GROWING PAINS - A CONSTRUCTION UPDATE

I apologize for keeping you in suspense over seeing the results of this summer's construction project at Cowman School.  

There were two main parts to what was built:

Project #1: The patio which used to function as our cafeteria and large group gathering area for chapel was walled in and converted into a new classroom - the largest on campus.



And it's MINE. ;-)


Rating: Excellent. 

Everything is painted, inside and out ...



 The five windows allow plenty of cross breezes.

The door to Angie's office was moved to the outside ..

(View from inside Angie's office - old door being filled, new door to the right.)

... and a visiting team made sure I had outlets as of last Friday.

Six men working for six hours ...



And voila!

(Still waiting on ceiling fans and overhead lighting, but they are coming!)

Project #2: To replace the eating and gathering space that was lost to the new classroom, the ground floor of what we hope will eventually become a two story building was constructed.  With a covered space for eating, a kitchen, and two new bathrooms, it was going to be a vast improvement over what we had been using.

Rating: What happened???

(You're looking at the two new bathrooms!)

It's just not quite there yet, that's all.

So what DID happen? Well, it's complicated, but the simplified version is something like this: the structure was made super sturdy (a good thing) and that ate up more of the budget than expected (a bad thing). And there was simply no room for going over budget.



On the bright side, this will definitely be the place to be during an earthquake. 

And someday it may become the first skyscraper in Cap Haitien. 

But for now, each afternoon as we leave the school grounds and head down the lane towards the main road, this sight seems to be a word from God:

Ahhhh, yes. Patience.

Speaking of preparations for the students' arrival, here are some Before and After pics.

First, my room:

Before...

After...

And Melissa's room (she's now teaching 3rd grade):

Before...


After..

Another angle...

 The most important preparation we've done over the past week and a half:



Ready or not, the kids come tomorrow morning. We thank the Lord for each child coming, each staff member, and the privilege to minister in this place.

If I have an ounce of energy left tomorrow evening, I will try to post some opening day pics!