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This project looked like a bombed out shell when we first saw it, and I didn’t have much hope for it.  But our crew wanted to try, so we went ahead in faith. Now it’s home to a young family who had been living with neighbors. Click on any picture for expanded detail.

There are two different roof projects.  The one with the peaked roof  was a simple remove and replace the existing material.  The one with the flat roof was a different story.  The interior partitions were not strong enough to support the original roof and had caused it to sag allowing pools of water to form.  The extra weight from the water eventually broke the roof rafters.  We had to tear everything off and increase the height of the front wall to give the roof more of a slope.  Then we built new interior walls that are strong enough to bear the weight of the new roof.  By the time we were finished, only the exterior walls remained of the original structure. Click on any picture for expanded detail.

Early this spring the Lord brought us the opportunity to build a house for Him. A small congregation lost their meeting place without warning and had nowhere to go.  Two neighbors, one of whom we had previously built a house for, each donated part of their land so we could attach a meeting room to the other neighbor’s house.  All things considered it worked out nicely. The congregation was thrilled, and we think the Lord is pleased as well.  Click on any picture for expanded detail.

This family has 5 children and lived in a two bedroom cellar with pieces of old plywood laid on top for a roof.  Whenever it rained, water seeped in through the walls and through the roof.  They wanted us to build the main floor for them, but we discovered the cellar walls would not support a structure. Starting just behind the cellar we built a new three bedroom house and then poured a concrete roof over the existing cellar.  Now everyone has a warm, dry place to sleep, and mom and dad finally have their own bedroom. Click on any picture for expanded detail.

This is another case where a poorly constructed flat roof eventually began to collapse.  It got so bad the combined weight of the roof and the water that pooled on it began cracking the windows. Water ran down inside the interior walls and shorted out the electrical system. Once again we had to remove everything above the walls.  Then we strengthened the exterior walls so they could support a new roof system, and built a new peaked roof.  This meant extending the interior walls to meet and help support the new roof. Finally, we re-wired the house, installed new windows, and applied stucco to match the original exterior.  Click on any picture for expanded detail.

The tar paper and plywood shanty in the first picture below is home to a husband and wife, their two children, and two teenage nephews.  They do all their cooking and eating outside and use the “house” for sleeping.  When we met them they had already poured part of a concrete floor for a new house but didn’t have any way to complete it.  We poured the rest of the floor and have begun building a new three bedroom house with indoor kitchen and eating area, electricity, and a full bath. Click on any picture for an enlarged slide show.

Due to over crowding, the students in a nearby village are not getting enough personal attention from their teachers.  The weaker ones are falling behind and when that happens the government threatens to take them away from their parents.  The principal asked the government to build another classroom to correct this problem, but she was turned down.  Unlike many principals, she insists her students learn music, art, and sports in addition to required classes, making hers one of the few full day schools around.   This costs money that would otherwise be available for buildings.  They said she can’t have both.

Not willing to sacrifice the quality of her program, she asked us to build the overflow classroom, and after getting permission from the government, we agreed.  This is a campus format so each classroom is a separate building.  We are providing this at no cost to the school and out of gratitude, parents with construction skills have agreed to help with the labor under the direction of our crew.  They are proud of their school and are happy to help preserve its programs.  As you can see the kids are pretty happy, too.

Last week we put together a Christmas food distribution for 31 especially needy families in the community where our home building ministry is focused. The pictures show the bulk shipment itemized below,  a sample of  the gift packages we made from it, and some of the happy moms whose families received a special Christmas gift package this year.  In the process we noticed some extra needy families, and included Christmas presents for some kids who otherwise would not have received any.  This all happened thanks to the Lord’s prompting and your generosity.  Click on any image to enlarge.

100 pounds rice

100 pounds beans

100 pounds wheat flour

60 pounds potatoes

3 cases masa flour

3 cases shelf stable milk

3 cases tomato puree

3 cases vegetable oil

3 cases pasta

100 pounds powdered all purpose soap

31 packages toilet paper

This single mom and her little boy lived in a shack made of  used garage doors.  One for each side and two for the roof. The wood had rotted and when it rained it was almost as bad as being outside.  Run off from the rain came right through the sleeping area.  As you can see, we had to tear it down and start over with a new concrete floor instead of the mostly dirt one they had before.  Now they have a two bedroom house with a solid floor, a roof that keeps them dry and indoor plumbing. Click on any picture for expanded detail.

A dad, his single daughter, and her little boy lived in what was essentially a one room house.  We added another room and a shower for the mom and her son, building new steps up to the exterior entrance, and creating an interior entrance from the existing window you can see in the side of the original house.  The walk up fruit and vegetable stand in the foreground of the first picture is how this mother supports herself and her son.   Click on any picture for expanded detail.