VBS report

Our vbs team has done great over the past two days. They prepared on Friday and Sunday and have taught over 110 kids each day at the orphanage! They had a concern with the CD player, but God provided for a system at the orphanage that worked better than what we had in mind!

In addition, our vbs leader Robin was sick on Monday am, but was better as soon as vbs started. Here are some pictures of the crew and vbs action.

Answered questions

Every day we go across a train track. Someone asked if it was active.   We found out today that it is as we came to it and found it blocked!   Not for lonEvery day we go across a train track. Someone asked if it was active.   We found out today that it is as we came to it and found it blocked!   Not for long as they we letting passengers off (in the middle of nowhere). g as they we letting passengers off (in the middle of nowhere).

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Tuesday at the jobsite

Had a fantastic day at the construction site. We got the roof on all but three buildings and the siding complete on almost six buildings. Only challenge is with the top panels that let light through. We will get some additional tools to help with that tomorrow. 

Here are some shots of the site as of day four.

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Fantastic day at school on Monday

Got a lot done today. Got two more buildings up with trusses and walls and the rest of the walls up. Got roofs on four buildings and siding/windows/doors on parts of three buildings. Very happy with progress today. No rain!

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Guests on jobsite today

We had guests on our jobsite today. Had goats when we showed up and a group of donkeys hung out all day. Definitely in the country.  

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Very productive day on the jobsite

In spite of rain, we got six buildings up with trusses, one just walls and one with the sheeting. Very good day and no injuries. 

Tomorrow we hope to get all trusses up and start roofing. 

 

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Afternoon in Matobo national park

After we got back from church, we headed to Matobo national park. We drove through and saw some of the rock formations it is names for and we saw a few animals on our mini safari! We saw a giraffe, wildebeest, kudu and impala. After the rain we saw the most beautiful double rainbow. 

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Church at the orphanage

We had church at the orphanage today. They have a small church on the grounds. We filled it overflowing!   They had a communion Sabbath today so it was a high Sabbath. 

We also got a tour of the orphanage today as we won't see it during the week. They are not funded by the government and are funded by the church, donations and by the school.   They eventually want to move the entire orphanage to the school complex in a few years once ‎they get the funding to build the homes.  

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First day on jobsite

Had a great day on jobsite. Lost about 30 mins to rain but great weather other than that. Everyone did great except for Leeann's shoes! She has alabama chrome on them. Got three buildings almost framed in. Great workers from Maranatha to guide us as well

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First day team picture

Here is our team ready to work. We have had a good morning thus far!

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Water issues at dorm

‎We got back from the jobsite and we're greeted by water in both bathrooms. The drain was backing up and flooding the floor. We had to scramble to get it under control and find out how to stop it. We finally did and a plumber is here trying to unclog it.   That means no showers tonight and only three bathrooms to use.   A bit of a challenge. We are praying for quick resolution and that we can shower tomorrow.  

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Job site visit

Visited the job site. One building is up already for a bathroom. We have 11 to put up. The fun starts tomorrow! 

Have a great crew to work with. Group is excited!

 

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Made it to Zimbabwe with all luggage!

‎Everyone AND their luggage all made it to Zimbabwe!   We were greeted by the kids from the orphanage and are now on our way to the dorms.   Praise the lord!

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On the plane to Bulawayo

After some very challenging luggage checkin, we are on the plane to Bulawayo. We pray for all luggage to make it and visas to be ok

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At hotel in joburg

Praise the Lord that everyone's bag made it safely and that we are all in our hotel (except for rakiya who is still in flight).

One big step down. Will be very relieved once we get into Zimbabwe and can start work!

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Landed safely in Johannesburg

No issues on flight. Will send more once we get our bags

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Landed in Ghana

After a 9 hour flight, we have landed safely in Ghana for refueling. We will be here for an hour and then take off for South Africa. Pray for continued safety!

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On the plane to South Africa

After some tense moments, all but one are on the plane. Rakiya's flight was delayed and she will meet us in Johannesburg tomorrow night.

Pray for safe travels and that our bags will be there tomorrow!

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On the plane to dc

We are ready for our first leg of the long journey. All of the group from Houston is on board the plane to Washington, D.C. Where we will meet the rest of the group and fly to Africa. All of our flights but one are on schedule. Praying that our team member from LA will make it in time.

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Zimbabwe mission trip start

Thirty volunteers leave today to go to Zimbabwe for a mission trip to construct 12 school buildings for a church run orphanage in Bulawayo. We will also conduct a vacation bible school for the orphanage while we are there.

We have made it through security and got our bags checked in for the long journey. There was a lot of concern over being charged for two bags but we all got two bags free thus far !

Pray for the group as we journey to Africa that all of our bags make it, that we have no problems with visas and that it won't rain on the job site.

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Wonderful Sabbath at vbs location

We had a great sabbath worship at the church where we conducted vbs during the week. Pastor Jonathan preached, our vbs team and the kids sang special music and several of our team led out in children's story.

Here are some pictures and will upload videos when I can

Dedication

We have stayed at the same hotel for both of our trips this year. One other mission group stayed there before we did.

The owner liked having our groups there so much hat they dedicated a new gazebo to Maranatha groups. It was very sweet. Here is a picture of the plaque and the gazebo

Finished!

We got done with all the block on both buildings and the roof on one. Praise the lord we had good weather and no rain today that allowed us to finish.

The team finished strong but are very tired.

Here are some pictures of the building and our team.

Awesome Thursday

The team did great on the job site. We are completely done with the side walls and up to 17 on all end walls. God willing and it doesn't rain we will finish tomorrow and maybe get the roof on!!!!

Everyone pitched in and did what was needed. Very happy with all of the teams!

Vbs report

Our vbs crew has been amazing. They were planning on 30-40 kids and got up to 83 yesterday! Rachael ended up sending enough crafts for 60-75 kids but even that had been multiplied!

Vanessa keeps referring to the crafts as loaves and fishes because there are always enough.

Here is a picture of our vbs team serenading us with their songs

Destiny got some concrete on her today

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Productive Wednesday

We had another rain free day and got a lot of work done. We got mostly done with the 13th course today on both buildings. God willing, we will finish the sides tomorrow and start working on the gables.

I am really pleased with how all of our new team members are doing. We have 15 first time missionaries and all are doing great!

One of our block teams are two ladies- Carolina and Roaa. The Maranatha workers and the teachers at the school have all been amazed that they are doing that and doing so well !

Great day on the jobsite

We had a day with only one brief rain shower! Praise the lord.

We got almost done with the tenth course all the way around on one building and started most walls on the other building. Still a little behind but caught up a lot today.

Kenton got a little dirty today

Kenton joined our team from our spring trip from Atlanta. He decided to work construction this time and got a little dirtier than he did in the spring !!

Shoe failure

Frank had some issues with his shoes today. Luckily I carry duct tape after having a similar issue a few years ago.

Rainy Tuesday

The second day at the job site is always one of the toughest. First we had to pour the ring of concrete all the way around the building on the fourth course. Then we have to extend the vertical rebars up another five feet. Finally we have to put scaffolding up to reach higher on the wall. That took most of the morning. We got some of the seventh course laid up but haven't put the rebar in yet. We are a little behind schedule.

Part of the reason is that the skies opened up around 3:40 pm and started dumping rain on is. Even with the tarps, when it rains that hard, it is difficult to lay block. We didn't get any block laid after that.

And to add to that the water for all of La Chorrera is not working. It hasn't worked since yesterday and they cancelled school today. So that was challenging because we have to use water to make mortar and concrete. The crew was able to find water somewhere and we were able to keep working. We will pray for no rain and for the water system to begin working.

Our vbs team had a great first day. The local elder is fantastic and was a big help. They got way more kids than expected. We were told to expect 30 and 65 showed up!!! We hope that continues in spite of the rain

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First day worksite picture

Great start to week

We had our first day on the job site today. We got done with four courses of block on both buildings. That's great considering that we have a LOT of new people laying block.

We were blessed with clouds and it only rained for a short time twice. All in all a great day on the job site.

Our vbs team had a great day as well. They got organized and made a visit to the church where they will conduct the vbs starting tomorrow.

The mayor and a lot of the team showed up to help get ready. The mayor is so impressed that he is going to throw a party for the entire group and vbs attendees with piñatas and everything on Friday when they wrap up. We have never had that type of response before!

We had two people late and they had to perform a skit for us tonight. Very entertaining by Rosa and Ariana.

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Sabbath at job site

We had a great worship at the hotel this morning led by Julian k, destiny and pastor Jonathan. After that we headed to the school for church service. We had a great sermon by the pastor and Vanessa was nice enough to translate for us.


We got a chance to scope out the job site as well. Everything is set for us and ready to go for tomorrow. Very happy with the prep the team did for us.



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Safely at hotel

After a longer bus ride than expected, we made it to the hotel. No problems at the airport and everyone got their luggage.

Once we got on the road, we were at a stop in traffic. There was a really bad accident and it took us twice as long as expected.

We all got into our rooms and had dinner. We have had worship and know the plan for tomorrow. God willing, we will have a great sabbath tomorrow.

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Made it safely to Panama City

We all have arrived safely in Panama City and are on the bus to our hotel. Praise the lord that everyone's luggage arrived safely.



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On our way to Panama

We are all at the airport and boarding the plane to Panama City. All 43 of our volunteers are ready to go do Gods work!


Pray for safety and minimal rain for our group!

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