June 10, 2012
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Backwood builder
Just got back from the construction site...
I am getting pretty excited! We are getting close to the end of construction. We have all of the brick almost up. When I left, half of the roof was raised and deflecting lots of sunshine. This coming Monday, the guys there should finish putting the remaining tin roof (aka iron sheets for Ugandans). It was nice to see a beautifully planned design work out. There was literally NO WASTE on the iron sheets. We did not have to cut a single piece of metal! It was pretty exciting considering that the trusses were made on the ground and then raised, at the site.
The remaining construction, besides that of the roof, is for us to go in and install the wood grid system in the ceiling for the support of the plaster that will be installed after the fact. But before the plaster is put in place, we have to attach a metal grate (hammering upside down) to that grid. Once the grate is in place, we apply a thick mortar/cement mix to the top side of the grate and force it through the holes. When that dries that allows for the plaster ceiling to adhere even though it is applied and would otherwise just drip to the floor. At that point, the plaster will be revealed to the wall to offer a nice finish. It sounds simple, but it is actually time intensive. For a clinic setting, you really want smooth finished walls. That way any "matter" can be washed off with ease. No one wants to go to a clinic that has blood stains all over!
The stinky part of my departure was that I left empty handed. I have literally spent ALL of the money for the clinic. It sucks when I still have things that need to be purchased for completion: roof peak, fascia boards, and plaster sand. I left 11 days ago hopeful that the money would last to purchase the remaining items. However, my hope and prayer was not enough. So now I am a little confused... what do I do with an 85% completed clinic? I know at this point, I need to start thinking about how I can help to furnish the place. This is going to take a bit of prayer. Obviously I do not have the means to build surgical tools, lab equipment, and other miscellaneous medical supplies. On the other hand, I have the ability to make beds, cabinets, and clinic furnishings. But again, stuff that takes money...
I am not specifically asking anyone to contribute toward this effort. Even until now, this clinic has been raised by funds and efforts lead by the Holy Spirit. So I figure that I need to rely on the same means. So Holy Spirit... do what you do best!
This trip was far less taxing than the previous! The heat was reduced... God bless the rainy season! The food was more what I would prefer. Mostly because Scott and I chose to spend some time teaching the folks there how to properly fire roast meat after hours of marinading. I am actually pretty impressed with the backwoods BBQ sauce that I was able to make for the beef marinade. It was almost exactly like Open Pit... fricken awesome!!! So we had some roasted meat skewers about every other night. So we had proper nutrition for the most part. I know last time that was part of the problem... the heat made our appetite low and the lack of food made our energy low. So it was just EXHAUSTING! So staying in the village was a bit easier this go around.
I can tell you, as I approached the clinic after about a 7 week break I had a pretty big smile on my face. I was pretty sure that Jesus was smiling just as big as I was. We are doing this for His glory. The construction, just the mortar alone, is far above the Ugandan standard. Typically you can run your nails across mortar here and flake it away. Ours... lets just say your finger tips would be bleeding before you got a single bit of our mortar off the building! We are really excited in how well the building is turning out. I am a bit proud considering that it is my design also. I will get some photos up soon, but I accidentally left my camera in Scott's car as I exited late last evening. One of my favorite photos is looking from the entrance down the corridor. As you look in that direction, you see a MASSIVE cross high in the gable wall. It is over four feet tall and over three feet wide! Unfortunately, when the ceiling goes in you lose that view from the inside. But from the outside it will still shine bright!
Someday, I may start to express the many challenges. But I don't want the focus of our work to be on what we had to overcome. Instead I want it to be on what is the result of God's love... a hope for the community of Chelekure Agule. This clinic is going to be a legacy for the Kingdom! I will do whatever I possibly can to get this thing up and running before I leave (if we leave... had to add the dramatic flair!). So please pray for this HUGE endeavor! Pray that we can find means to complete the construction, pursue supplies, and build furnishings.
Now in 6 days, I head off again! I hope to post the pictures of the last trip. I will make it my goal for the week! But pray also for the traveling mercies to South Africa. I am hoping to not allow the distraction of a developed country stop me from gaining knowledge about the block making machine and building practices. Pray for the kids and Liz as they are handicapped without me (lets admit it, they are handicapped with me too!). Pray that there are no car problems, no health issues, and now out of the ordinary challenges.
Even now, I just can't wait to get some pics on. So stay tuned!!!
Chad Neeley
Volunteer Construction Coordinator - WWCS USA/Uganda
