HAITI UPDATE 2

Thursday, November 10

We were very pleasantly surprised on arrival this morning to see how much the bridge had progressed. Both “bulkheads” had their foundations done, the vertical rebar for the posts in them, and the road-side one was all built up to full height, just needing the posts on the ends to be poured. This morning the crew of about 9 put in retaining walls on each side of this bulkhead and built up the other one to its full height. Then the fun began. Several guys began scooping out the mud left in the ravine, which still had water in it about 6 inches deep, and building little dams across on each end with the mud to hold back the water. When the dams were done, they used buckets to get the water out so they could start on the middle bulkhead, which like the other two has three main posts in it, making nine in all. After the three posts were set, wood arrived and everyone began building “caufrage” or forms on the remaining posts and the center bulkhead. When we get back tomorrow we expect to see all this poured and the crew starting to put in the forms for the bridge itself. The Lord has provided so abundantly for everything we are doing here, and the work is progressing extremely well.

All morning long we saw the Japanese bringing in large dump trucks filled with good fill dirt for their project down the road. The first Japanese we met, who speaks a little English, came over in the early afternoon to see what we had already done and was very impressed. We “jokingly” told him we needed him to make one of the dump trucks stop at our bridge and dump us a load of fill, which we will need before pouring the slab on that side that goes from the bridge to the road. He laughed, but we could see he got the idea and maybe the Lord will work on them again to help us out! When we are all done with this orphanage we are going to insist on a bronze plaque on the outside wall thanking the Japanese SDF (not the UN) for their gracious help on this project.

One of the next things we will need done is to finish the perimeter wall so everything will be secure during the rest of the construction. There is an existing 2 ½ foot wall, which is broken down in many places. We got Pastor Edmond to examine it with us and give us an estimate to finish this wall completely to that height before the first of the year. That way we can work on the upper part (about 5 feet of concrete block with vertical rebar-reinforced beams every 10 feet). He gave us an estimate and said that he will begin this right after the bridge, and have it ready before Christmas. What a Christmas present! With the bridge done, the perimeter wall base done, and architectural and structural plans in our hands, the first teams to come in January will have more than enough to do and know exactly how to do it!

Ron is going back tomorrow and Lou will stay through Monday to be here for the architects' and engineers' visit on Sunday afternoon and Monday. Please pray for safe travel for all and good weather for the rest of this visit. Next up: a team from Kentucky will install a water-purifier for the children at the old orphanage at the end of November. It will be moved to the new site when the kids move.

Praise the Lord for showing us His bountiful grace and mighty hand in this work for His children.