Worksite Day 05

Today was our last day to work on the home.  We were only going to work a half day, so the pace was fast.  After almost a week, we still had something to learn about mixing concrete!  Our driver gave us a quick lesson in sifting sand properly to create mortar.  With the mortar in hand, the block wall in the bathroom was quickly built.

Finished some more pouring and then the "cubicle trowel" duo of Micah and Jeff got to work making those headers glass smooth.  They attributed their success in final polish to years of experience working a computer mouse.

The whole family came by to say goodbye around midday.  They expressed their deep gratitude for our sacrifice and assistance in restoring their home, while encouraging us that our rewards were in Heaven.  The mother assured us that she would remember us daily in her prayer time.  The pastor also stopped in and promised that even though our crew had to leave, the work would be completed!

After 5 days of work, we had poured over 120 cubic feet of concrete columns.  Plus, we had poured the majority of the headers to complete the structure.  A metal roof will be added shortly, but this is how we left it.

All week, we had been watched by the neighbors on either side.  By this last day, they had all become much more interactive and engaged with us.  Saying goodbye, we all left whatever kind of gift we could.  A few guys left gloves, shoes and water bottles.

We loaded up the tools for the last time and then headed out for a little sight-seeing.  The Baptist Mission atop the mountain is really a great place for some American food and lots of souvenir vendors.

We also stopped in at an overlook to Port-au-prince.  Unfortunately, the photos do not do it justice.  You can really see almost ALL of Port-au-price from this vantage.  The density in the city is overwhelming.

Back at Bethel House, we had another play time with the kids at the orphanage.  Later, we sat down for our final devos time together.  It was a great time to talk about the impact each of us had felt from the week.  And yes, that is a candle provided by Eddy.  Yeah, yeah, it did make it smell better, but don't tell him...

Finally, it was time for our last game of "burn."  Micah Wall walked away with the most Gold medals from the week and earned the title of master-burner.  If you've never played the game, ask one of the guys.  One more night and we are headed home!

Worksite Day 04

Loading up in the Kia Pregio van every day, there is always someone who wants to get "shotgun."  Nothing like peering out the front window to see how close those swerves and screeches really are!  Of course, the very rear seat gives you a certain kick in the kidney that you really can't experience anywhere else.

On the way home, we saw this group of guys tenuously hanging onto the back of this tap-tap shuttle while it climbed the mountain.  Saw the whites in their eyes when our driver tried to pass on a blind curve!

Forgot to mention yesterday that we did get to stop in at a regular grocery store.  We picked up some bread for our sack lunches and then extra groceries to to give to a family later in the day.  After you checked out your groceries, you paid a woman behind a very high desk and then you got help to your vehicle from the various guys who loitered around the front.  Of course, you're supposed to tip them as well...

The worksite went great today and we were full swing into building forms for the headers.  Much more tricky getting concrete to pour over doorways, windows and such.  We all really leaned on the experience of the two masons to get those built.

Joel, Chris and Phil were working in the back corner of the house to build and pour a footer around the bathroom.  Not to brag, but we're pretty sure that room will be the strongest in the house!

Jacob was helping remove some of the forms from a header with Mike, but when he finished and got down from the scaffolding, his landing was on some unsteady blocks and he smacked his knee pretty hard.  We pulled out our first aid kit for the walking wounded, but Jacob is a pretty tough guy and he walked it off. (We later found out that he had fractured his kneecap!)

The mason disappeared as soon as Jacob got hurt, but later appeared with a freshly constructed ladder.  We of course named it "Jacob's Ladder."

We left the work site early today, so that we could go visit the family from the July team's visit.  We had brought a photo album from the last team, which we gave to the family.

It was really amazing how great the place looked!  The plaster was a great finishing over the blocks our guys built.  Almost everyone asked us if Travis was with the team!

We got back to Bethel House in time for another play time at the orphanage.  Only one day left on the work site!  BTW, the Olympic games of burn are staying steady and it is anyone's game as we head into the medal finals tomorrow night.

Worksite Day 03

We're settling in a bit to the daily routine.  We start the morning early to try and beat the traffic and heat of the day.  Very strange, but yesterday we got right to the site in about 30 min.  Today, it was crazy busy!  Every morning is an adventure in driving down the mountain.  Really a bit like a theme park ride, except without seat belts.  Along the road, you commonly see families waiting for the various buses.

Another very popular street-side scene are the shoe-shining businesses.  This one was particularly busy.

When we arrive each day, we grab our cooler and a couple 5 gallon containers of drinking water.  They are heavy on the way in, but usually empty on the way out!

When we got to the site, we were thrilled to see our professional mason!  He is the same contractor that worked with the team in July and comes with great experience in Haitian building techniques.  And on top of that, we have a translator!  Can't tell you how helpful that is.  Momentum!

One of the things he built later in the day was a bit scaffolding.  I'm not sure our crew would have ever thought of building them this way.  Basically, he would just pound a hole through the wall, insert a 2x4 and add a leg.  Pretty strong, but a little unsteady.  That might come back to us later in the week...

We got to meet John Les's twin brother (did anyone else know he had a twin brother?) who stopped in to check on our progress.  His name was John also.

He and his brother along with a cousin, live in a tent on the roof of the neighbor's house just next door to their property.  He said it was certainly livable, but got cold at night and hot in the day.  Interesting that his shirt matched the tent color...

On our lunch break, John Wall stepped out into the alley with the kids and played a short game of soccer.  Shortened by the ball banging into the siding on the far side and a woman cursing us out in French Creole.  Well, mostly.  Funny how many English words they have learned from movies...  Good times!

I forgot to mention one of our favorite Haitian contractors that we affectionately call "rebar-man."  He has been there every day so far and slowly and diligently gets all the rebar cages built ahead of us pouring the concrete.  Great guy, who kept working barefoot.  Joel offered him his shoes so he is now the "Nike Rebar-man."

Overall, a very productive day and we ended with a few more columns formed and some prep work on the headers which we will probably pour tomorrow.

Stopped in at the orphanage before dinner and had some play time.  We also visited with the little guys upstairs this time and alternated between making them cry (way to go Eddy) and reading to them.

Another tiring day of work, but man those kids are great to hang out with.  Enjoyed a quiet devotional time on the roof and then time to rest.

Worksite Day 02

Had some technical difficulties with the Internet in Haiti, but we will get everyone updated on our daily progress shortly.  Day Two started out with our first lesson in mixing concrete.  On the ground...in Haiti.  Unfortunately, our hired local mason was not able to be there.  His mother was very ill and he needed to be with her in the hospital.  Did our HDMen crew throw their hands up and call it a day?  No, we jumped right in and with the assistance of our amazing driver, started mixing.

Lots of discussions around the proper ratio of sand to concrete to aggregate rock.  Did I mention we also did not have a translator?  Another bump to start the week, but we pushed through and started pouring columns!

This house is being built to the new post-earthquake standards in Haiti which includes a rebar-reinforced footer, midline and header as well as vertical columns in each corner and along adjacent walls.  When we arrived, the family had been able to get the footer and midline completed along with the block walls.  It was our task to pour all of the concrete for the 14 columns and headers.  We partially filled (as much as we could lift) 5 gallon buckets with concrete and lifted them to the top of the 8' forms and dumped.  Try that over and over a day and you'll see why our guys arms and backs were tired at the end of the day.

Once the full weight of the concrete was loaded into the forms, we had to settle it down with hammer taps and rebar.  This was a carefully monitored process, because if a form blew out no one wanted to start over!

Over lunch, we took the opportunity to talk with some of the neighbor kids.  Jacob pulled out his bag of magic tricks and got their attention quickly!  After a few mesmerizing slight of hand tricks, Jacob transitioned into a presentation of the gospel.  One boy asked us to help him accept Jesus into his heart and we were able to connect him with the Pastor for further discipling!

Headed back to Bethel House for the evening and enjoyed some play time with the orphans before dinner and devotionals.  Later in the evening, Chris taught all the guys a game of cards called Burn.  This became our Olympic medal quest each evening as we wound down before bed.  Who will have the most wins by week's end?  We'll have to wait and see...