So what do you do when you’re on the construction site, drinking TONS of water to stay hydrated, and all of a sudden… ya gotta use the restroom??? Well, up until this week, the answer was to find Jeff and ever-so-kindly ask him to drive you back to the guesthouse so you can take care of business. Last weeks team looked to change that as they built temporary bathroom facilities for all construction crews to come. Future groups can say a collective “MUCHAS GRACIAS!!!” to the groups from Southern Utah University and Diamond Ranch Academy.
Putting up the walls
Thankfully this group didn’t have to start from scratch. The bathroom structure was constructed on top of the septic system that will hopefully be used by the new clinic. The group framed the walls, screwed on from plywood, and secured the walls. Then a metal roof was put on, followed by a few layers of paint.
The “almost” finished project
The only thing left to do is install some doors and toilets and this bathroom will be ready to use! Not bad for a few days work. Of course, I couldn’t let a group come down and NOT work on the wall….
Making Rebar Columns
A few brave volunteers prepared holes for the next set of columns. They cut, bent, and tied rebar bases and columns. On the last day of work they were able to set all of the columns in place with concrete. The next steps are to clean out the “footer” spaces between the columns and get that poured so the next section of block can be laid. Little by little, progress is being made on the wall!
As our construction focus shifts mainly towards the wall, I want to specifically thank all of the groups that have come down to work on the projects that have made working out at the land a lot better. Groups have made a shaded dining area, a storage space, offices for the engineer, a kitchen space for food to be prepared for the Dominican construction workers, and now bathroom facilities. While these projects aren’t necessarily the clinic itself, they are crucial for the volunteers and Dominican laborers to work effectively and efficiently. I have received endless comments from Dominicans and Americans how thankful they are for what our volunteers have done out at the site. THANK YOU!!!