Ben travels to Eastern Europe to meet Brits Jordan, Lewis, and their two children, who are at the start of their new life, undertaking an ambitious renovation of a dilapidated farmhouse in a Bulgarian village. With the country's population on the decline, Ben is curious about their choice to settle there, especially since they purchased the property before ever seeing it. As he helps Lewis to plaster walls and Jordan to repurpose old items from the local dump, Ben uncovers the couple's challenging pasts and gains a deep understanding of how crucial this fresh start is for their family. 

Ben ventures into the snowy mountains of Piedmont, Italy, where he meets Father Johannes, an Austrian priest living as a hermit. Ben is given a tour of the clergyman's tiny home, complete with its own chapel, and is surprised to find they have more in common than he expected. Ben learns how Johannes manages to live such an isolated life while still fulfilling his duties as a priest. Together, they clear trees, lift rocks, and use a jackhammer to dismantle an old wall. As their bond deepens, Ben questions Johannes about the church's recent troubled history and discovers how he is using his remote existence to help restore its reputation.