28 mars 2010
The end of our second week has just passed. We are beginning to get oriented and settled in. We have completed an initial evaluation of each guest room here at MPH, and are now ready to make a material run and get some work accomplished. The place is not in total disrepair, it just needs some TLC and some dedicated attention. The maintenance person, Baba, has done the best he can with the skills and materials that is available to him. Clay will begin to work with Baba this week to help improve his skills at being an all around general handyman. A jack of all trades, a master at none, though Baba is a very good carpenter, which has impressed Clay greatly. Most of his work is similar to what you would have found 70 years ago in the US, before power hand tools became introduced into modern carpentry. When our shipment of tools finally arrives, Clay will be able to show how cordless power tools will greatly decrease the amount of offsite prep needs to be done. Hopefully.
After we get a good handle on the daily repairs and general operation of MPH, we will begin some larger projects. The city water supply is fairly reliable, however there are times that the water just is not running. It comes and goes silently. You go to the tap, turn it, and nothing happens. Unlike electricity which is a little more obvious when it goes out, I guess because you can see it get dark or hear the fans and AC stop whirring. So, one of the first major projects is to construct a ferrocement cistern tank to store water, and be able to pump it into the building should the water not be on. The electricity has been a bit more stable, so pumping should not be a problem. I guess we will see.
Some of the other projects include: Improving more rooms to have air conditioning and private baths, building an office and reception area into the foyer of the building, moving the artisans from the foyer to another space in the building, and improving drainage in the driveway and decoratively pave it. There is a lot to do, but we will take it in small bites, so we can have small victories, resulting in a greater blessing for the guests and workers of MPH.
We thank you for your support and ask that you continue to lift us up in prayer as we work with the management and staff to make the improvements that are planned. Please always pray for our language skills to improve, as it is very difficult to be a blessing when there is a language barrier.
The end of our second week has just passed. We are beginning to get oriented and settled in. We have completed an initial evaluation of each guest room here at MPH, and are now ready to make a material run and get some work accomplished. The place is not in total disrepair, it just needs some TLC and some dedicated attention. The maintenance person, Baba, has done the best he can with the skills and materials that is available to him. Clay will begin to work with Baba this week to help improve his skills at being an all around general handyman. A jack of all trades, a master at none, though Baba is a very good carpenter, which has impressed Clay greatly. Most of his work is similar to what you would have found 70 years ago in the US, before power hand tools became introduced into modern carpentry. When our shipment of tools finally arrives, Clay will be able to show how cordless power tools will greatly decrease the amount of offsite prep needs to be done. Hopefully.
After we get a good handle on the daily repairs and general operation of MPH, we will begin some larger projects. The city water supply is fairly reliable, however there are times that the water just is not running. It comes and goes silently. You go to the tap, turn it, and nothing happens. Unlike electricity which is a little more obvious when it goes out, I guess because you can see it get dark or hear the fans and AC stop whirring. So, one of the first major projects is to construct a ferrocement cistern tank to store water, and be able to pump it into the building should the water not be on. The electricity has been a bit more stable, so pumping should not be a problem. I guess we will see.
Some of the other projects include: Improving more rooms to have air conditioning and private baths, building an office and reception area into the foyer of the building, moving the artisans from the foyer to another space in the building, and improving drainage in the driveway and decoratively pave it. There is a lot to do, but we will take it in small bites, so we can have small victories, resulting in a greater blessing for the guests and workers of MPH.
We thank you for your support and ask that you continue to lift us up in prayer as we work with the management and staff to make the improvements that are planned. Please always pray for our language skills to improve, as it is very difficult to be a blessing when there is a language barrier.