Do I need karma points? Help with renovating the prayer house

Description

1938 – Deep in Livonia, at the junction of Estonia and Latvia, the local Moravian congregation decided to build a house of prayer in Jaanimäe, in Estonia’s “Haanjamaa” region. Political storms were already gathering. From the west, the dark clouds of Nazism loomed, casting a shadow over the Eastern European states. Stalin’s bloody hand reached out toward the Balts. This was followed in 1939 by the Hitler-Stalin Pact, marking the end of the independent Baltic states. Nevertheless, the congregation managed to complete the building, even amid the ensuing turmoil. And what was created? On the granite foundation of a former stable, in keeping with the philosophy of the Moravian Church, a house of prayer was erected using extremely modest means. Given the timing of the construction, the building could not make full use of the old foundations. Two rooms were created: a large prayer room measuring over 80 m² and a smaller adjoining room of approximately 40 m². Above these, a small, modest attic with a cooking area was built. The house was built using local building materials: unfired clay bricks from a nearby clay pit, lumber from the surrounding forests—including the wooden shingle roofing—and dried leaves as the most basic form of insulation. In that sense, there were likely no architects, no construction plans, and no contractor. The congregation members built to the best of their knowledge and belief, against all political storms. A spiritual home was created. And it remained a house of prayer for the congregation well into the years after the turn of the millennium. An elderly woman lived in the attic, without running water, with only a brick stove and a stove bench. A neighbor, a member of the now dwindling congregation, did his best to maintain the property and the house of prayer. In 2023, the responsible Evangelical Lutheran congregation decided that it was time to part with the house. Attendance at worship services had dwindled to a trickle. The house was no longer habitable; rain was leaking through the roof. The organ, a protected historic monument, was in danger of rotting away. It was clear that selling the property was the only viable solution. In early 2024, new owners took over. An Estonian ceramics technician “discovered” the house, and thanks to her additional academic training in historic preservation, she realized that this unique building had to be preserved. Initial steps were taken: the leaky roof was sealed, the overgrown property was cleared—the days were long... This work continued into 2025; the clay plaster on the adobe bricks was renewed in some areas, the renovation of the windows began, and the work continued. In 2026, a volunteer here crafted new windows and doors. There’s also plenty of work planned for 2027; anyone interested is welcome to contact us. However, the situation has now changed. Where the journey of the building and its owners will lead from here is currently unclear. The only certainty is that there is still more than enough work to be done; the house and its spirit must—no, will—continue to exist. That’s why we’re asking for help. Whether you’re a traveling carpenter, an electrician, a pastor, a gardener, a mechanic, or a hairdresser—anyone can help. Where there’s a will, there’s a way. And if not, in the end, heaven will show us the way... What can we offer? A roof over your head. A car to get around. Or would you prefer a motorcycle? Don’t worry—one of our supporters has 11 of them. Relatively few tools. A little technical know-how. Endless nature. Running water—but not from the tap. We support the volunteers and do their shopping for them. On Sundays, there’s cake; the project participant from Eiderstedt can’t live without whipped cream. Two participants can’t go a day without their morning fix from the Gaggia espresso machine on site. So, plenty of coffee. And 7,001 and 61 karma points. On a conveyor belt, if you’d like! Wages? Pay? We don’t have any. One of the participants is leaving the project for personal reasons and is supposed to get back the financial contribution he made when he joined—that alone is surreal for the other participants. If you want karma points, just get in touch with two of the participants: English and Estonian—please contact: Kersti Kattai = kersti.kattai (at) gmail.com German, English, and Estonian Christoph Hamkens = christoph (at) livland-adventures.com

Amenities & features

• ✓ Garden / terrace
• ✓ Parking
• ✓ Electricity
• ✓ Pets allowed
• ✓ Tiere vor Ort

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