Buenos Noches!
We are officially at the end of our third full day -- Monday, March 5. After a day of church and socializing yesterday, it was time to get back to work. Everyone was "up and at em" around 6:30 a.m., and after the usual breakfast and coffee, we loaded into the van to go to Palma Arriba, the village where our worksite is located. Brian dropped off to get the concrete mixer, leaving us with Don to drive our van, with 13 backseat drivers, attempting to find our worksite in the convoluted village of Palmar Arriba. We got the site-seeing tour we missed yesterday, but eventually got there.
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| Brian on a ladder on the scaffold 2nd level. |
Today our goal was to continue work on the 3 major projects that have defined our mission: 1) to continue tuckpointing and patching the masonry on the wall of the school; 2) to design, lay out, and pour a concrete basketball court; and 3) to create numerous natural rock-wall enclosed garden areas. All of these are helping to transform a bare-bones playground area into something really special for the kids at this Lutheran school.
This morning was immediately different because among other things, the school was teeming with kids! We were working outside, but inside, this was a normal school day. At the close of their day (which ends around noon), they invited us inside to hear their normal prayers and songs that they sing. It was beautiful. These children are being taught that God made them, and Jesus loves them. It was a feel good moment.
After lunch, it was finally time to start pouring the large concrete slab that is to become the basketball court (and volleyball court, playground, etc.) A number of our group had spent hours measuring, leveling, and prepping the area. Finally it was time to pour some concrete!
The main difference in this project is that there is no concrete truck -- no indeed -- each load has to be mixed by pouring water, concrete mix, sand, and gravel in a mechanical mixer. As each batch becomes ready, it is then poured into wheelbarrels (perhaps 6-7 loads per batch), wheeled onto the court, and dumped. Serious grunt work!
Things were proceeding smoothly for about 45 minutes when we ran out of water! There is no regular water for the school; we were working from a reservoir tank, and of all times for it to run dry. This problem got solved with a bucket brigade, as a nearby neighbor kindly offered to share his own water supply with us. So we were back in business - temporarily.
Shortly after the water supply was replenished, the cement mixer suffered a breakdown! A small rubber belt was broken; an easy repair, if you can find one. Brian warned us that "things happen" in the DR, and we have to be patient and flexible. Sure enough, no belt was found, and by the time Brian got back, it was time to quit for the day.
Despite setbacks, all of us were dog-tired because we really did get a lot done today. Here is a panorama of the worksite, after our 2nd full day of work: Click Here to See a Panorama, after March 5.
Our day ended with an amazing dinner at Pastor Ted Krey's house -- he served a "Brazilian Steak-House" style dinner, featuring steak, pork chops, sausage, and chicken. It was incredible, and boy, were we hungry. Pastor Walter is actually from Brazil, and he is pictured above serving meat right off the spit, the final highlight of our day.
Thank you for all of your prayers -- we'll keep you posted as we'll be back at it first thing in the morning.
