Watching Ants!

We now have the first slab complete! Not without a few minor stresses along the way but it's done. As the slab was being done we had about 30 workers on site. Everything is done manually...everything! Some were excellent workers others need a bit more direction. A couple of weeks ago I saw part of 'A Bug's Life'. I was reminded of it again as I watched the workers, one after the other with a whell barrow, have it filled by the guy who fills, after the guy who mixes, and off they go one after the other to dump the cement for the slab. But a difficulty arose for a couple of the wheelbarrow drivers when their path was blocked by a plumbing pipe. They just stopped still and began to wait. I needed to direct them around the pipe onto another trail - they then managed to keep going. As we were nearing the end of the slab and up to the 3rd lot of bathrooms rain began to pour down. Work stopped during the down pour but then grdually kept going as the rain eased. It was at this point when I left the plumbers side momentarily. But I thought that by the third lot of bathrooms (and this was a mirror image of the 1st lot) that the plumber and his helpers were making good progress. But as I put on a spay jacket and headed back out to the site in the light rain I stood, looked and realised once again that the plumbing was not placed within the correct space. As I pointed this out to the contractor he went into investigate...but of course the ants kept working. It didn't matter that there were people rearranging pipes, the cement just kept coming...right up to the feet of those trying to sort the pipes. Ashame I didn't have the video running! But the slab is now complete with preliminary plumbing and electrical work done. However, we continue to wait for the brick machine.

We were seeking after an electrictian working at another site. This was the construction of a second story. I came across a work of art. Several large steps of corrugated iron which created the platforms for moving cement from the ground to the roof of the building. The foundation for the second story. The cement was mixed on the ground and then shoveled up each layer until it reached its destination. Two workers per platform so they could take it in turns in shoveling. It was quite skillfully done. I was amazed to see such an event!

When visiting a support unit in a local primary school a little girl Lydia, 10yrs, was highlighted. She became blind after contracting measles at the age of two years. Much of her life so far has been spent hidden in a village. A teacher discovered her and has helped the parents to get her to school. The Support Unit however is not equipped to support her needs. An Australian visitor who accompanied me on a visit to the support unit was really touched by this situation and is interested in supporting Lydia in attending a school for the blind. So that is another one of my missions this week. To investigate a school that would be suitable and caring for Lydia. I will be visiting with a man I know who used to be a principal of a school for the blind. So I will be looking to him to help us decide if the school is of a good standard or we need to look else where.

So much need everywhere you look!

Using some of this week to continue planning for our next moves. Next week we get started on renovating and extending the cottage already on the ground. It is so cute now I don't want to touch it but it needs to become more useful. So we will add a kitchen, laundry, bathroom and two bedrooms. The small room already there will become an office, there is a meeting/living room and what is the storeroom now will become a walkway to the new bedrooms and cupboard storage. So there will be extra room for visitors or children if the need arises if the homes are full.

The land is still an issue but we believe God will have victory and that the land will be restored to us in time. And maybe even more!!! We look forward to the day this happens but for now just continue to move forward with what we have and we are thankful!!