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- Butte Ministers Association Congregations
Blitz Build -- July 14 to 29, 2001
Daily Journal of Building Together in Faith
(all photos by Jack Bartholomew)
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- Day 11 through 14 -- Tuesday
July 24 through Friday, July 27
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The great group from Shadle Park Presbyterian contributed energy
and completed many tasks during the rest of the week.
On the Ministers' blitz, they built every day, installing the
insulation in the outer walls, installing soffit and vents, putting
up one wall worth of siding.
The youth team members did the best insulation job we have seen!
Grant Anderson, an adult volunteer from Spokane, did a careful
job, building on faith with the six young people assigned to
the site. The group also dug the vast majority of the Garden
Wall, which will soon have beautiful stone retaining walls (we
pray.)
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 The
young people also did a fine job assisting with wood floor installation
at the Wyoming Street Site. Perhaps most important, the youth
canvassed the neighborhood and distributed letters inviting residents
to a community meeting to work toward sidewalk, lighting and
other safety improvements.
Through the week, faithful volunteers just kept coming! Mike
and Linda Nutter, Carroll Walker, and Carl Campbell came repeatedly
during the week, accomplishing many tasks. Pat and Mary Penberthy
were also faithful volunteers, keeping things moving at both
sites!
The young people from Spokane worked with diligence and skill,
and they held prayer sessions each day during the week as a part
of their mission work. They enjoyed their stay enough to say
they wanted to come back, and join us again. Leader Jenny McLees
did an excellent job of bringing service to the needs of the
Habitat ministry of the Butte Chapter, and we thank her and her
team leader Mike for their strong, capable efforts! Grant's efforts
won't soon be forgotten. Blessings and greatest gratitude to
a tremendous congregation!
SUNDAY IS THE LAST DAY OF THIS PHASE OF THE MINISTERS BUILD.
WATCH FOR DETAILS about future build dates on the HABITAT WEBSITE -- http://www.habitatswmt.org!
Day 10 Monday July 23 -- Reinforcements Have Arrived
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- Welcome to the youth team from Shadle Park Presbyterian
in Spokane,
Washington who are now Building Together in Faith with
Butte volunteers!
Days 8 & 9 - Saturday July 21 and Sunday, July 22 -- The
Blitz Is On
 The group worked hard on Saturday
to get all the ceiling sheetrock installed, and half the underlayment.
On Sunday, a large group finished the inside underlayment task.
Rev. Phil Wold offered the devotional on Saturday and Rev. Esther
Angel offered the devotional prayer on Sunday.
The youth team from Shadle Park Presbyterian in Spokane, Washington
has arrived as the Relief Team to support the work of the Blitz
Build and help with neighborhood projects. They have been planning
their trip for more than nine months, and arrived in good shape,
ready to give us a boost of much-needed energy and strength for
a one-week stay at the Richest
Hill Home Center. So, the blitz is extended at least through
the next weekend.
 On Saturday, a chorus of hammers
pounded nails into underlayment, with four members of the Suraco
family pounding in unison at one point, along with about five
other volunteers.
Beautiful weather blessed the project, and God has kept the group
safe from harm. The prayers of many are being answered, and much
more help is needed to complete this effort. Thanks to the more
than 100 persons who have brought us this far.
Come join us building daily at Nevada
and Second.
Day 7 Friday, July 20 -- Out of the Rain, at Last
The roof shingling was completed to the point where
the interior sheet rock could be installed on the ceiling. The
siding and subfloor arrived, and gas and electric service were
brought to the house.  The ceiling vapor
barrier was installed, with help from our faithful volunteer
from the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Suraco clan. We are
hoping for siding help and interior help on Saturday. It would
be great to get to wiring and plumbing by Sunday and Monday!
About 10 volunteers worked Friday night, and we are praying for
a major weekend event at the site to finish this phase of the
blitz. Our guest congregation Shadle Park Presbyterian of Spokane,
WA - will be arriving Sunday evening for a one-week stay at the
Richest Hill Home Center, to help complete and consolidate progress
at this site.
Park St. Baptist church supplied wonderful snacks and a pizza
lunch, which felt like old times. The morning devotion praised
the progress made and asked for blessings for the homebuyer family
and the volunteers.
Day 6 Thursday, July 19 -- Windows Are In, Shingles Are On
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 A highly productive day, included
the wrapping of the home with air control sheathing paper, and
the installation of windows and roof shingles. The Holy Spirit
volunteers (the wonderful Bennies) worked with the St. Anns crew
to install the shingles. The insulation baffles were installed,
and the first wiring was pulled in the ceiling, along with the
first “lesco box” to stop air leaks at the electrical
boxes. Volunteer coordinator Curt Quist worked with the electrical
 volunteers. Underground power
will be brought in Friday. About 12 volunteers came in the evening.
Volunteers came from Serbian Orthodox, as well as from additional
congregations, including St. Marks, Park St. Baptist, St. Johns
Episcopal.
Aldersgate Methodist teamed up with United Congregational to
provide snacks and lunches, which were cheered by volunteers.
The Suraco family continues to put in long, hard hours, including
working with volunteers on all aspects of construction, ranging
from wiring to installing windows and shingles. We continue to
feel the power of prayer - that such a partner family has been
brought to Habitat in partnership with the churches who are “acting
as one body” in the name
of Jesus’ love for us all. We are reminded of the incredible
effort of all the Habitat families, leaders and volunteers who
helped get the affiliate to the point of finishing the 10th home
within a few more days (or a fortnight).
Father Krsic of the Serbian Orthodox said the morning’s
devotion, with the group of 12 assembled to join in asking for
mercy and blessings for the family who will live in the home.
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- THREE MORE DAYS OF THE FIRST PHASE -- JOIN THE LOVE
IN ACTION.
Day 5 Wednesday, July 18th -- Steady Progress,
God's Blessings Sought
 Roofing was successfully
applied on Wednesday, meaning that interior work will be in full
swing Thursday. A hard-nosed group of about 15 volunteers have
been coming daily during the day, with a second group coming
in the evening, as weather permits. Volunteers participating
Wednesday included Gloria Dei Lutheran, Holy Spirit, Serbian
Orthodox, First Presbyterian, St. Ann's, Assembly of God, Gold
Hill Lutheran and United Congregational.
Father Tom Haffey of St. Ann's gave the morning devotional, asking
God's blessing on all aspects of the home, its rooms and occupants,
the neighborhood, the city and the area. Blessings are needed
to continue the unity being built on Nevada Street.
Yummy snacks and hearty lunches were provided by volunteers from
Gloria Dei Lutheran. Volunteers have been delighted and nourished
by the great food, and repeatedly thanked event organizers for
coordinating the great eats.
Day 4 Tuesday, July 17th -- We Prayed for Moisture,and our Prayers
Were Answered
 Earlier prayers for rain were answered, to
the dismay of roofers working on the Habitat blitz on Day 4.
 But progress continued inside
the home, and more than 20 volunteers braved the changing elements
to come out to build.
Rev. Dennis Masters, Assembly of God, read a story from a John
Maxwell book on Partnership, telling the story of how the thought
of human flight was considered “heresy,” as only the
angels can fly. The person holding these views turned out to
be the father of the Wright Brothers, who invented human flight.
Thus,  partnership and vision can change
the world, and Habitat is in its 25th year of partnerships with
families in need. In Butte, Rev. Masters noted the Habitat partnerships
that make the project possible. Rev. Masters thanked volunteer
designer Bob Corbett for his effort and vision getting the project
going.
Ms. Clark from the First Presbyterian supplied morning snacks,
while the same congregation made wonderful lunch fare. The Suracos
chose countertop and gathered color samples for walls and sheet
vinyl, and continued to build and build.
LOVE IN ACTION continues at Nevada and Second.
Day 3 Monday, July 16th -- Swingin' (hammers) in the rain
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 Monday's building activities
were accomplished by about 20 hardy souls, who braved several
storms to get the roof (mostly) on the home.
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- Driving rain halted all activity for several afternoon hours,
and then a larger group returned for the Evening Build at 6 p.m.
Interior walls for the double-stud wall construction were started.
 Rev.
DeBree of Mountain View Trinity gave the 10 a.m. devotion, with
focus on the Sermon on the Mount, speaking to the need to build
on a strong foundation. Rick Holman volunteered the lunch, attended
by Rev. DeBree and Tom Galster of United Congregational.
Roof specialists from Holy Spirit Parish were on the scene, gearing
up for Tuesday's roofing action. Love in Action welcomes all
who wish to participate. If interested, just stop by the site
ready to work or call ahead to volunteer at 406-782-8579.
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- Day 2 Sunday, July 15th -- Thy Will Be
Done
More than 50 people worked in the blitz' second day, starting
at 1 pm, with at least 15 churches represented. Youth from around
Southwest Montana in the Upward Bound program joined for an earth-moving,
landscaping day with two Habitat families joining in. It was
the second consecutive year for the program's efforts with Habitat
for Humanity in Butte. Volunteers from Gold Hill Lutheran worked
with the youth, pulling and digging up weeds on two building
sites. The group moved a ton of dirt and started to create a
garden wall, which will extend the length of the Habitat project
on Nevada St.
Rev. Phil Wold, head of the Ministerial Association spearheading
the blitz build, gave the afternoon's starting prayer, urging
volunteers to have a good time with their efforts. The skilled
volunteer group worked fast, but driving rain and gusting winds
drove workers from the Blitz  house
at the early hour of about 4:30 p.m. The roof trusses were installed,
and the roof ready for nailing, when winds forced workers to
wait for installation Monday. Thanks again to volunteers from
Gold Hill who left snacks for Sunday's workers.
Several of Saturday's volunteers showed up again Sunday, sturdy
souls. What continuity. The project is showing that in this regard,
Butte's people of faith can indeed succeed in "building
together" in faith, on faith. Future homebuyer John Suraco
was on the job at 8 a.m., doing fine work, careful checking and
oversight. What an incredible blessing the Suraco family is!
EVERYONE'S PRAYERS ARE NEEDED AND WELCOME -- SEVEN MORE BLITZ
DAYS -- JOIN THE LOVE IN ACTION
Day 1 Saturday, July 14th --The structure is up!
 About 30 volunteers built the home at 940
Nevada Saturday July 14. They came from 11 congregations, and
worked together in a most agreeable and cooperative fashion.
By 6 p.m., a hard-core team of about 11 persons had half the
roof trusses up.
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- They worked together in a professional way, and several persons
observing the build commented on how organized they seemed, each
taking a role and a position to make each task go smoothly and
rapidly. Only fierce weather drove them from the site.
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- Sister Sharon of Holy Spirit did the 10 a.m. devotional,
asking the Lord to keep the workers safe during the build. Gold
Hill Lutheran did a tremendous job on food for snacks and lunch.
Top number of volunteer affiliations: First Presbyterian and
Gold Hill Lutheran.
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