Remblage (many hands make light work)

The Chief had the entire village turn out for the Remblage (leveling). This is where they fill  in the inside of  foundation with dirt and rock to make the floor of the building.

Val and the chief are standing inside the area to be filled. 

Pierre and another worker. 

Here most of the village is at the work site to fill in the foundation with dirt and rocks. So many people are needed because the work is done by hand.

Here the floor of the inner section is starting to take shape.

Many hands make light work. Because the remblage went so well the chief decided to have a village work day once a month. When I talked to Val this morning she told me that today is a village work day. They are repairing one of the roads in the village.  

Val keeping track of the materials

Construction Pics from June.

As I said in a previous post I will be posting information and pictures in the order they happened. Below are some pictures of the workers in the foundation phase.

Finishing the foundation and adding corner supports.

Because of the hill one side of the foundation is very high.

Workers mixing mortar. Everything is done by hand.

Almost Home

Hello everyone,

I'm still in Chicago this morning, they canceled my flight from last night. I should be in Sioux Falls by 9:30 and Brookings around 10:30. I'll start posting the pictures and video I brought back once I get to Brookings. I'll do it in the order of how events transpired, so that all of you get a feel for the progress that was made.

The Truth in Rainbows

The popular conception in the village is that you will see a rainbow in the sky if someone very important like a chief dies. Val asked the boys if they have ever seen this notion come true. None of them could think of a time that this truly happened, yet it is what everyone in the village is taught. She had them read the story of Noah and how the rainbow is God's promise that he will never flood the world again. (Genesis 9:13) The other day one of the boys noticed a rainbow and he mentioned God's promise. Val was pleased that he had remembered the bible lesson.

Thanks for your prayers

Hello everyone, Just talked to Val. She has been without electricity for the past two days. So, no internet and she has not been able to charge her phone. She had to use the chief's wife's phone. So, please pray for her. Sandra the chief's eldest daughter is still in need of prayer she has been hospitalized within the last two days. Also lift Pierre's daughter up in prayer as well. She asked that we pray for the entire village because this is a difficult time. Thank you all in advance.

A Man’s healing

In January Anna (our nurse) treated a man’s wounds from a motorcycle accident. He came to the construction site.  Val didn't immediately recognize him, when he approached her and said thank you to the missionaries and the nurses for treating his wound. He said that ever since Anna had cleaned his wound and given him instructions on how to care for it, he did not return to the hospital.  He followed Anna’s instruction and stayed off his feet, and now his wound is completely healed. He told Valerie hat  he is also a believer in Jesus Christ and apparently his son is the one that said he used to perform sacrifices, and visit sorcerers, but since he got baptized, he does not perform sacrifice or see sorcerers any more.