Construction Adventures

Wednesday February 24^th the city water had been off for 4 days, our tank of water ran out the previous Monday morning, and we are not able to buy a motorcycle on our temporary visa.  Feeling rather troubled that morning, I was encouraged by Psl. 117.  Then quite unexpectedly, by that night, the city water had come on, dishes got washed, two loads of laundry were finished, construction materials were delivered, and workers were scheduled for the next day.  Then to top it all off, a friend lent us their new motorcycle to use indefinitely (specifically because we mentioned we could not own one).  Let me tell you I felt so encouraged by the love and faithfulness of the Father. 

Whitman amidst the first delivery of materials.

The open gutter for our gray water was filled, our and our neighbor's garbage cans were covered, as well as the shut off value for the water, and the water meter, oh well. 

 Since Thursday the 25^th, a great deal of progress and new experiences have occurred in our ‘backyard.’  We have officially decided to stay in our current house.  We have made an agreement with the owners to renew our rental contract on the condition they add-on to the back of the house.  This decision has been aided by our neighbor’s increased intentionality in using the Barat language.  The addition, unbelievably, will increase our square footage by at least 1½ times. 

The workers have been faithful to come every day, which is quite something, materials are constantly being delivered, and the addition is taking shape. 

I, Erin, do not know much about construction, but there does seem to be a difference in the methodology used here. 

Foundation Work

There are 3 construction workers that are tasked with this job.  Like most, they wear shorts and flip-flops.  They brought a few of their own tools, namely a shovel, wheelbarrow, hammer, and crow bar type tool, all by way of motorcycle.  If anything else is needed they either make it, such as a box for mixing cement and scaffolding, or the owner supplies it, such as buckets. 

Walls going up.  And homemade scaffolding.

An additional bathroom and backdoor. 

The door will open to a small alley.

Caedmon checking it all out.

As the walls rose higher, it became time to take care of a tree in the neighboring property which was leaning into the building area.  A man we usually see driving a motorcycle-taxi, came to chop down the tree.  It didn’t quite go as intended, falling into our back-yard instead of the banana garden in which it was growing. 

Chopping down the tree with a machete, while standing on the new wall.

Falling Tree.

The man tried his hardest to prevent the tree from falling into our back yard.

Finally, fall it must, bending rebar and taking out some bricks on the way down.

Windows set and walls added to.

Water Tank Moved

To continue work on the walls our tank had to be moved.  This required emptying it on a day we hoped to have city water flowing, then unbolting it from the ground, and moving it a few feet.  This resulted in bowing, yet still connected,  pipes and unsettled footing. 

Gave Way

Though the tank tower seemed to lean toward the house, the one foot not propped up on a rock gave way the first night we filled the tank.  Notice the section of brick to the left of the far window which the tank took out. 

The Shredded Tank. 

The boys said it was too bright to open their eyes for the picture.

Thankfully this tank fell away from the house, unlike our tank in the big city, see the post “The Sky is Falling,” from June 2012.

The workers have continued to return to work and make great progress.  I was fearful that after the tree and the tank incident, there might be some fear of supernatural involvement.