Construction week #2

Last week we headed up to Sabana for a second full-team stint at construction. We did a lot of finishing up of tasks: we formed and built a ramp, repaired/poured a sidewalk, finished our block wall, finished a block wall that was started by last year’s group, installed razor wire, did some final cleanup, moved the kitchen into the new kitchen we built so now the family has another bedroom, and mapped out a 20x30 house foundation, dug the trenches and poured the footings for half the foundation. Finishing the house is on the docket for next year. I’ve uploaded some pictures as they tell a better story.

The house lot:

The beginning of the lot where we poured the foundation.

Two days later the foundation is poured.

DR transportation, only in Sabana (a small, quiet country town)

Getting water from the watering hole to be used for the concrete

The wall that we started from scratch (we dug the trenches during our first construction stint):

The finished wall!

 Forming and building the ramp and sidewalk:

 Finishing the wall started by last year's group, including installing razor wire:

 Miscellaneous Construction pics:

Alex and Thomas given the job of doing the kitchen plumbing

Pierre's truck - a classic Sabana experience. It is fun to drive (I know because I got to drive it a bunch of times )

The inside of his truck. I got really good and knowing how much gas I had and how fast I was going.

Monica and Scott asked if they could dip out of construction to teach Solomon's class for a morning!

LIsa finding a way to help.

Yeah Emily!

Yep - an all girls team that day!

Why wouldn't you use your neighbour-across-the-street's fence to dry your laundry?

One of the finished classrooms: we helped lay brick, pour the floor, stucco, paint and install the roof.

The new kitchen!

The finished upstairs classrooms/building.

The outside of the Sabana base.

The finished storage unit that last year's group built with a new classroom on the second floor.

Taking a break from trenching and engaging in Dominican child's play

But he's the master!