Need karma points? Help with the renovation of the prayer house

Description

1938 – deep in Livonia, at the crossroads of Estonia and Latvia, the local Moravian (Herrnhuter) congregation decides to build a prayer house in Jaanimäe in Estonia's "Haanjamaa" region. The political storms were already gathering. From the west, the dark clouds of the National Socialists loomed, casting shadows over the Eastern European states. Stalin's bloody hand reached for the Baltic peoples. In 1939 came the Hitler-Stalin Pact, and the end of the free Baltic states was here. Despite it all, and through the further turmoil, the congregation managed to complete the building. And what came of it? On the granite stone foundation of a former stable building, in keeping with the philosophy of the Moravian congregation, a prayer house was built with extremely modest means. Given the time of its construction, the building could not make full use of the old foundations. Two rooms were created: a large prayer room of over 80 m² and a smaller side room of about 40 m². Above them, a small, most modest attic chamber with a cooking place could be built. The house was built from local building materials. Unfired clay bricks from a nearby clay pit, timber from the surrounding forests, including the wooden shingle roofing. Dried leaves as the most modest thermal insulation. There were, in that sense, probably no architects, no construction planning, no contracting company. The congregation members built to the best of their knowledge and belief, against all political storms. A spiritual home came into being. And it remained the congregation's prayer house well into the years after the turn of the millennium. An old woman lived in the attic chamber, without running water, with only the brick oven and an oven bench. A neighbour, a member of the ever-shrinking congregation, tried as best he could to maintain the property and the prayer house. In 2023, the responsible Evangelical Lutheran congregation then decided it was time to let go of the house. Services were only sparsely attended. The house could no longer be maintained; rain was coming through the roof. The organ, which is a listed heritage item, was in danger of rotting away. It was clear that only a sale could be the solution. At the beginning of 2024, new owners arrived. An Estonian ceramics technician „found“ the house, and thanks to her additional academic qualification in the field of historic construction, it was clear to her that this unique house had to be preserved. The first measures were taken: the leaking roof was sealed, the overgrown property was cleared, the days were long... This work continued in 2025 as well; the clay plastering of the clay bricks was renewed in some areas, the renovation of the windows began, things kept moving. Now 2026 is at the door. However, under changed circumstances. Where the journey of the building and its owners is headed now is currently unclear. The only certainty is: more than enough work still lies ahead; the house and its soul must, no, will live on. That's why we're asking for help. Whether you're a journeyman carpenter on the Walz, an electrician, pastor or gardener, mechanic or hairdresser. Everyone can help. Where there's a will, there's a way. And if not, in the end heaven will show us a way... What can we offer? A roof over your head. A car to get around. Or fancy using a motorcycle? Don't worry, one of our supporters has 11 of them. Tools. A bit of expertise. Endless nature. Running water, but not from the tap. We cook together and do the shopping for the helpers. On Sundays there's cake — the project member from Eiderstedt can't live without whipped cream. Two of those involved would perish without their morning product from the on-site Gaggia espresso machine. So plenty of coffee. And seven thousand one hundred and sixty-one karma points. On a ribbon, if you like! Wages? Payment? We don't have any. One of the participants is leaving the project for private reasons and is still supposed to get back his financial share from joining — even that is surreal for the remaining participants. You want karma points? Then simply get in touch with two of the participants: Kersti Kattai = kersti.kattai (at) gmail . com Christoph Hamkens = christoph (at) livland-adventures . com

Amenities & features

• ✓ Pets allowed
• ✓ Tiere vor Ort

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