In April, a builders group composed of individuals from Minnesota and Illinois visited Martin to work on CCE‘s2015 acqusition, the Neografia building (formerly the home of a publisher of Communist propaganda). A local newspaper, Turcianske Noviny, learned of the group and sent reporter Andrea Dudráková to cover the story. Following is her article, translated by CCE student Kade Mackintosh.
Although they are seniors, they do not complain about their health, they prefer towork on buildings all around the world.The expansion of the Lutheran school in Martin is also supported by an American group of missionaries. A small crew of energetic seniors with lots of enthusiasm,who are not afraid of hard work, can only be a good example for the younger generation.
They flew in from distant America to help with the renovation of the Lutheran high school in Martin. A group of seven people (mostly seniors) travels around the world and helps everywhere but they keep returning to their friends at the Center for Christian Education. Not even their age can prevent them from doing physical labor. They worked for ten days on the renovation of the run-down Neografia building, former site of a printing concern.
CCE bought the building in 2015 to provide space to accommodate the growing needs of its schools, which include preschool through elementary and high school, and ultimately to locate all of the schools under one roof. The first stage of the extensive reconstruction is already finished, providing classrooms, a reception area, and a teachers’ room.
Older age is no obstacle to work
Groups of American volunteers have been coming to Martin to help renovate CCE’s campus for more than a decade, declared CCE head Bohdan Hroboň.“American volunteers have been our faithful partners for years and have been coming here regularly to help us with construction. They do it because, as Christians, their mission in life is to help others. Their charitable work inspires our people, parents, and students.”
This crew worked on classrooms and a laboratory in an as yet unfinished area of the building. According to volunteer Bud Helmen from Roseville, Minnesota, the oldest member of the group at age 90, “We are repairing old windows and painting them so that they can be used again. We’ll also put up walls in the classrooms. I have a lot of experience in building because I work on projects at home, too.”
Mission-trip organizers Joe and Joann Lunders even celebrated their 15th wedding anniversary last Thursday in Martin. “We were asked whether we would rather spend this day somewhere in a restaurant than at work on a building, but this is more fun for us and we’re enjoying it,” said Joann. She mentioned that they first came to Martin 14 years ago as Christian missionaries to help spread the Gospel.
Joe, her husband, doesn’t mind working on their anniversary, either. “We prefer to spend this day working with our group, because that‘s the reason we‘re here! Actually, it‘s the third time we‘ve spent our wedding anniversary in Martin like this,“ he laughed.
The Minnesota couple met at a Christian support group for individuals who had lost a loved one. “We had both lost our spouses and God brought us together during these meetings. Shortly thereafter,we met Bohdan Hroboň and we seized the opportunity to come to Martin. We‘ve been coming here for 14 years because these people have become like family and we have wonderful relationships,“ Joe Lunders said.
All under one roof.
Bohdan Hroboň stated that one third of the building renovation is complete. “We are constantly expanding andwelcoming more and more students, so we’d like to finish the kitchen and the cafeteria, gymnasium, student lounge, and more classrooms and laboratories. We are able to do so thanks to our own finances and also thanks to our sponsors and their generous gifts and thanks to a huge help not only from our friends from the USA but also from our parents and students. Our students are learning to appreciate things because whenthey build something with their very own hands they will take care of it,” he added. The renovation is estimated to cost about two million euros.
Link to the original article in Slovak newspapers
I feel proud to see fellow Grace member, Bob Jandeska, from Grace Lutheran in River Forest, IL pictured in the article. He is a blessing at Grace and continues to be one at CCE ever since our church’s first trip there in 2007. May God continue to bless him, his fellow team members on this latest trip, and all the people at the CCE.
It’s SO exciting to see how much has been accomplished in the new building! Just amazing–God is good!
This article tells me more of the generous spirit of Joe and Joann with the others who give of their energy and express their faith to assist others in need. Congratulations on the goals set to inspire this use of God-given talents.