From The Field
1-31-2011
Mariani, Haiti
Homes for Haiti update: We have a great team working this week - the guys from FUMC Waco are focused, fired up, and building relationships quickly with everyone! Of course we have David, Michael and Harold Shaferly with us, and they have done a nice job in preparing the foundation. We had the opportunity to meet and work with the couple who will be living in the house.
The three-room home is 20'x20' and is located in Mariani, about a half-hour drive from Villa Ormiso. The building site is on the side of a mountain and has a magnificent view. With that nice view comes some extra work in establishing the foundation and in getting the materials and supplies to the site. You can only drive up so far, then everything has to be hand-carried to the site. We had lots of Haitian help today; there were several volunteers/friends from the church, and we also had some hired workers.
Today, the forms were removed from the foundation walls and internal excavation was done to prepare for pouring the floor. Some external site excavation was also completed. The foundation for the porch (exterior to the front of the house) was dug and poured. The corners of the house walls were established as well. Building materials arrived late in the day. A lot were unloaded, and some were carried up to the site.
Our goal tomorrow is to work on laying the block walls and building the trusses. We also plan to lay out and begin excavation for the next house.
God bless,
Tommy
