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!

Bathhouse Getting Ready......

We will be adding the roof to the bathhouse this week, and then following up with internal fixtures.

In addition to this building, we will be finishing the 1st home at this project, and the outdoor cooking and laundry area.

Construction for Orphans Continue....

We should be prepared for Orphans to begin moving in this November some time.

Man digging is the soak away. Drain fields are not used here, and these soakaways are easy, cheap, work great, and are easily fix in the unlikely event of a problem.

Orphans Home Progressing

The septic tank only needs plaster, pipes, and concrete lid.

This septic tank will handle the entire House of Faith Orphanage in Silembe, Zambia, which will eventually be home to over 70 children.

All of the construction is being handled locally, using local labor, and materials such as bricks are being purchase after being made in the local village.

Silembe, Zambia, is a village one-hour north north-west of Kalomo, and is home to about 99 families.

Zambia Update

Work continues at House of Faith Orphanage where the exterior of the home is nearly finished.