Today... just a quick note and apology for not updating over the last few days.
We saw our first group leave today. 14 are on their way 'home' although a piece of their hearts will likely always remain with the group and the land of St. Vincent.
For the rest of us.. it's one more official work day. Time to touch up all those last spots (pouring rain please stop soon!), install the toilets and finish the kitchen and tiling. No pressure :-)
The last few days have seen some late nights (10 pm or so). Iwas going to post a 'typical' day... but they certainly haven't been that recently.
Don passed on his pictures to me yesterday, so I'll try and compile a slide show and post it on the blog during the next week so you can see the progress - especially if you couldn't access the Facebook pictures. Although I've only been here 2 weeks, the change has been amazing. For those who have been here the entire 4 weeks, it must truly be an awesome experience to see what has been achieved.
Anyways.. van will be back soon... gotta go! Maybe a final pic can be posted tonight... before our 4am departure... ugh!
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
4 days more...
On a hot day, with only a few sun showers, several more tasks were accomplished:
One final note,
One of our team members was speaking with one of our very quiet masons today. She asked if he enjoyed working with our team. He said he enjoyed it very much. He liked the feeling of being proud in what he was building and working with the group. It is rewarding to know that they have understood our efforts to make them a part of the overall group, and that they understand and share the passion for our work.
Good night everyone!
PS The link to Don's Facebook pictures is: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150614966641738.406033.508111737&type=3&l=3ce100a97e
- The roof is ON!
- The installation of the ceilings and wiring continues. Once we have power, we can work even later to finish up the tasks... until then, when darkness falls, most of us must stop.
- The outside walls have been painted
- The windows are in, and many of the window sills have been completed.
- The base of the septic system was poured so tomorrow they can build the rest of it.
- Doors are beginning to be hung
- and more and more painting...if it doesn't move, it will be painted by weeks end!
One final note,
One of our team members was speaking with one of our very quiet masons today. She asked if he enjoyed working with our team. He said he enjoyed it very much. He liked the feeling of being proud in what he was building and working with the group. It is rewarding to know that they have understood our efforts to make them a part of the overall group, and that they understand and share the passion for our work.
Good night everyone!
PS The link to Don's Facebook pictures is: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150614966641738.406033.508111737&type=3&l=3ce100a97e
Monday, February 20, 2012
5 days and counting...
5 days to go!
Things are moving along... with lots still to accomplish, today saw some noteable accomplishments.
- The first half of the roof is on!
- All walls, inside AND out, have been parged (top coated with a smooth finish). The cement mixers have earned an evening of rest after trying to keep up with 7 masons!
- Painting has commenced in earnest on the walls. As soon as they are dry enough from being parged, they find themselves covered in paint. Waterfall is the colour for the boys rooms and Eggplant (a lavender colour) has been chosen for the girls.
- 2/3rds of the electrical conduit is laid and wires pulled through the walls
- 4 windows are now installed!
- Some of the guys are still working installing some of the ceilings so the incredible amount of tile work can commence first thing tomorrow.
- the interior doors arrived and have been primed to be ready for installation.
As always, Don Halsey has been snapping away. The following are links to his pictures over the lat few days. They are marked to be available to the public, but should they not work, I will attempt to include a few of the images below as well.
Sunday Feb. 19, 2012 https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150609725891738.405307.508111737&type=3&l=d43d463aa7
& https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150609801646738.405318.508111737&type=3&l=deab90b24a
Things are moving along... with lots still to accomplish, today saw some noteable accomplishments.
- The first half of the roof is on!
- All walls, inside AND out, have been parged (top coated with a smooth finish). The cement mixers have earned an evening of rest after trying to keep up with 7 masons!
- Painting has commenced in earnest on the walls. As soon as they are dry enough from being parged, they find themselves covered in paint. Waterfall is the colour for the boys rooms and Eggplant (a lavender colour) has been chosen for the girls.
- 2/3rds of the electrical conduit is laid and wires pulled through the walls
- 4 windows are now installed!
- Some of the guys are still working installing some of the ceilings so the incredible amount of tile work can commence first thing tomorrow.
- the interior doors arrived and have been primed to be ready for installation.
As always, Don Halsey has been snapping away. The following are links to his pictures over the lat few days. They are marked to be available to the public, but should they not work, I will attempt to include a few of the images below as well.
Monday Feb. 20, 2012 https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150612303056738.405685.508111737&type=3&l=87ee3d1a8d
Sunday Feb. 19, 2012 https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150609725891738.405307.508111737&type=3&l=d43d463aa7
& https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150609801646738.405318.508111737&type=3&l=deab90b24a
Saturday Feb 18, 2012 https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150607236236738.404923.508111737&type=3&l=5f4ef7b14f
Friday, February 17, 2012
An update in images.
A few more pictures to show the progress. Things are moving along! 7 work days to go!
Finishing the `belt`
Rafters in, roof next.. then onto the ceilings! No roof does not stop the painters tho`...
Making cement never ends!
`
The girls on cement duty during the rain.
For Don Halsey's daily image update, click on this link;
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Thanks for the sunshine :-)
It was a beautiful (and hot) day!
Alot was accomplished, and of course there is still more to do, but, a few major things were finished today:
- the top 'belt' line was completed and some of the wood has been started on the roof
- two rooms have the rafters installed... ceilings are next!
- almost all of the inside walls are parged... another day or so and they'll be done
- another 50 bags of cement arrived, making us worry how much more there is to do, but having bags on hand is so much better than running out and having work grind to a halt!
- our painting leader Terry has arrived! Although he missed another day of work, he has come for the most necessary part of the trip for our paint team.
- more wood was painted and primed, and moved, and moved, and moved again... ugh! This really should have been in the fine print :-)
Don's latest photos have been uploaded to:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150599624246738&set=a.10150599623331738.404177.508111737&type=1#!/media/set/?set=a.10150602142181738.404397.508111737&type=1
If you are having any problems seeing these pictures, please let us know via the comment button and I'll try and upload a few selected images directly to the blog. When we have better bandwidth, I'll try and upload a slideshow as well so that you can see the project from start to finish...
Finish... what a happy word... although this project is not yet finished, we will continue to work to when we can finally say... It is finished! Welcome home little ones :-)
Alot was accomplished, and of course there is still more to do, but, a few major things were finished today:
- the top 'belt' line was completed and some of the wood has been started on the roof
- two rooms have the rafters installed... ceilings are next!
- almost all of the inside walls are parged... another day or so and they'll be done
- another 50 bags of cement arrived, making us worry how much more there is to do, but having bags on hand is so much better than running out and having work grind to a halt!
- our painting leader Terry has arrived! Although he missed another day of work, he has come for the most necessary part of the trip for our paint team.
- more wood was painted and primed, and moved, and moved, and moved again... ugh! This really should have been in the fine print :-)
Don's latest photos have been uploaded to:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150599624246738&set=a.10150599623331738.404177.508111737&type=1#!/media/set/?set=a.10150602142181738.404397.508111737&type=1
If you are having any problems seeing these pictures, please let us know via the comment button and I'll try and upload a few selected images directly to the blog. When we have better bandwidth, I'll try and upload a slideshow as well so that you can see the project from start to finish...
Finish... what a happy word... although this project is not yet finished, we will continue to work to when we can finally say... It is finished! Welcome home little ones :-)
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Rain Rain Go Away.... AGAIN!
Another day of rain :-(
So much for painting outside... why not go inside? 'Cause there is no inside yet! But soon.. very soon.. we will start on the roof. Good thing too, T minus 9 work days or so...
Everyone is definitely feeling the pressure of the amount of work left yet to do, but also are grateful for how much has been accomplished. As much of the wood has been primed and painted as is humanly possible so that when it is installed high up in the ceiling, only simple touchups will be required... we will just be running around those installing the wood with wet wipes to keep their hands clean... if that were only possible!
All of the bricks in the walls are laid, the tops of the windows have been poured and we are now working on the 'belt' around the top. It is close to half way done.. then we can start building the roof! The inside walls are being parged (?sp?) and it is looking really great (with only a bit of imagination!)
Once the masons are done with the parging, the painters can attack the walls and begin sealing and painting them. Can't wait to start!!!
For a link to Don Halsey's pictures from today, click on the following:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?set=a.10150599623331738.404177.508111737&type=1
So much for painting outside... why not go inside? 'Cause there is no inside yet! But soon.. very soon.. we will start on the roof. Good thing too, T minus 9 work days or so...
Everyone is definitely feeling the pressure of the amount of work left yet to do, but also are grateful for how much has been accomplished. As much of the wood has been primed and painted as is humanly possible so that when it is installed high up in the ceiling, only simple touchups will be required... we will just be running around those installing the wood with wet wipes to keep their hands clean... if that were only possible!
All of the bricks in the walls are laid, the tops of the windows have been poured and we are now working on the 'belt' around the top. It is close to half way done.. then we can start building the roof! The inside walls are being parged (?sp?) and it is looking really great (with only a bit of imagination!)
Once the masons are done with the parging, the painters can attack the walls and begin sealing and painting them. Can't wait to start!!!
For a link to Don Halsey's pictures from today, click on the following:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?set=a.10150599623331738.404177.508111737&type=1
Monday, February 13, 2012
More pictures...
One of our team members has been uploading pictures to Facebook as well. Don Halsey has sent me links to these images which I am copying below. Please try these links. As our internet connection is up and down, I will try to upload a few pics directly to the blog over the next few days... In the meantime, try looking at Don's photos at:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150591639636738.403363.508111737&type=3&l=1a29abfe81
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150591655771738.403364.508111737&type=3&l=0adf3efcde
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150594338966738.403648.508111737&type=3&l=9329d323a7
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150591639636738.403363.508111737&type=3&l=1a29abfe81
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150591655771738.403364.508111737&type=3&l=0adf3efcde
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150594338966738.403648.508111737&type=3&l=9329d323a7
Sunday, February 12, 2012
St. Vincent - First Two Weeks
Click on the picture below to see an online photo album of the first two weeks progress! This will launch a Picassa Web photo album. There is a slideshow feature on the top left navigation bar for the pictures... Enjoy!
The tour....
What looks simple on paper apparently may not end up that way...
Much like Gilligan and his crew, the teams flights yesterday met a few challenges along the way that resulted in an extra detour (via St. Lucia) for a few.... but in the end all arrived safe and sound .. in body and mind (for the most part!).
The island, in the dark, was impressive. The trip from the aiport in the A.C.3 experienced the joys of the hills and switchback roads ... lots of oohing and aahing.. and the occasional "oh my" as we made a quick turn in an overloaded vehicle with a Canadian driving on the wrong side of the road.
Again.. we all survived!
The trip from the airport also included a drive by of the worksite. Amazing progress has been made. The walls ARE going up! Although we have been delayed by rain and customs officials and lost probably 3-4 work days... they have been able to catch up somewhat...but there is lots more to go!
Will try to add more pictures of the progress shortly!
Much like Gilligan and his crew, the teams flights yesterday met a few challenges along the way that resulted in an extra detour (via St. Lucia) for a few.... but in the end all arrived safe and sound .. in body and mind (for the most part!).
The island, in the dark, was impressive. The trip from the aiport in the A.C.3 experienced the joys of the hills and switchback roads ... lots of oohing and aahing.. and the occasional "oh my" as we made a quick turn in an overloaded vehicle with a Canadian driving on the wrong side of the road.
Again.. we all survived!
The trip from the airport also included a drive by of the worksite. Amazing progress has been made. The walls ARE going up! Although we have been delayed by rain and customs officials and lost probably 3-4 work days... they have been able to catch up somewhat...but there is lots more to go!
Will try to add more pictures of the progress shortly!
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Friday, February 10, 2012
week 2 - the walls are getting higher
Despite several days of rain holding up pouring the floor, the walls are finally going up! The goal is to have the outside walls up so we can start on the doors and windows next week. Here is the latest picture forwarded by Al...
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Rain, rain, go away!!!
Enough rain already!
On Monday half of the floor was poured. Unfortunately the weather ever since has been uncooperative and has delayed the pouring of the second half. We REALLY need the rain to stop! The plumbing and electrical supply have been roughed in, and are ready to go....We need to pour the floor so we can start building walls!
Todays forecast is decent, followed by a few more days of rain. So much for the "dry" season!
We will hope everyone has a surge of energy today to make the most of todays dry times!
On Monday half of the floor was poured. Unfortunately the weather ever since has been uncooperative and has delayed the pouring of the second half. We REALLY need the rain to stop! The plumbing and electrical supply have been roughed in, and are ready to go....We need to pour the floor so we can start building walls!
Todays forecast is decent, followed by a few more days of rain. So much for the "dry" season!
We will hope everyone has a surge of energy today to make the most of todays dry times!
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Week 1 Summary in Pictures
The week 1 crew has made significant strides to laying the foundation. The floor is ready to be poured on Monday and Tuesday using a cement pumper truck. The availability of this truck is truly a gift which will be essential in successfully pouring all the concrete we will need in this project.
The second week reinforcements have safely arrived, and the four returning team members had one final ride in the truck which apparently is earning the nickname the A.C.3 (ask past mission members what this may stand for :-) ). The roads are a little scary - so please continue to pray for safety for all travelling!
Thanks again for your continued prayerful support... hopefully we may have a story or two and/or some pictures to pass along from the returning team members soon.
Laying the Footings
Can you 'dig' it
The most advanced concrete delivery system in 20+ years... truly Awesome!!!
Smoothing it out
The ground breaking ceremony and the local news coverage.
We`ll take this as a promise!
Laying the first blocks
Sitting down on the job
Ready to pour the floor.... on Monday!
Friday, February 3, 2012
Day five... Blocks Blocks and more Blocks
Progress IS being made!
The footings are in, and the blocks are being laid to prepare for the pouring of the floor....The floor will hopefully be poured on Monday or Tuesday next week.. then.. the walls! Below is a picture sent of one of this years 'newbies'... great look Al (or this John?)!!! .... Tell me.. are the showers really cold?
If you are viewing the blog and would like to add a comment to encourage the team, please feel free to do so! They too are checking the blog... and would be thrilled to hear from you... our extended team!
The footings are in, and the blocks are being laid to prepare for the pouring of the floor....The floor will hopefully be poured on Monday or Tuesday next week.. then.. the walls! Below is a picture sent of one of this years 'newbies'... great look Al (or this John?)!!! .... Tell me.. are the showers really cold?
If you are viewing the blog and would like to add a comment to encourage the team, please feel free to do so! They too are checking the blog... and would be thrilled to hear from you... our extended team!
Thursday, February 2, 2012
The end of Day 4 ...
Another update from St. Vincent... prayers are being answered... and the work has finally found it's "footings" (building related pun sadly intended)....
From Shirley:
"Yesterday, the Lumber and plywood...all 27,000 pounds of it was moved from the shipping container to the storage container....back breaking work, lots of tired men with sore backs and muscles
· Footings were poured (hooray!)
At the Camp, I unpacked the food boxes, and bedding boxes and started the huge job of putting everything in order and trying to find a sensible place to stash it. The problem of not much food (before Container clearance) has now become...where to store a 4 week supplies of basic staples for 44 hungry people. Fortunately the kitchen, dining, chapel area (all connected)is pretty spacious.
Nellie and Juanita went grocery shopping yesterday, and it took 4 hours... We enjoyed a delicious supper of potato wedges, tossed salad and 'mission pie'....the usual mix of instant mashed potatoes, onion, mashed corned beef and canned corn. It really was tasty!
The kitchen is very well lit, clean and bright. The frig is pretty small, and very old...not much storage space there, but there is a large, efficient chest freezer, where we store our sandwiches so they can eat safely at the work site.. (No complaints YET of sandwich popsicles. It is warm enough for them to thaw by lunch time...)
I haven't heard about how it is working but the Seniors centre next to the work site is giving us the use of their toilet facilities (hooray again!)...since the building site is a vacant lot.
We have a washing machine installed now at the Camp (one that was donated to the Salvation Army) and the wash loads of dirty work clothes have begun. It is a lot better than doing it by hand in a tiny sink. And I am glad that this is something that I can do.
This afternoon at 4:00 PM there will be the official 'Ground Breaking Ceremony'...and I think that we ladies will attend. Should be interesting as I am sure some government officials will be there, since they donated the land. The newspapers carried news about 17 Canadians coming to build the Children's Home."
Back to Laurie...
Apparently there is a hilarious video of the men trying to cut lumber with a locally purchased hand saw... that only cut backwards ?!? We will HAVE to figure out how to add it to the blog at a future date! Bandwidth limitations may sadly limit this until we are all home.
That's all for tonights update. Hope to share more news and stories soon...
From Shirley:
"Yesterday, the Lumber and plywood...all 27,000 pounds of it was moved from the shipping container to the storage container....back breaking work, lots of tired men with sore backs and muscles
· Footings were poured (hooray!)
At the Camp, I unpacked the food boxes, and bedding boxes and started the huge job of putting everything in order and trying to find a sensible place to stash it. The problem of not much food (before Container clearance) has now become...where to store a 4 week supplies of basic staples for 44 hungry people. Fortunately the kitchen, dining, chapel area (all connected)is pretty spacious.
Nellie and Juanita went grocery shopping yesterday, and it took 4 hours... We enjoyed a delicious supper of potato wedges, tossed salad and 'mission pie'....the usual mix of instant mashed potatoes, onion, mashed corned beef and canned corn. It really was tasty!
The kitchen is very well lit, clean and bright. The frig is pretty small, and very old...not much storage space there, but there is a large, efficient chest freezer, where we store our sandwiches so they can eat safely at the work site.. (No complaints YET of sandwich popsicles. It is warm enough for them to thaw by lunch time...)
I haven't heard about how it is working but the Seniors centre next to the work site is giving us the use of their toilet facilities (hooray again!)...since the building site is a vacant lot.
We have a washing machine installed now at the Camp (one that was donated to the Salvation Army) and the wash loads of dirty work clothes have begun. It is a lot better than doing it by hand in a tiny sink. And I am glad that this is something that I can do.
This afternoon at 4:00 PM there will be the official 'Ground Breaking Ceremony'...and I think that we ladies will attend. Should be interesting as I am sure some government officials will be there, since they donated the land. The newspapers carried news about 17 Canadians coming to build the Children's Home."
Back to Laurie...
Apparently there is a hilarious video of the men trying to cut lumber with a locally purchased hand saw... that only cut backwards ?!? We will HAVE to figure out how to add it to the blog at a future date! Bandwidth limitations may sadly limit this until we are all home.
That's all for tonights update. Hope to share more news and stories soon...
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