19/06: Malawi Orphanage Project Report - June 18
The Lord has been blessing the progress and the multiplication of the limited funds I was able to bring this trip. So far, here is what the Lord has accomplished since Monday, the first work day after arriving mid day on Saturday.
Currently we are lacking the funds to complete the water tower and tank, so we need to pray for God's mercy for the water not to go out while the team is here starting next week. Also, for security and economy's sake, 6 of our Malawian staff will move into the orphanage on July 1st. This will make for a tight squeeze the last few days of the California teams visit, but it will provide an additional measure of safety for Maribeth as well as Julie for her time here. This will give 6 men staff members onsite as well as the permanent security guard and 3 additional guards at night for a total of 10 men on hand at night. It will also save the pastors nearly 1/2 their salaries in rent. As the orphanage fills up with orphanage staff we will move them to new quarters.
The weather here has been very cold at sun down until late morning. The day time is warm but not too hot. The rains are holding off but the skies threaten daily. Enjoy the pictures below. I will try and update again on the weekend.
Above is the last rain drain being dug down to the reservoir that has already been roughed in. You can click on it for a larger one.
Above is the area that will require most of our manual labor for the Acts III crew and myself. We will be enlarging this terrace to a size of 100 feet long by 65 feet wide. This area will be the last remaining area we can build on. So it should give us 6,500 square feet of space if we are allowed to build on it. If not, we will use it for a recreation area for the children. we have to extend it another 40 feet long and 15 feet wide from its current position. Can you say blisters?
More later. Thanks for all of the prayers.
- The Lord has completed the floors in 4 additional small bedrooms as well
as the 3 other suites. So there is now a total of 4 suites (Bedrooms with
private bathrooms) that have completed floors, walls, ceilings, electrical
and plumbing. There are also 4 additional bedrooms now that are complete
with plastered walls, floors, ceiling and electrical installed, for a total
of 8 usable bedrooms and 4 bathrooms. - The Lord has plastered the front main stairs going into the building and
started the second set of stairs for the next terrace up. - The Lord has had the plumber complete the vents for the toilets as well as
connecting the pipes for the remainder of the back toilets in the boys and
girls hostels. - The Lord has completed the lids for the septic tank and soak away as well
as the man hole covers for them. - The Lord has allowed us to find grace in the eyes of the ESCOM (Malawian
power company) to get out permanent power hooked up this week so we can use
more that one outlet at a time ;o) Currently (no pun intended), we have only
small temporary wires run that allow only limited use. They are only
searching for a power pole for us. - The Lord has granted us favor in the eyes of the carpenter as he has
dropped his rates to get the gazebos completed before the team comes. - The Lord has allowed our team of 5 (including pastors, 2 laborers and
nzungu (me)) to complete the digging of the last side drain and the main
reservoir that all of the drain water will run into. It is all trenched out
and roughed out with a temporary wall until we can shift a mason team to
brick it. - The Lord has also completed nearly 2/3 of the guardhouse wall plastering.
This means we will finally be able to place the roof on it and put it to
use.
Currently we are lacking the funds to complete the water tower and tank, so we need to pray for God's mercy for the water not to go out while the team is here starting next week. Also, for security and economy's sake, 6 of our Malawian staff will move into the orphanage on July 1st. This will make for a tight squeeze the last few days of the California teams visit, but it will provide an additional measure of safety for Maribeth as well as Julie for her time here. This will give 6 men staff members onsite as well as the permanent security guard and 3 additional guards at night for a total of 10 men on hand at night. It will also save the pastors nearly 1/2 their salaries in rent. As the orphanage fills up with orphanage staff we will move them to new quarters.
The weather here has been very cold at sun down until late morning. The day time is warm but not too hot. The rains are holding off but the skies threaten daily. Enjoy the pictures below. I will try and update again on the weekend.
Above is the last rain drain being dug down to the reservoir that has already been roughed in. You can click on it for a larger one.
Above is the area that will require most of our manual labor for the Acts III crew and myself. We will be enlarging this terrace to a size of 100 feet long by 65 feet wide. This area will be the last remaining area we can build on. So it should give us 6,500 square feet of space if we are allowed to build on it. If not, we will use it for a recreation area for the children. we have to extend it another 40 feet long and 15 feet wide from its current position. Can you say blisters?
More later. Thanks for all of the prayers.
