Construction nearing completion....

From our Director in Zambia, Mike Jones (edited):

Trust all is well. I've been a bit slow getting back to you. The buildings are at the place where not much progress can be seen in the pictures. I've sent the workers that joined us for this construction project -back home. They are all happy, and ready to join us again when we have money to start another house. Shut down and start up -costs us time and money. This way we are continuing to build at a slower pace and can easily speed up when we need to move faster.

The bath house window frames turned out much smaller than I had ordered; I thought the price was really cheap and now I know why. Yes, the openings between the rafters provides good ventilation (and light) and will be screened. Since the window frames are so small, I think we will just put screens in them instead of glass. The brick posts for the kitchen/laundry are going up. The window glasses are probably already installed in the house. We ordered one bunk bed with drawers under -from a carpenter in Livingstone. The price is good, K330,000 which is $85-90 (plus mattresses for about $65.00). We will send you pictures when it is ready around the first of November. If you like it and have the money, we will order more.

I wanted to build a platform for the hand pump, eliminating pumping up hill, but the driller assured me he had a better solution. The gasket the borehole driller put on the handpump for pumping "up hill" is leaking. If it wears out this quickly we will need another system for filling the tank. We have some choices:
1. Buy more rubber to make gaskets and hope it works.
2. Put containers of water in the bath house for washing and flushing.
3. Hand pump water and fill tank by hand.
4. Hand pump water into small tank/container. Use 2nd pump to fill tank.
5. Buy another pump for borehole. Only specialized hand pumps are designed to pump a "head". Windmills, solar pumps, and other motors requiring power could work.

Since we have little water to pump, all of our options will be at the low end of the price scale. I would suggest we work by hand, while looking for and pricing other options.

Tuesday I plan to turn in the application for the orphanage to the council. I must first get a letter from the health ministry, which they have already promised will be ready. Wednesday and Thursday we will be in Lusaka for work permit, vehicle repairs, etc. I hope to be on the building site again Friday, hauling rocks, setting toilets & sinks, etc.

Jo Anne should arrive here to stay next month. That is a big praise. I'll send more later, providing my computer keeps working (power problems).

God Bless, Mike

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We expect another level of approvals without any issues within the next month, and will potentially start accepting children at the home by the end of November. Each home (six planned for) will be home to 12 children.

Bathhouse Work

Local men laid pipe between septic and soak-away. Septic will be plastered inside to hold water this week. Pipes laid from septic for toilets and vent.

Brick stalls should finish this week and plaster in bathhouse.

House of Faith Orphanage

House with hand pump and school in the back ground. Window frames were made smaller than requested, but good price. I'll screen in between rafters. Plenty of air inside.

A Journey of Faith - Zambia 2008

World Orphan Relief booked ticket last week for team member joining us for A Journey of Faith - Zambia 2008. Seven Team members are confirmed; Scott Nordstrom, Noah Nordstrom, Mike Dee, Nathan Dee, Robin Webber, Rick Vigil, and Joe DesGeorges, and will depart February 27th and return March 14th.

The team will travel from Lusaka, the capital of Zambia, and travel to Kasama where the team will spend three days completing a site evaluation for an Orphanage and planning sustainable development in the area.

From Kasama, the team will travel to Chingola for another site evaluation for an Orphanage. We will also spend a day at the Zambian Soap factory working on opportunities for us to make soap elsewhere in Zambia. We will then travel to Ndola to inspect a project that should be finished this month at a local area Orphanage there.

From Ndola we will travel to Silembe where we will spend 4 days working on the 2nd home there. In addition, we will be developing plans for the remaining build-out for the site, as well as, establishing plans for sustainable development in Silembe.

All along this journey we will be spending time in local area churches building awareness for the plight of Orphans in Zambia. The team will then finish there trip with a few days in Livingstone, before flying out to Johannesburg, and then on to the U.S.

The team will be responsible for raising funds for the 2nd home at the site, approximately $10,500 US, and will also be involved in producing a documentary about Zambian Orphans during this trip.

Please call us at 303.840.1123 for any further questions in reference to this trip.

Nevis & Modest at Work!

Finishing the window frame plaster, with the young daughter of Nevis & Modest checking things out. This picture was taken last Tuesday.

Interior of 1st Home Coming along.....

As reported by our representative in Zambia, Mike Jones, on October 13th (edited):

Finishing the window frame plaster, with the young daughter of Nevis & Modest checking things out. These were taken Tuesday. (Next Pic)

For the kitchen/laundry, I should be able to put a roof on columns, no floor or sides, but an excellent shelter for cooking and washing (in tubs) for $1,000.
I plan to connect pipes on Monday. I think I have enough money, with the next withdrawal, to open the bathhouse with a toilet, sink, and shower for each side (boys and girls).

The window glasses are ready for the house and will cost about $200.

We will do more pricing of furniture. I'm looking at bunk beds with a cabinet of drawers sliding under. Individual space like a locker/bin will be there for each child.

Getting Closer,
Mike

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Continue to keep this project in your prayers, as we prepare to receive approval to start receiving children to live in this home. According to data provided by UNICEF, Zambia is home to 1.2 million Orphans -nearly 10% of the population. In addition, some reports from this southern African country indicate that there are as many as 100,000 living on the street.

Bathhouse

From our man Mike in Zambia:

The roof is on the bathhouse. The floor, partition walls/stalls, and plumbing are the major jobs remaining. Next week the sewer pipes should be installed. I think the septic and soak away will be completed within two weeks. The interior walls are "looking good" (hard to tell in this picture) and will be finished in one or two days.

My Visa Card strip was not readable at the bank in Lusaka. Neither was another card I tried. I will try again in Livingstone, probably Monday. Hopefully, the bank teller just made some mistake. The card swipe system is fairly new. We used our money to buy what we needed (good prices on some of the plumbing) and will reimburse later. Barclays Bank has opened in Kalomo. I tried to get information on charges for electronic transfer of money from The States to a bank account here, but they didn't know. I may try withdrawing money in Kalomo today.

Blessings, Scott

Interior Work at Orphanage begins....

A message from Mike late last week(edited):

The bathhouse is ready for roofing, but I forgot to bring more nails. The roof should be finished Monday. The interior walls will be done today and plaster will begin inside.
The double brick walls and high ceiling make the house cooler inside than most.

We have money on hand for payroll next week, window glass, maybe ceilings, and the basic things needed to live in the house. I need to get more info on screens and furniture, which I will send you. We can see work being done on a building in Kalomo for Barclays Bank, which will make withdrawing funds more convenient to accomplish. They could be open next month!

Blessings from Zambia!