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 We got a really awesome note today from the City of Lafayette - final approval! That’s right, the Codes Division did their final inspection on the addition, which simply means we are just days from getting to move in. The Fire Marshal has to come for the final walk through to give clearance to occupy the building. Please pray with us that everything will go smoothly for his inspection.
Needless to say the staff is extremely ecstatic about getting their own  personal offices! Currently, we have up to three staff persons occupying one office – to have any kind of personal talk with a student is very difficult to say the least. The addition will help everyone to be more productive. The new library, which will be available to interns and students, will also be an extreme blessing.
As a believer we should live in such a manner that we are ready for Jesus to return at any moment – but we should plan as if it will be a while. Well, it is as if my theology has met a building project! In my heart I have been moving into my new office a month or two ago – however, I am still working out of an office full of boxes and new bookshelves.
So, all that to say, we are a few weeks away from completion. We have had a few weeks of dormancy due to multiple reasons. However, the work pace has picked up and we are starting to see the finishing touches coming together. We definitely are hoping to be finish in time for the fall semester break. The entire staff is getting more excited with each passing day to get into the new digs. We are also prepping the current offices for their new uses, the main use  will be to have a theological library for student and intern use and some much needed storage.
We are also making some good progress on the financial side of things – we are hoping to have a meeting with a major foundation in town to follow-up on our request for a grant. Please be in prayer for a favorable response.
 We are really making headway now – the finish line is within sight! The interior is now sheet rocked and painted, and the ceiling is being prepped this week. The water and electricity should be on by the latter part of next week. We are looking at mid-October to be able to move in!
The Zydeco Benefit Breakfast was outstanding! Chubby Carrier and his band were a treat and the joyful faces of friends and family were the icing on the cake! Some of the current interns shared testimonies of God’s grace extended to them through Chi Alpha, and new head football coach Mark Hudspeth even made a visit to greet everyone. When the dust from the da nce floor settled over $7,000 was contributed that morning with another $13,000 pledged by May 31, 2012. Can somebody say “Praise the Lord!” This now puts us over $50,000 toward meeting the goal of $310,000.
If you would like to be apart of the future of UL Chi Alpha you can fill out the pledge form to the right or just drop us a check (made out to UL Chi Alpha) in the mail to: Chi Alpha, P.O. Box 44588, Lafayette, LA 70504.
 What a great week! It was the opening week of the new semester – we had over 500 students on the parking lot for the Burger Bash and the brick job was completed! The weather began to agree and the brick layers were able to get after it. There was a little surprise in the process of the bricks going up – the job took more bricks than anticipated. But when it was all said and done – job well done!
The electrician is just about to wrap up his part of the project and hopefully we will get an inspection by metro code early this coming week. Upon completion of the  electrical inspection than the sheet rock and insulation will begin.
I hope you will makes plans to attend the Zydeco Benefit Breakfast coming up Saturday September 17th at 9am. This will be a great opportunity to see the addition in person, have some fun and become a part of the future of UL Chi Alpha. If you desire to attend or sponsor a table call the office at 337-261-0028.
Well, the weather has cleared up a bit and has finally given the bricklayers the opportunity to begin the exterior brick work – somebody say “Praise the Lord!” We are hoping to have the brick work done in the next couple of days. We have also continued with interior work – the A/C heat interior units have been put in and the electrician should start his job early next week.
We are continuing to believe God for the finances to pay off the entire project. We just had a great weekend of services at Crossroads Church to help raise support and awareness.
 If you would like to be a part – feel free to fill out the form to the right and become a part of the future of UL Chi Alpha. In addition we want you to be a part of the upcoming Zydeco Benefit Breakfast – Saturday September 17 at 9am. Table sponsorships are still available and of course your presence is desired!
 Late spring early summer we were experiencing a drought. The city had a ban on water usage for watering outdoor plants and yards. Then all of a sudden the day we cut into the existing roof to connect the new building with the old the heavens began to open up and pour forth rain. We have now had at least 10 straight days of rain and it has really begun to take a toll on the project. Some of the recent stucco was ruined when a sudden shower hit before the stucco had a chance to dry – now we wait for some dry weather to repair it. The weather has also pushed back our brick  work.
In some good news we have all the windows in and two exterior walls have been successfully stuccoed! The interior is taking shape, all the offices have studded walls and now we wait for brick and doors so that the electrician can come do their job.
You need to put the Zydeco Benefit Breakfast on your calendar and make plans to be a part. This will really be a way to put a little fun into the fundraising! You have a few ways to be involved: 1) Sponsor a table for $300 2) Host a table – invite people to fill a table of six 3)Sponsor and host a table – the best of both worlds! We will pass a good time as we pass the buckets! 
Is the project stuck or are we in the stucco stage? Well, it’s actually both! W e fell behind a bit because of a delay in the manufacturing of the windows, but have begun to move ahead with the two exterior stucco walls. Everyday I get some type of update from the contractor as to the progress of different areas of the construction. Last week the city (LUS) came to install the new water meter and connect the water to the addition. In the process, two natural gas lines were busted causing us to the evacuate the building for a couple of hours. Needless to say, not much work was done that day!
On the good news side of things – the windows are in and we have 75% of them installed – should be 100% by the end of the week. The stucco job is 80% completed and should be at 100% come sundown Wednesday of this week. Please pray that the afternoon showers will take a bit of a break and let the guys start bricking the remainder of the exterior.
 We are continuing to press on with the fundraising for the building! As a matter of fact we have scheduled our first major fund raiser for the building and you don’t want to miss it. It will be our Zydeco Benefit Breakfast and it will take place September 17, 2011 at 9am at Cafe’ Chi Alpha. It will feature a great Zydeco Band and breakfast – table sponsors, host, and individual tickets can be had by calling 337-261-0028.
 The construction continues to make progress – however, it just doesn’t seem fast enough! As the project continues there always seems like there is someone or something that needs a little push. Our recent delay has to do with the windows – for whatever reason there was a delay at the factory and it set us back about two weeks. We need to get the windows in before we can begin the electrical work and the brick work.
 On the good side of things the plumber is about 75% completed and the interior stairs have been put in. The stairs have made it a lot more convenient to give walking tours of the upstairs! If you are in the hood come on in for your very own personal walking tour of the project.
On the financial side of things individuals continue to make faith promises and contributions. We have also applied to another foundation and we continue to believe for favor from the other foundations we have already applied to.
As mentioned, we have had a wonderful drought going on – but for some reason when we cut into our existing roof to make the connections that is  when the afternoon showers began. I am glad to report that we have the majority of the roof on. We are expecting to get windows in the next week or so, at that point they can really get after the inside work. As for the exterior walls we will have two sides in brick and two in stucco. They are doing their best to match the brick – but if not we will then paint the exterior brick walls that connect with the current building to help it all match.
 On the financial side of things we have made application for grants from a few local foundations. So far one foundation turned us down due to the fact that they do not fund building projects. Please pray that we would have favor with the remaining foundations. Thanks for your concern and interest in being a part of this project and the exciting future of UL Chi Alpha.
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Contributions For contributions to the building project please mail support to:
Chi Alpha
P.O. Box 44588
Lafayette, LA 70504 |
