Hello blog followers! I'm sorry it's been so long since I have been able to post an update but, you know how busy we get around the Holidays!
It is my pleasure to bring you some amazing Holiday Cheer! God has been working his magic LIKE CRAZY in these last couple of months!
The foundation was laid a few weeks ago! Basement walls and floor were all put in. Once this was done the house was delivered to "the farm" and placed on the foundation!! Yes that's right! The house is up! Praise the Lord!!
We had one small setback once the house was set up. There were some unexpected expenses that we incurred due to raccoon damaged insulation. It will cost us about $1,000.00 to have a company come out to remove the damaged insulation.
Last weekend the old roof was torn off and the new roof was put up, complete with venting. It only took our wonderful volunteers 3 hours to rip off the old roof and put up the new one. The materials for the roof were all 100% donated from Lumberman's, Inc! Thank you! What a blessing!
We are in the midst of tearing down all of the water damaged wood, drywall and insulation as well as patching up all of the sources of the leaks causing the damage. We are also treating the mold that has grown inside of the house.
We have two more work days this week for the house. Today (Friday) from 9am - 12pm where we will be completing the tearing down drywall remnants that are left on the studs and the ceiling. The mold is also getting treated and removed today. Tomorrow (Saturday) from 2pm - 4pm will be our other work day this week. We will be residing the house. One side is already finished and we hope to finish the remaining three sides on Saturday!
We are still in need of monetary donations for this project and will always welcome price breaks and donations from supply companies as well. Please feel free to contact me directly at erica.randall3@gmail.com for any questions regarding donations. There is a bank account set up at Chemical Bank for Melissa VanHetHekke for the House Project. Any Chemical Bank representative will be able to help you to make this donation.
In His Grace,
Erica
Friday, December 9, 2011
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
A HUGE thank you!
A wonderful update for this beautiful Tuesday!
As many of you already know we have had TONS of community involvement on the house project! I just want to take a little bit of time here to say thank you to a couple of church communities in our area that truly hold a special place in my heart. Offerings were held at Frontline Bible Church, Rush Creek Bible Church, and Forest Grove CRC in Missy's name. Our community raised a total of about $20,000 through these offerings! In the words of Missy's father Dennis Carlon, "What a Blessing!".
This truly is the power of community brought together by God! Thank you to the many individuals and businesses that have lent a helping hand thus far and to those that are going to later on. Funding this project is a HUGE part of giving this family a new home.
I will continue to communicate to you through the blog when we have new updates as well as when we are seeking volunteers. Please keep praying for this family and our community as we maintain the forward progress.
God Bless!
Erica
As many of you already know we have had TONS of community involvement on the house project! I just want to take a little bit of time here to say thank you to a couple of church communities in our area that truly hold a special place in my heart. Offerings were held at Frontline Bible Church, Rush Creek Bible Church, and Forest Grove CRC in Missy's name. Our community raised a total of about $20,000 through these offerings! In the words of Missy's father Dennis Carlon, "What a Blessing!".
This truly is the power of community brought together by God! Thank you to the many individuals and businesses that have lent a helping hand thus far and to those that are going to later on. Funding this project is a HUGE part of giving this family a new home.
I will continue to communicate to you through the blog when we have new updates as well as when we are seeking volunteers. Please keep praying for this family and our community as we maintain the forward progress.
God Bless!
Erica
Friday, September 30, 2011
A Blessing Through the Ashes
As we continue to pray for Missy and her family I would like to show you an email written by Missy's father Dennis Carlon. This email is a GREAT reminder of the many amazing things God has done for this family. This will also give you some more information as to what happened that day of the fire. God is so good!
As we all know, Missy and her family have been presented with another of what seems to be a string of challenges. While we have great concern and sympathy for the situation that she finds herself in, we need to remember the blessings that God has given us, and have been emphasized over this past weekend. Although her house is gone, here are some of the blessings I have witnessed, and I am sure you will not need to look far to find some that have not occurred to me yet.
A complete stranger knocks on your door to let you know that your life is in danger. He helps you in your time of need. Because of him, you can get out of a burning house. You never got his name, and you haven't seen him since. What a blessing that he was there!
You try to call 911, but the phone lines have already been burned through. There was somebody, we don't know who, that was able to get through to the fire department. What a blessing!
Two of your children are in school. They are safe. You contact the school, and they volunteer to keep the children there until safe arrangements for them are made. What a blessing!
Although there is no house left, there was nobody hurt or killed. What a blessing!
With hay barns in close proximity to the house, none of them caught fire. What a blessing!
With guns and ammunition in the house, no shells went off. This even though I found a shotgun shell that was warped by the heat. What a Blessing!
The Fire Department arrives, and you are informed that they are short handed that day. There just happen to be enough neighbors there to man the hoses that could not have been manned any other way. What a blessing!
The house had already been tested for asbestos, and came back clean. No concern for people's health from asbestos. What a blessing!
The cattle can't get out. They need to be locked in the barn, but need food and water. There is somebody there to put feed in the barn and lock the cattle in until the fire is out. Where are all of these helpers coming from? I don't know, and don't have the time to think about it. There is just too much that needs to be done. What a blessing that they are here though!
The Fire Department is running out of water, and calls for help from Byron Center. Their tanker is out of service. This fire is going to get out of control! Hold it - The horse hair plaster is acting like a fire wall! The roof collapses onto the ceiling, but can't burn through! Finally the tankers start coming. Plenty of water now.
What a blessing!
With flames billowing out of the roof, there go firemen into the house. Are they nuts? Everybody is outside and safe! Oh my goodness. Here comes a freezer. Here come clothes. Here come pictures. Those people have no business being in that house while is burning this way!
Your source of water for the barns is in the house basement and you can't use it. How do you get water? It just so happens that a neighbor has an "extra" water tank and a pump. Power has been restored to the barns, so you can use the pump. Another neighbor just happens to have an empty food grade tank that he has on his truck. He appears in your driveway just like it was planned, so you can get water to the cattle. What a blessing!
Although the fire is still burning, you wonder where you will stay. How will you eat? The Red Cross is there, and arrange for housing and emergency relief if it is needed. What a blessing!
These houses are supposed to burn quickly from what I have heard. Oops - here comes the Chief. He needs to ask if we will cover the cost of a crane to bring the house down. The fire is in the walls and ceiling, but can't burn through. They will be here until tomorrow if they can't get at the flames.
A friend walks up to you. His Uncle just happens to have an empty house. Missy and the children need a place to stay. The house is made available on the spot. It seems that He and Dick have had a longstanding friendship, and he is going to make sure Dick's family has a roof over their heads. In the way of comfort, this friend happens to mention that "His Uncle was worried that this house may have to sit empty, and he would much rather have somebody in it." What a blessing!
The fire is out now. Nothing to do but pick up the pieces. You find out that even though there is nothing left of the keyboard or monitor to your computer, the hard drive has been salvaged. Seems that since the firemen knew the layout of the house, they knew where the computer was, and got it out before it was destroyed! I just can't believe these wonderful people.
Salvage time now. Where are all of these people coming from? There must bee a hundred people here helping to sort things out. My word - in the ashes they are digging out memories that I was sure were lost forever! Shane's die cast tractor -melted. Hold it - there is Shane's Spartan Football - you know -- the one he was given after Daddy died. It lost a little air and is dirty, but otherwise in good shape! How can this be? They were right next to each other on the same shelf! One destroyed, and the other saved? Something very unique is going on here.
It is Monday now. The Insurance adjuster is here. Boy is he starting out with some strange questions!
Q. Were there any Bibles in the house?
A. Yes
Q. They made it out, didn't they?
A. Yes they did.
Q. Your Family Photos made it out, too. Didn't they?
A. Yes, most of them did. How did you know?
Q. You are Christians, aren't you.
A. Yes we are!
The explanation for these questions by this man was that he had been keeping an unofficial record of the disasters he had settled for several years. When Amy (the insurance agent) called him on Friday, he told her that both the Bibles and photos would be spared. His unofficial research over the years showed this to be true in homes that were truly Christian. The answers Missy gave confirmed that one more time for him.
Please continue to pray for this family and the many people who have helped out on this project. We are continuously accepting donations for the family. There are now two separate accounts set up at Chemical Bank for The VanHetHekke's family. One is for the house funding project and the second is to help Missy and her family purchase necessities. You can email me at erica.randall3@gmail.com for physical donation information.
Thank you again for all of your continued support!
Praise the Lord!
Erica
As we all know, Missy and her family have been presented with another of what seems to be a string of challenges. While we have great concern and sympathy for the situation that she finds herself in, we need to remember the blessings that God has given us, and have been emphasized over this past weekend. Although her house is gone, here are some of the blessings I have witnessed, and I am sure you will not need to look far to find some that have not occurred to me yet.
A complete stranger knocks on your door to let you know that your life is in danger. He helps you in your time of need. Because of him, you can get out of a burning house. You never got his name, and you haven't seen him since. What a blessing that he was there!
You try to call 911, but the phone lines have already been burned through. There was somebody, we don't know who, that was able to get through to the fire department. What a blessing!
Two of your children are in school. They are safe. You contact the school, and they volunteer to keep the children there until safe arrangements for them are made. What a blessing!
Although there is no house left, there was nobody hurt or killed. What a blessing!
With hay barns in close proximity to the house, none of them caught fire. What a blessing!
With guns and ammunition in the house, no shells went off. This even though I found a shotgun shell that was warped by the heat. What a Blessing!
The Fire Department arrives, and you are informed that they are short handed that day. There just happen to be enough neighbors there to man the hoses that could not have been manned any other way. What a blessing!
The house had already been tested for asbestos, and came back clean. No concern for people's health from asbestos. What a blessing!
The cattle can't get out. They need to be locked in the barn, but need food and water. There is somebody there to put feed in the barn and lock the cattle in until the fire is out. Where are all of these helpers coming from? I don't know, and don't have the time to think about it. There is just too much that needs to be done. What a blessing that they are here though!
The Fire Department is running out of water, and calls for help from Byron Center. Their tanker is out of service. This fire is going to get out of control! Hold it - The horse hair plaster is acting like a fire wall! The roof collapses onto the ceiling, but can't burn through! Finally the tankers start coming. Plenty of water now.
What a blessing!
With flames billowing out of the roof, there go firemen into the house. Are they nuts? Everybody is outside and safe! Oh my goodness. Here comes a freezer. Here come clothes. Here come pictures. Those people have no business being in that house while is burning this way!
Your source of water for the barns is in the house basement and you can't use it. How do you get water? It just so happens that a neighbor has an "extra" water tank and a pump. Power has been restored to the barns, so you can use the pump. Another neighbor just happens to have an empty food grade tank that he has on his truck. He appears in your driveway just like it was planned, so you can get water to the cattle. What a blessing!
Although the fire is still burning, you wonder where you will stay. How will you eat? The Red Cross is there, and arrange for housing and emergency relief if it is needed. What a blessing!
These houses are supposed to burn quickly from what I have heard. Oops - here comes the Chief. He needs to ask if we will cover the cost of a crane to bring the house down. The fire is in the walls and ceiling, but can't burn through. They will be here until tomorrow if they can't get at the flames.
A friend walks up to you. His Uncle just happens to have an empty house. Missy and the children need a place to stay. The house is made available on the spot. It seems that He and Dick have had a longstanding friendship, and he is going to make sure Dick's family has a roof over their heads. In the way of comfort, this friend happens to mention that "His Uncle was worried that this house may have to sit empty, and he would much rather have somebody in it." What a blessing!
The fire is out now. Nothing to do but pick up the pieces. You find out that even though there is nothing left of the keyboard or monitor to your computer, the hard drive has been salvaged. Seems that since the firemen knew the layout of the house, they knew where the computer was, and got it out before it was destroyed! I just can't believe these wonderful people.
Salvage time now. Where are all of these people coming from? There must bee a hundred people here helping to sort things out. My word - in the ashes they are digging out memories that I was sure were lost forever! Shane's die cast tractor -melted. Hold it - there is Shane's Spartan Football - you know -- the one he was given after Daddy died. It lost a little air and is dirty, but otherwise in good shape! How can this be? They were right next to each other on the same shelf! One destroyed, and the other saved? Something very unique is going on here.
It is Monday now. The Insurance adjuster is here. Boy is he starting out with some strange questions!
Q. Were there any Bibles in the house?
A. Yes
Q. They made it out, didn't they?
A. Yes they did.
Q. Your Family Photos made it out, too. Didn't they?
A. Yes, most of them did. How did you know?
Q. You are Christians, aren't you.
A. Yes we are!
The explanation for these questions by this man was that he had been keeping an unofficial record of the disasters he had settled for several years. When Amy (the insurance agent) called him on Friday, he told her that both the Bibles and photos would be spared. His unofficial research over the years showed this to be true in homes that were truly Christian. The answers Missy gave confirmed that one more time for him.
Please continue to pray for this family and the many people who have helped out on this project. We are continuously accepting donations for the family. There are now two separate accounts set up at Chemical Bank for The VanHetHekke's family. One is for the house funding project and the second is to help Missy and her family purchase necessities. You can email me at erica.randall3@gmail.com for physical donation information.
Thank you again for all of your continued support!
Praise the Lord!
Erica
Friday, September 16, 2011
Tragedy has struck
It is with great sadness that I bring you an update today. Today, Friday September 16th the VanHetHekke's farm house burnt down. This morning the chimney caught fire and there was no stopping the flames. Missy was at home with Eli and both got out safely. The older children were at school. The fire has mostly been put out at this point and the firefighters are working hard to pull out anything that might be salvageable. Unfortunately there isn't much left for them. We are taking donations for this family at Chemical Bank. The account is set up under Melissa VanHetHekke. Any physical donations can be brought to me, please Email me if you would like to donate. My email address is Erica.randall3@gmail.com. I will have more updates as soon as possible. Please continue to pray for this family and the many members of the community that are helping support this family through mire hard times.
Thank you and God Bless,
Erica
Thank you and God Bless,
Erica
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Temporary Housing
How amazing is our God? Let me tell you! Preferred Mobile Homes has found a new temporary home for Missy and her family! This was a huge bump in the road that was unexpected. Thank you to everyone out there who prayed for Missy and her family. With this little problem taken care of we can continue to focus on forward progress.
We are still looking for donations of all kinds. Monetary donations are more than welcome at the account set up for Missy and her family at Chemical Bank. This is under the name Melissa VanHetHekke. We are also still looking for supplies for both the interior and exterior of the home. Donations of time if you are able to assist with any of the future projects for this house would be much appreciated as well. If you or someone you know might be able to help us out in any way please email me directly at erica.randall3@gmail.com.
Please continue to pray for not only the family but also for the community that is really coming together to make this project possible.
As soon as I have further updates I will share them with all of you!
In His Name,
Erica
We are still looking for donations of all kinds. Monetary donations are more than welcome at the account set up for Missy and her family at Chemical Bank. This is under the name Melissa VanHetHekke. We are also still looking for supplies for both the interior and exterior of the home. Donations of time if you are able to assist with any of the future projects for this house would be much appreciated as well. If you or someone you know might be able to help us out in any way please email me directly at erica.randall3@gmail.com.
Please continue to pray for not only the family but also for the community that is really coming together to make this project possible.
As soon as I have further updates I will share them with all of you!
In His Name,
Erica
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Purhcase Agreement & Supplies
Sorry you haven't heard from me in a while! Erica, remember? Things are really starting to take shape on this project and I want to share some more amazing details with all of you!
I spoke with Missy today and we signed the purchase agreement for the new house! We have been anxiously awaiting this part of the process. This is the first major milestone that we have hit and I'm so excited to share it with all of you!
The modular house that Missy purchased is a 2 story 4 bedroom 2 1/2 bathroom home. The home was purchased from Preferred Mobile Homes.They are currently looking for a temporary house for Missy and the children as they do not have one currently while the new house is being put up. I ask that we continue to keep this family in our prayers as we search for this temporary home so that this part of the project can get underway.
-Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.- Matthew 7:7-8
The house will need some work on the inside flooring, drywall work, and heating/plumbing; however Missy and her children are so very excited to start seeing their new home take shape. There are still plenty of things that are needed for this project.
We are continuously looking for donations, there has been an account set up at Chemical Bank for Melissa VanHetHekke for monetary donations. If you are interested in donating to this fund you may give your donations to the bank to put into the account.
Items that are needed to begin this project are as follows as well as the quotes that we have received for each:
Dumpster fees for the demolition of the old house --------- $1,000.00
Building, well, and septic permits --------------------------$1,250.00
Electric well disconnects ----------------------------------$500.00
Foundation & Flatwork -----------------------------------$10,000.00
Roof (material only needed) -------------------------------$1,200.00
- materials include shingles, nails, snow guard etc
Siding (material only) --------------------------------------$500.00
If you are able to help out by donating supplies or know of a company that may be able to give us a deal or donation please feel free to email me at erica.randall3@gmail.com, or you can call our project manager Ben Phillips at
616/893-7878.
Thank you all for your continued support! I can't wait to see what else God has in store for this project!
In His Service!
Erica
I spoke with Missy today and we signed the purchase agreement for the new house! We have been anxiously awaiting this part of the process. This is the first major milestone that we have hit and I'm so excited to share it with all of you!
The modular house that Missy purchased is a 2 story 4 bedroom 2 1/2 bathroom home. The home was purchased from Preferred Mobile Homes.They are currently looking for a temporary house for Missy and the children as they do not have one currently while the new house is being put up. I ask that we continue to keep this family in our prayers as we search for this temporary home so that this part of the project can get underway.
-Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.- Matthew 7:7-8
The house will need some work on the inside flooring, drywall work, and heating/plumbing; however Missy and her children are so very excited to start seeing their new home take shape. There are still plenty of things that are needed for this project.
We are continuously looking for donations, there has been an account set up at Chemical Bank for Melissa VanHetHekke for monetary donations. If you are interested in donating to this fund you may give your donations to the bank to put into the account.
Items that are needed to begin this project are as follows as well as the quotes that we have received for each:
Dumpster fees for the demolition of the old house --------- $1,000.00
Building, well, and septic permits --------------------------$1,250.00
Electric well disconnects ----------------------------------$500.00
Foundation & Flatwork -----------------------------------$10,000.00
Roof (material only needed) -------------------------------$1,200.00
- materials include shingles, nails, snow guard etc
Siding (material only) --------------------------------------$500.00
If you are able to help out by donating supplies or know of a company that may be able to give us a deal or donation please feel free to email me at erica.randall3@gmail.com, or you can call our project manager Ben Phillips at
616/893-7878.
Thank you all for your continued support! I can't wait to see what else God has in store for this project!
In His Service!
Erica
Monday, July 18, 2011
Asbestos Testing and other Updates
Hello all! Hope you had a blessed weekend! I know we did!
We had to do some Asbestos Testing on the VanHetHekke's old farm house before we could move forward with the project. In many homes built prior to 1980 asbestos can be found in old floor tiles, roof shingles and flashing, siding, insulation and pipe cement. When asbestos become airborn (breathing air or drinking water) they can become a HUGE health hazard. Asbestos can cause many lung problems in both adults and children as well as issues with other organs. The results came back... Drum roll...
Praise the Lord the tests came back negative! There are no asbestos dangers in the VanHetHekke's current home! Also a huge thank you to Pitsch who came out and did the testing, they only charged us for the testing itself saving us a ton of money!
We are currently undertaking 2 very large portions of the project right now. The first I would like to let you know about is concrete. We want to put a basement in for the VanHetHekke family. We are currently looking for pricing on concrete. If you or someone you know could possibly help us out with a donation or price break please contact Ben Phillips our contractor at 616/893-7878 or you can email me at erica.randall3@gmail.com.
The second thing that we are working on is the septic. We are not sure if we are going to have to replace or expand the septic. We are currently looking into pricing for this as well.
Before signing off for the day I would like to give a huge shout out to an amazing company called Brand New Look. We were contacted by the owner Lane Brand who offered to not only donate supplies but also the labor to paint the ENTIRE inside of the VanHetHekke's new home!
Please continue to keep the VanHetHekke family and our church family in your prayers as we begin to take more and more steps forward for this amazing family!
Watching God work,
Erica
We had to do some Asbestos Testing on the VanHetHekke's old farm house before we could move forward with the project. In many homes built prior to 1980 asbestos can be found in old floor tiles, roof shingles and flashing, siding, insulation and pipe cement. When asbestos become airborn (breathing air or drinking water) they can become a HUGE health hazard. Asbestos can cause many lung problems in both adults and children as well as issues with other organs. The results came back... Drum roll...
Praise the Lord the tests came back negative! There are no asbestos dangers in the VanHetHekke's current home! Also a huge thank you to Pitsch who came out and did the testing, they only charged us for the testing itself saving us a ton of money!
We are currently undertaking 2 very large portions of the project right now. The first I would like to let you know about is concrete. We want to put a basement in for the VanHetHekke family. We are currently looking for pricing on concrete. If you or someone you know could possibly help us out with a donation or price break please contact Ben Phillips our contractor at 616/893-7878 or you can email me at erica.randall3@gmail.com.
The second thing that we are working on is the septic. We are not sure if we are going to have to replace or expand the septic. We are currently looking into pricing for this as well.
Before signing off for the day I would like to give a huge shout out to an amazing company called Brand New Look. We were contacted by the owner Lane Brand who offered to not only donate supplies but also the labor to paint the ENTIRE inside of the VanHetHekke's new home!
Please continue to keep the VanHetHekke family and our church family in your prayers as we begin to take more and more steps forward for this amazing family!
Watching God work,
Erica
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