The Slippery Slope, Part 2

We finished the ramp a couple of weeks ago -- construction has continued at a very brisk pace, even though our internet came to an almost complete standstill. I kept taking pictures, though, so here are some pics of the last section of the access ramp!

Quite an improvement from the 2x12 board balance on the stack of bricks!!!

They Keep on Moving Along

A few pics of the fellowship center construction. Today the guys poured the concrete "cadena" which ties the corners and walls together.

I don't know why, but pouring concrete always gets a bit tense. Whether it's something as small as a doorpost or as big as a roof, there is always a moment of "tension". Sometimes there's more than a moment.

In today's drama, there were two groups. One group was preparing the mold and wiring up the last sections of metal.

The other group was mixing the concrete and pouring the cadena.

The tension started when the pouring group caught up to the preparing group...and found a section of the mold that wasn't quite prepared.

All work stopped for a moment. Then everyone pitched in and helped get the mold shored up and ready to pour (keep in mind that the cement is mixed, wet and needing to pour).

It all came together without further problems. Evie and I were down at the house, praying!

After lunch, Doug and the guys decided to make the best use of the daylight left and started the last section of the access ramp. We had a couple of spills off the edge of the temporary wooden ramp today. Nothing serious -- just a couple of bruised prides and scraped knees. Glad that the kids' angels were on the job today!

End of the day pic:

Construction Continues!

Not an overly-creative title, but I wanted to share pics of the center. The guys have made a lot of progress in a very short time!

Doug, Caleb, Jessee and Seth left last Wednesday on the mission trip to Quimichis. Knowing that Julio and Andrew would be by themselves all week (Joaquin can only help off-and-on), the guys wanted to haul as much brick, gravel and sand up to the back hill as possible before they left.

Jessee was up at the break of dawn on Monday and Tuesday. So were the gegenes (really awful biting gnats), which took some of the joy out of the otherwise beautiful morning.

The truck arrived carrying the last of the tabique, rebar and armex that will be needed for the walls. Here's Doug, tossing tabique to the driver.

After they finished unloading the truck, one of the boys ran down to the store for a bottle of Coke (tradition) and Jessee spent the next hour or so talking to the truck driver about Jesus. Pretty cool. We were able to give him a Bible and invited him to stop by again any time.

We got a call from Home Depot saying that the wood we'll need for the roof would be in on Wednesday. The only problem with that is that the van and the trailer would be in Nayarit on Wednesday. So, the manager agreed to hold it for us until Tuesday. Thank you, Lord!!! (Pray that it's there when we go on Tuesday!!!)

Wednesday morning, Julio arrived and he and Andrew worked all day...and into the night.

Thursday and Friday were more of the same, and Saturday was a half-day. The guys are moving right along!

By Friday night, they had finished pouring all the cement pillars and Saturday was spent putting the rebar and armex in for the header.

On Sunday, we all rested (pretty much!), and tomorrow they'll be back at it!!! Woot! Woot!

Quimichis Update

The mission team from Vida Nueva Church left for Quimichis, Nayarit, on Wednesday morning.  Via Facebook, I saw that they had arrived safely and then later got a message from Doug saying basically the same thing.  Today I had a chance to talk to him briefly by phone.  He said that the village where the team is ministering doesn’t have very good cell coverage, so this morning, when the team traveled into the city to share at the local prison, he took a moment to check in at home.

[Funny side note: I had left my cell phone at home while I ran to Boca for a moment.  As I was driving home, our friend Esteban flagged me down on the boulevard and said, “Here, talk to your husband.”  Unable to reach me on my phone, Doug had called Esteban to see if he could find me.  I just love our town.]

So, the mission team is doing great.  They have split up a bit and are staying with various brothers and sisters in the Church.  Doug said that their time of sharing in the prison went very well.  He did some teaching and the boys had a chance to share testimony.  The conference being given in the evenings is going very well, also.  The people are responsive and hungry to hear and learn from God’s word. 

I’ll share more when I know more and will post photos too, Lord willing.  (Jessee left without his camera, but I’m certain that someone else is taking pictures!)

Continue to pray for this mission and for the Church in Quimichis.  The team will be returning on Monday.