Monday, September 21, 2015

Laborers for Christ Project-Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Milan, WI

We arrived at our Laborers for Christ project in Milan, WI (central part of the state about 30 miles west of Wausau) on Saturday, May 16.  Will be helping Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Milan, WI built a new church. During the week some church volunteers come out, but on Saturdays more are able to come out.
 
 
Site with construction trailer

Inside of construction trailer

 
Eventually, there will be 7 couples on the project parked at the construction site. One lady is “laboring” but the rest of the ladies will be the “support team” and periodically do some volunteering.   The work days are Tuesday-Saturday from 7-4. 

It's great to have a washer and dryer provided.  A close line was also provided.

 
Every morning we gather together at 9:30 and have snacks (provided by the congregation) and a devotion (everyone takes a turn giving the devotion).  We have "AA (Attitude Adjustment)" around 4:00 every afternoon and on Thursday or Friday night we go out and eat together.  Most Saturday's the congregation also provides lunch.
 
May 19
A cold front blew in over the weekend and when the project started this morning it was 32, wind-chill of 25, and light sleet and snow. 
 


May 20
Work days are Tuesday-Saturday from 7am-4pm.  Some church members come out during the week to assist, but Saturday is the big "church volunteer" day. 
 
 
 

 May 21



 

 
May 22

May 23
About 23 church volunteers came to work and help in a variety of ways.  By the end of the day the pressed board and Tyvek had been put on all three sides.  Amazing progress for a week of work!












May 26
Work on the interior walls

LCEF sign arrived and prepared to be displayed by two church members.


May 27
 

 
 May 28

May 29




 
May 31
At worship the Laborers that had arrived were "commissioned".  Three others will arrive soon.
 
June 2



 
 June 3




 
 I happened to see an Amish farmer pass by the construction site.  He's moving a piece of farm equipment with 3 draft horses.  The car tow-dolly in front provides an interesting contrast.
 
June 4
 


 
June 5
 


Trusses being delivered





Trusses literally rolled off the truck




 
June 6



 
Everything is starting to green up
 
June 7
All the laborers have arrived
 
 June 8
Trusses being raised






Storm on the way

Pea size hail

Work continued after storm passed

 
 June 9
 
  Praying?  Maybe, but also talking with guys in the lift in the above picture







 
June 10



Church members and other volunteer help out in a variety of ways








Supports for carport


 
Unloading metal roof boxes


 
June 11




 
June 12
 
Volunteers having a good time building the church
 
 
 June 13





 
June 16


 
June 17

 
 June 18
This is what you call teamwork






 
June 19

 
 
 
June 20



 
June 23
 
 


 
June 24

Much different than the way concrete work is done in the south






 
June 25
Taping the windows
 
Installing the windows


 
 
 



 
June 26




Amish horse and buggy going down the road next to the building site
 
June 30
Working on the lights
 
Working on the window trim

 
Working on siding and installing lights

 
 July 1
Sanctuary


Bathrooms
 
July 2
Doors Arrive

 
July 3
Work continues on the sanctuary

 
 July 7


 
July 8

 
July 9



 
July 10


 
 July 11
Many volunteers helped with the siding




 

 
Lunch was provided by Bethlehem's sister congregation St John

 July 13
The stain glass star was set.  The "Bethlehem" star was designed as the logo for Bethlehem Lutheran


 
 
July 15
More work continues on the outside and inside 




 
July 17
Works continues in the front left of the sanctuary
 
Ramp on left side of altar

Lights being installed in the sanctuary
 
 
Work on the outside continues

 
July 21
Preparing car port posts for metal covering
 
Entry doors installed



 
July 23

One of the laborers working in our small garden

Farm next to the project site chopping hay and blowing in silo


 
Soybean field next to project site
 
 
 July 25
Metal work on carport and cross on sanctuary window completed

 
July 28
Siding on west side completed
 
Foam insulation being installed


 
 
 July 29
Remainder of door frames arrived

 
August 2
 
August 12
Ceiling Insulation in Classroom
 
Ceiling Insulation in Sanctuary
 
HVAC work continues
 
August 14
One truck of drywall delivered 

 
 
August 15
HVAC work continues
 


 
Vapor barrier being installed in preparation for drywall


 
 
 
 
August 18
Old manure spreader is being used as a dumpster for the sheet rock scrap.  A member of the congregation will spread the sheet rock on his field.


 
August 21
 


 

 
August 22

 
August 25


 
August 26




North side finished
 
August 29
Sheet rock work completed




Work on east side of the church
 
 September 1



September 2






 
 September 3




 East side


September 5

 
 
 
September 9
 








September 10





 
September 15



Clothes line
 
Scrap wood truck
 
Recyle and garbage trailer

September 16
Ceiling tile being delivered
 








 
September 17



 September 19
Covering sanctuary floor in preparation for paint spraying



Work on room in balcony



 
Electrical work
 
Tile in men's bathroom
 
Sink in women's bathroom
 
We departed the project on Monday, September 21.  Two other laborers will remain for a week or so.  The remaining work will be completed by members of the congregation.  Dedication is planned for Sunday, October 18.  It was such a blessing to be in Milan and assist Bethlehem Lutheran Church build their new facility.  We look forward to returning to see the completed project.

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