We've completed a week of work on the building. Generally, we are ahead of schedule, but rebuilding the stairs to make them less steep is turning into a bigger project than we originally thought.
Today we had a barbecue lunch out in front of the building. Several neighbors stopped by to chat including the 75-year-old man who lives across the street. He said that he went to Sunday School as a child and even played the organ in church. Fifty years ago he almost became a Christian. He didn't elaborate on why he chose not to at the time, but it is clear that Christianity has a special place in his heart. I'm sure we'll see a lot of him. What a blessing it would be if, fifty years after his initial desire to become a Christian, he finally took the plunge!
We will have a dedication service for the building on August 20, and begin holding Sunday services the next day. Since the building will not be used for classes on Sundays, we will have a satellite church that meets there. I'm excited about having a "local" church with the flavor of New Hope.
Saturday, June 11, 2005
Monday, June 06, 2005
First Day of Construction for Volunteers
We began work on the building today. We tore out some rotten ceiling tiles, broke down some walls that we don't need, puttied the grooves in some paneling to smooth it out, and had a grand old time. Timothy and Rina pitched in to help fix up "their school." Tomomi was planning to take them home for afternoon naps but they refused to leave while others were still working.
Many people from the church are helping. It's going to be a fun month of renovation.
(There are some photos below. If you want to see a bigger version, click a photo, then on the next screen click "all sizes." Use your browser's back button "<-" to return to this page.)
Many people from the church are helping. It's going to be a fun month of renovation.
(There are some photos below. If you want to see a bigger version, click a photo, then on the next screen click "all sizes." Use your browser's back button "<-" to return to this page.)
Friday, June 03, 2005
R and R
That's renovation and remodeling, not rest and relaxation. Work on the building has begun with a handful of pros to do the skilled work like gas, water, electric and tricky carpentry. Starting Monday, volunteers will be joining them to do such grunt work as breaking down walls (my specialty), painting, laying carpet, and applying putty. We plan to finish by the end of the month.
Besides construction the other main task this month is getting our program and staff in place well enough to begin doing publicity. There are so many decisions to make. Many of them depend on other decisions, and because this is a totally new thing for us, there is less information and experience to draw on than I wish there were. We are getting excellent advice from various quarters, but the most important thing is to receive wisdom from God and be sensitive to his leading.
Please keep us in your prayers.
Besides construction the other main task this month is getting our program and staff in place well enough to begin doing publicity. There are so many decisions to make. Many of them depend on other decisions, and because this is a totally new thing for us, there is less information and experience to draw on than I wish there were. We are getting excellent advice from various quarters, but the most important thing is to receive wisdom from God and be sensitive to his leading.
Please keep us in your prayers.
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