12,375, over halfway to our $25,000 goal. Help us get Gary all the way to his goal!

https://www.homesoflove.org/hiking-for-homes

09/13/2026

Circling back to a post that didn’t share from Instagram…

Day 7
20 miles
Total milage 104.86
Very thankful for body holding up. It’s cooling down some and makes each days walk a lot easier.

Today we walked through a lot of small villages and beautiful paths lined with stones up to 7 ft tall, obviously very very old, or a canopy of trees.

Met lots of people who were genuinely interested to hear all about the Lords work of Homes of Love. When I was done people would ask me more questions.

One of the highlights of the trip. Around mile 15 we were in the woods, cool with wind blowing a little through the trees and started to hear beautiful instrumental music.

09/12/2026

09/12/2026

They made it to Santiago!

After 9 days and 133.89 miles, Gary and Debbie Chesney completed their Camino de Santiago walk for Hiking for Homes, arriving at St. James Cathedral surrounded by neighborhood friends.

“Thankful to the Lord we were able to complete the Camino with so many memories,” Gary shared. On their last day, they met fellow pilgrims Judith and Luda, who peppered them with questions about Homes of Love and called their story “encouraging and inspirational.”

“This wasn’t just about bringing awareness to Homes of Love,” Gary said, “but also inspiring the next generation to make a difference, one step at a time.”

Thank you, Gary and Debbie, for walking this out for vulnerable children and families in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Zimbabwe.

09/11/2026

Did you catch us on WBIR Channel 10 last night!?

ICYMI, Gary and Debbie’s journey is the heart of the Hiking for Homes campaign, and we could not be more grateful for the way WBIR helped share it with Knoxville. Every mile they walk brings stable, loving families closer to more kids in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Zimbabwe.

Gary and Debbie Chesney founded Homes of Love in 2001, a nonprofit that helps orphaned and at-risk children internationally find permanent housing and families.

09/09/2026

Day 6 on the Camino de Santiago: Hiking for Homes

16.64 miles today. 84.86 miles total. Thank the Lord, we're still just getting stronger.

We're traveling with a team of 12, good friends from our own neighborhood. The morning brought beautiful villages and centuries-old churches; the afternoon brought 3+ miles of steady, heavy rain. We were prepared, and honestly, this is becoming our wonderful normal.

Today we walked alongside a couple from Mexico on their first Camino. Between my limited Spanish and his translating for his wife, I got to share about Homes of Love. Later we met their adult children walking ahead, and their daughter scanned to learn more. Debbie gave their son a cross bracelet and a written blessing.

So far, you've given enough to bring 3 more children into a loving, secure Homes of Love home. Would you help us reach 7?

Give at homesoflove.org

09/08/2026

Day 5
15 miles. 68.21 total miles

Today was the most we have walked and 2,170 ft of elevation gain. Interestingly, it was the easiest day of walking. Started the cool morning in the fog for about half the day.

Today we reached the half way point of 100 kilometers.

I have had 12 people scan the Hikes for Homes QR code including 5 today! Praise the Lord!

We met a sweet man, Ben, from Nairobi today. His priest had walked the Camino last year and Ben was moved to walk the Camino this year. Ben is a lay pastor who talks in his church once a month. He is a retired chemical engineer who was trained for 1 1/2 years to be able to teach. Ben is 80, yes I said 80 years old! Remarkable, dear man who loves the Lord.

If you're still following this story, this is a perfect time to send some extra encouragement to Gary on the second half of his hike. His desire is to raise money to support new children coming into Homes of Love. You can be a part of that by going to ... www.homesoflove.org/Hiking-For-Homes Thank you for continuing this journey with Gary! He is reading all this social media so please drop him a comment!