Working on the Details and a Bit of Fun, Too

We are nearly finished with the basic wall construction. The Playground Project, which involves a series of iron picket pieces, will take another week to complete. We are excited about the aesthetics of this fence given that it is in the playground area. It will be secure, but open. We thank Kate [McDermott] McDodson [Volunteer 2003-04] for bringing the resources of her adoption group, All God’s Children in Portland behind this Project. This wall section was a $5,000 project. Overall, we have already spent more than $12,000 on wall rebuilding to date. Thank you to all who have donated to our Recovery Fund for making this and many other costs created by the Earthquake less of a burden. 

Due to the necessary delay of the planned construction of LCS’s final building, we have to temporarily add a second septic tank for the existing showers currently used by the female students. The showers will be moved into the repaired JJ Dessalines building as part of the final construction. But, we need the wastewater issue solved now. It will be at least 12 months before we can start the new construction given the rehab work we have to do.

Former Volunteers and Mission Trippers will be glad to know that a new generation learned how to efficiently wash river rocks--after first trying to tumble them in a 55 gallon drum--which would weigh about 500 lbs filled. They are now believers in the two drum/crib method perfected years ago. 

The good news is that the septic installed for the long-term, which was designed by Joe Altenhoff and entrenched  by the Rockford Men's Group several years ago, is working well and will take on the new load easily. We know this from bucketing a few hundred gallons into the system over a short period by hand. It is good daily exercise, but we will be glad when the new basin is on line at the end of this week. 

Timothy is getting his Physical Therapy for his arm daily. His cast was removed by Margo and the team at the Haiti Medical Mission of Memphis--our partners at the seminary Clinic. 

Thanks to Brian Rhodes [Volunteer 2003-04], we have a lively version of the World Cup right on Santo 5. The tournament is off to great start. Here the USA is doing very well having beaten Germany. Games are 5 on 5 for 10 minutes. Each team has a female player on the field at all times. We are making progress at LCS everyday! 

Peace,

Patrick