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By Andrea Flexhaug
Unless the Lord build the house,
the workers labour in vain.
THIS Bible quote on the front page of an Okanagan
family’s binder eventually proved to have more meaning for them than
they could have ever imagined.
Crystal and Bob Mandryk of Kelowna and their
increasingly large family of nine children had a need of more space in
their home; so they created a binder of ideas on ways to do that.
They decided the most pressing need was for a bigger
family area for eating and socializing together; so in March, they
approached a local contractor they knew, Paul Benson of Borebank Ventures
Inc. about renovating the kitchen.
Little did they know that their intended modest changes
would lead into something much more extensive.
“We didn’t know, but at that time Paul and
his wife Verena had been praying for a year for a way to help us with our
home,” said Crystal. “People in our own home church (Westside
Alliance) had also been praying for help, in the form of an ‘Extreme
Makeover,’ but no one mentioned this to us.”
Crystal and Bob were further surprised to find out the
Bensons and co-worker Greg Harris had formulated what they later came to
name Project Family Room, of which the three are directors.
With the family’s approval, Bob and his team
intended to demolish the Mandryks’ 1,000 sq. ft. house and build a
3,650 sq. ft. new one – complete with landscaping – on the 1/3
acre of land. The project began to steamroll ahead, with other volunteer
contractors and carpenters offering their services as well. Some of the
volunteers were Christians, and some were not, but all had the same mission
in mind: to build a house free of charge for a deserving couple.
“Our goal with Project Family Room is to meet the
needs of two terrific parents who gladly make sacrifices to be loving
parents to so many children,” says Verena. “We have been
incredibly touched to witness their humble and selfless way of parenting.
All of the children are thriving under their loving care.”
Crystal and Bob’s nine children range in age from
24 down to a year old, including some who came to them through adoption
– and one treasured foster child.
“It was a very simple decision, as we believe
that how you have children is of no real consequence,” says Crystal.
“When God enlarges a family, it is a blessing!”
Some of the children have special needs –
and with that in mind, the main floor of the house is wheelchair
accessible.
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“We are thankful that God enriched our lives with
kids with special needs, even before we stepped into the world of
adoption,” comments Crystal. “Don’t we all have special
needs?”
“Because the renovation was put into God’s
hands, we feel that every hand that touches the project is doing
God’s will,” she says. “Every contractor, person with
donuts to share, every hand with broom, hammer or pencil is doing what God
had planned long before we asked for help.”
The demolition of the house they had lived in for 17
years took place September 3, amidst a crowd of about 200 onlookers,
friends and media.
“The demolition was great, though
emotional,” says Crystal. “Our friends and neighbours were
teary and supportive, and a huge crowd of volunteers came out.”
 A few short speeches were made. Bob and Crystal
expressed their gratitude; and Kelowna Mayor Sharon Shepherd spoke of the
city’s contribution of a rent-free house for the family for four
months until the new house is built.
Crystal sees this act of kindness as another one of
God’s provisions.
The Mandryks attend Kelowna’s Westside Alliance
Church, and the Bensons attend Evangel Church.
“Many people from both congregations, as well as
the church leadership, have shown their support for the project,”
comments Verena.
The goal of the team of volunteer builders is to have
the Mandryk family settled into their new home at the beginning of December
– in time for Christmas.
In the meantime, in what Crystal sees as another of
God’s provisions, they have the use of a free house large enough for
all of them.
To contribute products, services or funds to this
project, contact projectfamilyroom.org or 250-979-1650.
October 2008
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