WOR | Silembe Update 06 Apr 2008

We received an update from our team in Zambia today in reference to our Silembe project; be blessed:

Got the curtain rods, and curtains up today.

The boys are happy.

All of the walls and ceilings have been painted.

I finally got the grill. This is not how it goes. I was going over the installation with Golden. Finally, this wall will start going up Monday.

All 6 houses should be able to cook at the same time with plenty of room. Hot water will be a bi-product.

I'm happy with the sinks. As soon as I get the stoppers for the drain plugs, which were not available previously, I'll finish testing. I expect them to work great.



The delay in getting rocks to pour the concrete and the delay in getting the grill left little work to be done while the slab cures. So Golden got them to dig the 3rd house foundation, just to stay busy. I kept the workers on the clock because we need them for the 2nd house and kitchen/laundry to finish quickly, which will begin Monday.

The boys have plenty of things to play with and explore. The water from our hand pump is clearing up. It's about half way to former clearness. Only a small amount of water is still coming out of the ground. The septic tank hole remains full.

The slab was poured Wednesday. The walls and plaster will be finished within 2 weeks. If you want ceilings done after the walls, let me know and I'll get the materials. The window frames (made locally, so not all the same) were measured again today. I'll order the glass (cut here in Kalomo) on Monday and make that 3rd bank withdrawal. More beds, mattresses, and solar equipment(for 2nd house) should be picked up Friday in Livingstone.

The kids enjoy playing and learning with Mama Jo. I think Mama Jo enjoys it more than the kids.

The house and Kitchen/Laundry should only have small jobs remaining. I could probably have the next house roofed before we depart for the States this June 14th, or I could slow the work down by cutting down on workers, or I cold stop the work after finishing what we are now doing, or I could stock material like cement, window & door frames, roofing, etc. for the next building. If much work should happen while I'm in the States I'll need to start stocking materials soon.

God Bless,
from Mike & Team