Projects

Apartment Renovation

For weekly updates and photos of this project click here.

Currently, one of our most urgent needs is for construction work teams to renovate our short term missionary housing in Marpent (FR).

BLF owns two apartments across the street from the print shop. These buildings house our short term missionaries, as well as our Host couples. Over the years, these buildings have succumbed to the effects of time and humidity, calling for major repairs and upgrading in order to provide a safe and comfortable place for short term missionaries to live during their time of service.

Transportation to and from the airport in Brussels and local transportation will be provided. A vehicle will be available to do local touring. Teams will be responsible for planning and touring on their own.

Housing close to the work site will be provided for the duration of their stay.

Meals: Work teams should bring someone to cook for them but the food will be provided by BLF. (Local missionaries will help with shopping.)

Weekends: Work teams in France over a weekend are cordially invited to attend a local church and interact with the French believers. Should the team members wish to do some sightseeing in their free time, they are welcome to do so.

Team composition: Work teams should include at least some of the following: Mason • Brick Layer • Carpenter • Electrician • Plumber •Plasterer • Painter • General Handyman

Tools of the trade: Team members are encouraged to bring their own favorite tools however basic tools are available on site. Supplies for the job will be purchased locally.

Time Frame: Work teams will be accepted in virtually every month of 2007 when certain conditions are met. However, we are actively seeking workers for April 9 through June 25. For possibilities in June through December, contact Harry Enns (contact information below)

Could YOU put together a group of workers to accomplish this task?

PLEASE NOTE: Work teams cannot be sent until FINANCES are available. If your team can contribute toward the fi nancial aspect of the project, it would be very much appreciated! For further details, please call Harry Enns (Executive Director) at 630-221-1980 or write <blfdir@blfusa.

Printable pdf version

Below is an open letter from Pam Ryerson, a recent Impression Team leader working on the "finish-up" work at the apartment renovation which houses staff, I.T. teams, etc.  This facility is important to the work as it is right across the street from the print shop.

Apartment Renovation Project Progress Update Saturday, April 15, 2008	Apt. Renovation Team Report By Pam Ryerson I am a high school teacher who received an invitation last summer to come to France for a month to stay with friends, Debbi and Kevin Eggleston. As short-term missionaries with BLF, Debbi and Kevin hosted missionaries in Marpent, France. My husband and I had been there two years earlier on a BLF Impression Team, and had worked with a local church. I loved getting to know the French people, helping them spread the gospel and seeing how they lived. I enjoyed every minute of our time there and loved being able to use the 10 years of French I had studied in school. During our IT experience, I was led by the Lord to go over to help with the renovation of the apartment the following (last) summer. I had seen the need in the BLF newsletter and I felt I could be of some help. Debbi, Kevin and I worked all day - almost every day - painting, stripping paint and working in the yard. We accomplished quite a bit, but looking at the big picture, 3 people couldnít do very much. On the weekends we took our tired bodies out of the city to explore the area. Debbi and I even made it to Paris one weekend. When I left Debbi and Kevin last summer, I told them that I was going to get a team together and bring them back to finish the apartment. I had never felt so committed to a cause and I know God was working in my heart on behalf of the French people. Even though I knew God wanted people in France working on the apartment, He waited until only 3 weeks before we left to complete our team of 8. He wanted us to depend on Him. While we were all willing to do whatever needed to be done, we were not all skilled construction people by trade. Nonetheless, we learned a lotósome via the Internet. We taped ï dry walled ï textured walls ï painted almost all the walls including primer and 2 coats of color ï laid laminate flooring ï tiled the bathroom walls and floor ï stained all the new woodwork around the windows ï and cleaned the huge yard of weeds, tall grass and 25 years of junk which filled a 20-yard dumpster. We walked up and down the 3 flights of treacherously narrow stairs countless times. As time went on, it got more and more exciting to see the place be finished. We could also see our team grow closer together.  While in France we were treated like family. Our accommodations were very comfortable and the food was excellent. We got to try many uniquely French foods, plus cheese and chocolates ìto die forî. The people of France were so friendly and kind to us. Speaking French was not a problem since there was always someone to help with translating even in the French church service. Debbi and Kevin not only worked with us during the week, but also made sure we got to see some of the area around northern France. We spent part of the weekend in Amsterdam, Netherlands and Brugge, Belgium, eating in the quaint restaurants and shopping.  Our photos are beautiful. I know our trip to France was life-changing for me as a team leader, as well as for our group. I would do it again in a heartbeat. BLF does an excellent job of preparing the leaders for the trip. You just need to be flexible regarding your expectations and let God make the plans, because He can do it better than we ever could. If you are thinking that God might be able to use you in some way to minister to the French people I would encourage you to pray about it and let Him show you where He wants you. God can use a single person or couple to fill an existing team. They need so much help. There are very few Christian pastors and lots of work to be done. If you canít go right now, there is always need for your resources and prayer. I canít wait to go back!
	When the Robisonís and Ryersonís went to France last month to help the Egglestonís at the Bibles & Literature in French Mission ñ they planned on working. But being there only 2 weeks, what could they do? Well here is a partial list along with a BIG THANK YOU: Totally clean up yard Cleaned up a huge shed on back of property & filled a huge dumpster to be hauled away. Tiled 4 walls in new bathroom Put paneling on walls in bathroom Laid a tile floor in bathroom Painted walls in 3rd floor rooms Installed closets in 3rd floor rooms Installed flooring in 1 upstairs room Installed paneling in master bedroom Installed flooring in master bedroom Painted dining room Put texture on walls in dining room and living room Stained woodwork in dining room and painted living room Unplugged sink in kitchen Hauled all materials to 2nd and 3 story Installed crown molding in master bedroom Painted door, taped and mudded drywall on 3rd floor Installed drywall in closet on 2nd floor Taped and mudded the closet Moved heavy furniture from here to there and back

Apartment Renovation Project
Progress Update
Saturday, September 29, 2007

Work continues at 18 Rue de Faidherbe, Marpent. The forward progress is slower with just Scott and Kevin to plug away. Hanging drywall and installing new radiators was on the menu this week. It's turning cooler so the radiators are must. Scott and Kevin could use your prayers that the plumbing will work! By the way, do you know how many drywall screws it takes to hang a sheet of drywall? The technical term is "a lot." Especially when you keep dropping them.

We continue to praise God for the progress this year fixing the housing
for those who answer the call
to serve in France.

Apartment Renovation Project
Progress Update
Saturday, September 22, 2007

The restoration of the guest apartment is but part of the picture.  We would have you to pray about actively participating in the financing of our publication projects as well as assisting in the print shop with our Impression Teams short term missions opportunities.  Indeed, you, your family, your church group can make a significant impact around the world with your part in providing God's Word printed in French.  Please Pray!

Apartment Renovation Project
Progress Update
Saturday, September 15, 2007

During the week, as many as six "happy tuckers" hit the wall and by Thursday the wall was finished! With Scott King, Emily Briggs, Gary and Joyce Hofstra, Mark and Heidi Fuller working the wall and Kevin mixing the mortar with Joyce subbing for Kevin when he made supply runs, the wall was no match for these "Kingdom Workers."

The scaffolding is down and stored away, the backyard cleaned up and much progress made inside. Praise the Lord for work He has accomplished this week.

Besides the huge step of finishing the wall, carpenters Denny Denham and Bob Arrowood installed window trim and wainscoting, Emily and Joyce scraped old paint, sealed the attic with expanding foam, and installed new insulation.

Mark and Scott were able to construct part of the framing for the walls and install the door for the new bathroom upstairs. Gary Hofstra was awarded a purple heart for suffering bee stings twice while weed whacking the backyard!

The group had time to visit historic Fort de Leaveau in Feignies during the week. They also visited the ELB Bookstore in Braine l'Alleud, Belgium and had dinner at the Pink Farm restaurant in nearby Braine la Chateau. Its distinctive pink color was clearly visible from the air so the Pink Farm served as a refuge for downed Allied pilots during WW II.

This morning we said goodbye and many thanks to Denny Denham, Gary and Joyce Hofstra and Emily Briggs. The remaining workers will begin completion of the inside walls, painting, etc next week.

The restoration of the guest apartment is but part of the picture.  We would have you to pray about actively participating in the financing of our publication projects as well as assisting in the print shop with our Impression Teams short term missions opportunities.  Indeed, you, your family, your church group can make a significant impact around the world with your part in providing God's Word printed in French.  Please Pray!

 Apartment Renovation Project
Progress Update
Saturday, September 1, 2007

The King Family from Washington State

Denny and Joyce trim window molding

If you have thought about lending a hand and can travel with two weeks advance notice, there is still a few spots for construction help starting the 15th of September for the last two weeks of the month.  Contact Harry Enns at BLF USA. Remember, there are no costs other than airfare and some spending money.  BLF is providing the lodging and meals for any workers that come.  It is not all work and no play.  The region is full of interesting sites to visit on the weekend.  The BLF Europe print shop will be in full operation during September so the workers may get an opportunity to spend a day helping to print French language materials intended to reach the French speaking world with the good news!

Worker installing new windows

September 2nd and 3rd four construction workers arrived!  Denny Denham, Gary and Joyce Hofstra, and Emily Briggs were ready for action bright and early on Monday morning (actually cloudy, rainy and early!) so the group started grinding the mortar and working on other projects inside.  The grinding was finished by Wednesday evening so Thursday morning the tuck-pointing began.  Thursday evening Mark and Heidi Fuller arrived so Friday morning there were five tuck pointers working on the wall.  The week ended with about half of the tuck-pointing finished!  The group is looking forward to completing the tuck-pointing early next week and moving on to some interior work by week?s end. 

Denny and Gary grind the mortar to prepare
for tuck pointing on the building

The weekend in Belgium was designated as "Patrimonie de Militaire."  Many historic sites in Belgium were free to the public for the entire weekend.  One group took advantage by traveling to Bastogne to visit the numerous Battle of the Bulge memorials.  Another group was off to Paris for a visit to the "City of Light."  Sunday was spent as a day of worship and rest in Feignies.

The monument at the battlefield of Waterloo,
just outside of Brussells

Five really great "Tuck Pointers!"