May 17th

Tuesday, with predictions of rain in the forecast, but more cement arriving this day, the work started right after a breakfast of cornbread and beans was prepared.

The cement truck arrived & managed not to hit any of our trees and I think our grape vines even made it through round one.

It came today for the foundation of the back wall that will be built, 

beginning around the perimeter.

Bruce, overseeing the work, taking a break. 

He and his brother Ralph are nonstop working machines, if there's a job to be done, their on it.

Vladamier, from church, joined us both Monday & today.

His strength in working has been so very helpful, he's a digging machine. 

He says he's up for more of it again next week. 

The old house on the plot for Naomi's home is coming down...

...today!!!

Trying to save what we can, Sergei helped in getting the rest of the roof off.

& the storm blows in

Look out below! 

It took 12 big truck loads to clear the plot of the debris from the old house. 

The old fruit trees will come down next as they no longer bear fruit. 

May 16th

Monday was a crazy busy day, but no rain! Two thumbs up.

Clearing the fallen wall of the septic tank was first on the list.

Though a clear sunny day, I still had concerns about the guys being in the pit.

We had 5 or 6 "Indians" & 5 or 6 "Chiefs" barking out orders through the day,

my own in concern for their safety. Thankfully no one got hurt.

Once most of the dirt was cleared away, when the grate of rebar, that forms the floor of the septic tank, had to be lifted to the side. After that, the rest of the dirt was removed and the grate dropped down once again to the floor level.

Then the cement truck came and filled the floor

Meanwhile...the construction company was doing their fair share of the work

The ceiling of the basement is prepped for the cement to be poured.

Truck #1 unloads

Truck #2 unloads

Cement Mix-Truck #3 was needed for completion of this ceiling & the floor of the tank.

May 15th

Sunday

church - orphanage - downtown

The church in Darivka

Each team member introduced themselves - Bryan shared he'd given every part of his life, with his wife to do whatever God asked, so he showed up at NMSI 6 months ago and then here.

Dale preached - giving Sasha a bit of a break

Sasha and Nadya shared in song with us all

Jesus is our first love

poetry

& one of the 2 grand children present shared a song with us all

We delivered bananas that were purchased by a ladies class at 

The Lakeway Church in Lakeway, TX

The kids were so excited to receive them and the guys grateful to share with the kids.

These kids are temporarily relocated as their hall is being refurbished, makes living quarters a bit tight.

Sasha with Anya, we interrupted their nap time, but I don't think anyone minded.

May 14th

All in a days work!

father, son team

Dale and Tyler working on making rebar frames for the back wall foundation

completed frame and one in place in the corner

back property line in-prep for the cement to be poured

basement ceiling prepped 

for the cement to be pour this next week

this hole's wall collapsed because of the amount of rain that's been falling

prayer for safety please, in the fixing process, as others could collapse too

Friday the 13th

O what a great day we had at the work site for Stephen's home!

The ceiling of the basement was the big project for the hired company today. It's quite the process to watch it being formed, here's a few of just the starting process.

I'll have more pics tomorrow so you can see the progress of this is process.

A lot of digging got done today. As I've said, it's rained every day and it's not a light shower, it's been a steady rain for at least an hour or two if not more each day. 

Today, gratefully, it didn't start until about 4 in the afternoon, but the heavy, almost mud like, dirt that has to be moved is no easy task. We're only getting started, but the trench for the fence wall is making visible progress.

Finishing up the metal working for the base-flooring of the septic tank. The truck to pour the concrete will come Monday, if the rain holds off, so it can get onto the site.

It's just a tad bit muddy.

May 12th

this will be the support structure inside the base of the septic tank

see those sparks flying, that means hard work is gettin' done

placement for the grapevine trellis is laid out

prep workers for those in the pit

Paul and Sergey are cutting support blocks to go between the metal reinforcements

after a morning of working out in the orphanage,

working in the garden, the ground will be levelled and protective barriers for the base of the trees will help keep them from getting burried.

MAY 11th
Another day of work in the morning, rain in the afternoon

This is called the "canolizatsia" hole OR

the sewage tank pit that is just underway

brothers working together

Ralph and Bruce Wilson

getting the gravel into the pit

mud is not an issue, it is everywhere

packing down the gravel for the base under the tank floor that will be pour on day when it stops raining

enjoying the hard work, the work out, maybe just having fun

The prep workers for those in the pit

Naomi's plot, but it's changed!

The roof was removed off the old house that sits in a small corner of the plot, a start to getting that property prepared for building on & not for public use as a pathway to other places in town.

walking back to Stephen's home in Darivka

the hole for the foundation of the back wall on the garden plot

Bryan and Dale hard at work