Day 2- Construction

Here are some more photos-  there are about four walls built and ready to go up, the current roof has been prepped a bit, and they started making screens for sifting sand to mix with concrete for some masonry work.  It will look GOOD when complete.  :)

Measuring and marking the boards.  

Working alongside one another and teaching.  One of my favorite things about this kind of trip.  :)  James was having fun helping the guys.  Redgi did some work too- even though it's not his thing as much (construction/manual labor)

playing with the scraps!  

Redgi making the screen for sifting sand

Redgi and James working on the screen some more.  :)  They have two sized mesh- this is the larger one.  

Construction trip

Here are some photos of what's been done so far....

Bill putting in a ground wire for the electric 

Cutting rebar

before the group came we got some of the lumber we will need (somehow the photos got out of order)

Checking out the electric situation

Naomi and I played with the girls- today I think we will have a little more work to do

Anthony and Ron trying to figure how to do the roof

Close up of Anthony and Ron

Bill and Redgi working on the electric

More of Bill and Redgi- :)  

Can't believe we already got to visit the hardware store (to show it to the crew) and start a little work before eating an AMAZING dinner cooked by Redgi's mom right there at the house.  She had the help of others who live there.  We had SO MUCH FOOD we barely made a dent.  Told her the big group (big appetites) is coming in a few days... ;)

(btw- the Montero is fixed but we may need to buy a better alternator from the states and have it brought down to replace this one they rebuilt)

Team has arrived

The team arrived on time and made it to our construction site to get to work already.  They spent most of today working on planning their work/ministry so they are ready to get to work tomorrow.  :)  Will let them post some of their impressions of Haiti.

The children of Chaveneau

Photos of just some of the children of Chaveneau who will benefit from the clean water!  THANK YOU

before church on Sunday L-R:  ??  Bebe, Doroty, Devna, Helene and Ricardo

Widlinde

Misrose

Devna (L) and ???  (R)    ..... can you tell I am HORRIBLE with names... been going there for 2 years off and on!

Jephtay

Pisket (real name is Rose Darline I think)

Ezekiel

Kerline

Back to PAP

Yesterday was such an amazing day. Unfortunately I do not have a lot of photos of the parts I wanted.  I had to hand my camera to another person and the batteries died not long into the ceremony/dedication of the water building but I DID get some.  Here is a sample.

We drove home at about 2:30 pm. and got to the guest house at about 6:30 pm. for dinner and to just chill and celebrate ALL that the group had done this past week.  Two water systems!  Many people will be healthy now.  Praise God!  We even managed to stay within our budget though we did spend the excess on
some things like snacks/drinks for the celebration for all, an exterior light for the water building for security, fixing the fence, etc...

Redgi went home for the night (I am at the guest house with the team) and will pick me up/take me back to Carrefour today- from there, who knows.  Tomorrow I have four friends coming to stay with me at the house in Carrefour.  How exciting to be able to share it with others.

As we were driving in there were so many people walking to the church- took this out the front window.

People gathering for the celebration.  The stove and such were there to show some of the things/classes they will offer at the professional school.  They will charge about $50 US for the year for a class but they are planning to teach things such as cooking/baking, sewing, masonry, computer, etc.. 

Women waiting for the celebration to begin

The mayor of Chantal is on the right in this photo (I am sitting behind the person speaking).  Pastor Cornet, Pastor Duval, Pastor Junior and a visiting Pastor Blackson were all in attendance as well.  The Mayor got the first jug of water and he even said he would encourage the people of Chantal to come out for water- that it is better and cheaper than what is sold there!  :)  :)    This will encourage people to come to Chaveneau and hopefully take some classes at the professional school and will  ultimately help the community become more self-sustaining.  Praise God!

Pastor Cornet was thanking me and Bower Hill Community Church who was responsible for the project.  I thank them too!  For caring about the people of Haiti, for coming to help and for their friendship/hospitality they showed Redgi and myself this past week.  I am blessed to call them friends!  (and they are committed to a 3 year follow-up)

More people at the celebration- trying to find some shade!  This string line/ribbon was later cut by the mayor!

I spoke about our commitment as an organization to their community and working WITH them- not to give hand outs which will be gone shortly after they are received, but to help them become a community that is self sustaining- providing jobs for those in the community, providing better health/nutrition, providing education so that they can be part of a positive future for Haiti!  :)

Darenda spoke as well.  She explained how they could have picked many "causes" and even once they chose to help provide clean water to Haiti they could have chosen many other locations, but God brought them HERE!  Now the people of Chaveneau must continue to "pay it forward" and go to others to help them as well- whatever that looks like to each person/family.  We pray this is only the beginning!

There are unfortunately no photos of the people getting their certificates for attending the classes and for learning to be operators, of the cutting of the ribbon and my favorite part- of ALL in attendance getting a taste of the clean water from a cup.  They were sooo excited and the mood was so positive.  I wish everyone readying this could have been there with us as well!  THANK YOU again for helping this become reality.

Final work day

Yesterday was the final work day in Chaveneau-  Pastor Cornet and his wife, Pastor Duval and his wife, the mayor or Chantal, many people from Carrefour and many from the community of Chaveneau will participate in a dedication ceremony this morning when we will all get to sample CLEAN WATER from the building.  We will drink the water like communion- all together after a prayer and some words from special people.  It will be an amazing time I am sure and quite emotional.  I have already cried - especially yesterday when the first bottle of water was filled and capped.  God is good!  :)

Chris drinking the clean water that was produced with the system!  

They put back up the fence so it is more secure!  HU paid for that a while ago but they wanted to wait until all work was complete- it looks good

The girls watching.... we had so much fun!

Our operators!  Charlot (L) and Manuel (R) ... they now have a PAYING JOB!  :)  So excited for them!

The team with the operators and the FIRST bottle of water!   

The people in the education class (to learn about when to use the clean water for their family) will train others in the community now!  They made a banner for the celebration!

The women took a walk and I thought this was cute- to see the children watching them take a photo (trying to see the screen of the camera as the photo was taken)

And THIS is why we did what we did.  We tested the water from the current water source (they drink this every day- orange label) and within 1.5 days it looked like this and smelled horrible.  The one on the right is the well we just hooked up to the system.  We are convinced by the way is is turning that when we go back this morning that too will have turned black and smelly.  This is evidence of bacteria in the water that can make people sick.  

We've got WATER!

Yesterday at BOTH sites we ran the system and got water all the way through.  Bleached it/cleaned it and today we should be ready to dispense the first jugs to members of the community.  :)  :)

School children leaving to go home (water building in the background)

Darenda signing the covenant with Pastor Cornet and Pastor Junior- they agree to maintain the system, offer free water to families in the community, pay the operators (Bower Hill will pay salaries for the first year, then 1/2 the salary for the second year- cool set up.  They must also form a water committee from the community to oversee the running of the system, report any problems, etc.... 

Toasting (didn't drink it yet) to the water system WORKING.... this is the tank for the "dirty" water...

The class of people who have committed to learning about the system, learning about when to use clean water and to educate others!

The BOSS on the roof overseeing the work!  ;)

view through one of the holes in the church building!  :)  :)  

Looking over at the church!  Cool to have this angle from the top of the water building.

beginnings of a road into the property- it goes right up to the water building.  Still need to finish it (about $500 US) but it will be really nice!  

A bit hard to see but a RAINBOW appeared in the sky right after the water started to flow!  God is good!!