A HISTORY OF VIANOVA
1914
WORLD WAR I
While the Nortons are in London, World War I breaks out. London becomes increasingly crowded with Allied soldiers.
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Ralph distributes evangelism leaflets to the soldiers and organises meetings for the soldiers who are ready to cross the Channel to the battlefield in Flanders.
1917
HOTEL ROOM
The Nortons' hotel room in London becomes a drop-in centre for Belgian soldiers. Edith reads to the young men from the Bible, washes their socks and repairs their clothes.
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The soldiers come out of the trenches, and the contrast with this loving environment is enormous. Many soldiers make a choice for the Lord in this hotel room. Later on, the hotel room is replaced by a real drop-in centre in the heart of London.
1919
BELGIAN EVANGELICAL MISSION
After the war, God leads the Nortons to Belgium where they open their new headquarters in Brussels. The Belgian Evangelical Mission (BEM) is born. Soon the BEM starts planting churches.