Time for another Gabon update. The past 2 weeks have been difficult. As someone said, The honeymoon wears off and reality sets in…Well, Ive been on a honeymoon and I don’t consider this anywhere close to a honeymoon but reality has set in!!!! HA!!!! … But in all seriousness, I know what he meant!!!! Over the past 2 weeks, I had great plans for a good and productive week(s)…but it did not pan out… This past 2 weeks, we had our share of issues but those are behind us and we are looking forward….The good things to report: Brandon has felt good (health wise) this past week; we were not too terribly homesick; I finally got my metal tool box (a week later than I was promised and $80 more than I initially negotiated with him)….but I finally got IT!!!!!; the workers and people we deal with, seem to really like us; I got a translator and the biggest most positive good thing is that we got a vehicle for our own use!!! A missionary group is letting us use it for the cost of mileage….Wow!!! Its a worn out Nissan Patrol SUV and it can take these Gabon potholes (aka craters) at a pretty good clip!!! What a blessing!!! The taxis have to go around the potholes and I just plow through them. I tell Brandon HANG ON!!! Pastor Arthur does not like it because how crazy they drive over here and is worried for us. When I picked it up last Saturday, I felt like a 16 yr old with his first set of wheels…..Brandon said I was silly but I did not care!!! WooHoo, wheels!!!! FREEDOM!!!!! The bad news is that it seem to rain every 1-2 days. It turns the site into a muddy mess… but Hey... Its construction in Gabon Africa!!! Fortunately, I can deal with it by moving the work operations to different parts of the site ….I am also having some issues with the on-site labor. I do not have direct control over the labor (its by design) and can only advise. The workers are friendly and seem to enjoy Brandon and I but there are a few things that need to be worked out. I have had to make subtle adjustments and we seem to be making progress. Part of it is cultural, so I have to work around those issues also….Bottom line is that it is very frustrating…. Here is one example of a frustrating conversation: Scott: We need to start plugging the gaps in the security perimeter wall. What do we need to do? (I know what we need to do but I am just being nice, polite and courteous) Foreman: We need block over there. Scott: ok lets get some men to start getting block over there. Foreman: oh no that is not good…. Scott: Why? Foreman: they might get stolen. Scott: That’s why we need the security wall up Foreman: I know but no, they might get stolen. Scott: How do you propose we build it? Foreman: (Shrugged shoulders) ..end of conversation… So the blocks weigh 40-45 pounds, we have a swamp on one side and a drainage ditch (with water on the other), there are no trucks or trailers here in this country and we have a property watchman….How many blocks do you think someone will actually steal? Hmmmm??? Im guessing not many…. In addition, I estimated that we needed 450 blocks over in that one area alone. They planned on carrying 3 blocks at a time in wheel barrows, approx 150 yards (1-1/2 football fields) to the area. I think I see the issue…. with not much incentive to build the wall!! So my solution…make a large pallet and use my tractor to ferry 30-40 block at a time over there and stockpile them in the areas that they are needed….Now, lets get the wall built!!! ;) I would like to thank everyone for their prayers and words of encouragement. It has been mentally and emotionally tough but that is what adventures are made of: perseverance, determination and slopping around in the mud!!! Thanks again!!!! It made the last couple of days a little brighter. Also, during your prayers- we need skilled laborers and we could use a lot of clouds with NO rain and a cool breeze!!!! Heck, well just take a breeze!!!
Posted on: Fri, 01 Nov 2013 21:03:05 +0000
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