Where Does The Time Go?

It's hard to believe that I have only one week left here in Mozambique, and also somewhat embarassing to realize that it's been almost 2 weeks since I last posted an update! Where has the time gone? Maybe this set of photos will explain.

Work continues on the maintenance shop.

Only one more floor section to pour.

The automotive training also continues (photo by John Topham)

The class learns about cooling systems at the power generator shed (Photo by John Topham)

Buying maize for the feeding programs

A visit to the river where a local family is doing their laundry

Cecilia is the wife of Domingo, the mission's head shepherd

The beauty of a child's smile

Providing water for the compacting of the airstrip

John couldn't resist checking out this ancient Hino truck...

Handing out soccer balls at a local school

A Quick Photo Update

Hi there...just thought I'd throw up some recent photos to show you all what's been happening. It's been a busy week - work is progressing well on the shop, and John has started his woodworking classes. Still no lathe yet, but it's getting closer. It's scheduled to leave Durban, SA on May 8th and arrive in Beira, Mozambique on May 14th. We're keeping our fingers crossed!

The first loads of concrete on the first of six floor sections

The first time these workers had ever used a "screed" to level concrete

John Topham and Fani leveling the pour

Me, trying to look important (photo by John Topham)

The finished product - only five more to go

John Topham teaching his first class of woodworking theory

The first walls going up

Preparing for floor section #2

New man on the job

It's been a busy week, not just with the work here at the ASAM mission base, but also with some travel as well.

On Saturday Joao and I made a mad dash to Beira, a coastal city about four hours from our location, so that we could meet John Topham, a volunteer who flew in from my hometown of Summerland. The roads were less than smooth, and with all the truck traffic that comes out of a port city, the drive home was long and partly in the dark. But we arrived safely, and John claims he had an awesome sleep on his first night in a tent.

Home away from home

John will be here for the month of May, teaching woodworking skills to some of the local men. It was great to welcome him and show him around the farm - I especially appreciated the cappuccino coffee mixes that he brought from my wife...

John, right at home with heavy equipment

Checking out the garden where food is grown for the school feeding program

This year's lemon crop is ready for picking

Since today was a public holiday for the farm staff, John and I did some work of our own on the maintenance shop project. Some things go better when you don't have a lot of distractions.

Welding the metal rim of the repair pit (photo by John Topham)

John cutting wood to use on the cement forms

Taking a break in the noonday sun

Some last shots for you - on Monday, the workers had a bit of a celebration on the farm for Workers Day, and that always includes speeches, food, and games.

(Above photos by John Topham)

A good time is being had by all.

Progress Report

Things are starting to look a little different around here, beginning with the maintenance shop project. The first photo below shows how things looked when I arrived a couple of weeks ago; the second shows where we are at today.

Then...

and now.

Fani learning how to use a transit level

Peter cutting a block to size

Tomorrow the work crews will start backfilling the foundation and compacting it (by hand) in preparation for pouring the floor.

African Bush Compacting Machines.

There has also been few changes in the tool storage area, requiring Tome to clear out a few odds and ends to make room for the new tool boxes.

Out with the old...

and in with the new.

Out on the airstrip, work continues as the high spots are leveled out and the low spots filled in.

Ron Wayner of Mercy Air operating the backhoe

The heavy equipment pieces being used to finish the runway (when they're not broken down...)

Throw in a few fairly intensive automotive training sessions, and that's where things stand at the moment. It's time to go, so I'll let my little friends from the primary school say goodbye.

The little changes we make today will bring about big changes for children like these. Thanks for checking in!

Making It Work

Well, it's been a busy week.

After arriving at the ASAM farm at the end of last week, I used the Easter weekend to get some things organized and then it was straight to work on Monday morning. The first order of business was to have the guys dig out all the soil that had washed into the foundations since they were poured last year (before the rainy season...)

Shop foundations covered with dirt

Then on Wednesday I began the mechanics training sessions, or rather, we tried to. The morning teaching went well, but the afternoon practical training time had to be cancelled in order to go out to the primary school and bring back the maize mill for some repairs. The only problem was that once we arrived at the school (via bush roads and burned out bridges), Tome discovered that he'd left the keys back at the farm.

Fortunately for us, we found a 10mm wrench in the truck the we could use to take off the door lock.

Breaking into the storage room

Of course, this was great fun for the school kids. What better place than at school for a practical lesson on Break & Enter?

Jacobo dismantling the mill so that we could put it into the back of the truck.

By Thursday, the building crew were ready to start the brick laying back at the shop site. Below is the official photo of the very first blocks being laid. Well done, Peter!

So we're making good progress. But the reality is, we will need a lot more blocks and steel than you see piled in the background here.

Each block costs about $2 delivered, each bag of cement is around $10. A worker's wage runs about $6 - $8 per day. We have enough funds at this point to keep things going for about another couple of weeks. But if you would like to help keep this project moving forward while I am here (to the end of May), please follow this link: http://samministries.org/get-involved/projects/maintenance-facility-project/

In the meantime, the teaching sessions are progressing well, and the students (Tome, Jacobo, Joao, and Castro) have already made some necessary repairs on the mission vehicles.

Bye for now...gotta get back to work!

Déjà Vu

Touching down in Johannesburg, South Africa after 20 and a half hours of flying time, I was struck with the feeling of how familiar this was becoming.

I actually knew where to go in the airport, how to navigate customs and immigration, and most importantly, where to catch the shuttle to my hotel room and bed! I suppose that since this is my fourth trip in just over two years, that shouldn't surprise me.

The 4 ½ hour drive to Nelspruit the next morning was done to the soothing (?) tones of classical music on the rental car radio – I’d forgotten to bring my CDs.

A golden sunrise at Mercy Air, South Africa

Again, arriving at the Mercy Air base in White River almost felt like coming home. Pilot Paul Middleton (known as having the driest wit south of the Sahara desert) and his wife Cathy entertained me with some amazing Shepherd’s Pie and a “Soccer” game on the telly – a real British welcome.

Cathy and Paul Middleton - Mercy Air SA

After a day and a half of shopping for supplies and tools, it was into the Cessna 310 and off to Mozambique.

Tool boxes and tools for the Mechanics Training Program

I am very fortunate to be staying in one of the cottages at the ASAM farm this trip. It’s a great spot to spread out my building plans and prepare for the next two months of work.

A survey of the maintenance shop building site revealed piles of sand and stone ready to go, plus stacks of cement blocks for the walls. Hopefully work will begin towards the end of this coming week once the work crews have finished pouring the floor on the Women’s Centre elsewhere on the property.

Maintenance shop building site

600 of the over 4000 blocks needed for the project

My teaching time with the mechanics students will also begin on Wednesday of next week. I’m looking forward to seeing the guys again and picking up where Todd Green and Ed Hyslip left off last August. (sure wish you guys were here!)

I also got a look at the mahogany wood blanks that have been cut and stacked in anticipation of the woodturning project that John Topham will be initiating when he arrives here for the month of May. Can’t wait to see these “turn” into wooden bowls and other projects.

Mahogany wood blanks

So thanks for your continued prayers and support for Mercy Tech Mission.  You know what we say – together we are changing lives, one skill at a time.

Cheers!