~by Win Brandon~
We gathered at 8 am this morning for breakfast and our daily morning devotional led by Peggy. Our verse for the day was 2nd Thessalonians 2:16-17. It proved to be very appropriate for some of our activities.
At 9 am, we divided into 2 groups and departed Solace Guest House. One group (Sally, Kath, Renata and Jill) departed for the Nduba center to observe the work of the OT’s and PT’s in action. The second group (Elizabeth, Audrey, Peggy, Mike, Tom, Steve and Win) departed for the Bumbogo center. Elizabeth, Audrey and Peggy remained at the Bumbogo center and observed classrooms in Love With Actions Academy. The men went with Gilbert and Daniel (school principal) to the home of an LWA student, Francoise, to participate in an ongoing home renovation.
Francoise is an 11 year old girl with cerebral palsy, the result of birth complications. In addition to her significant disability, she has had to confront many challenges beyond her control. During her early childhood, her family faced deep social discrimination in their community, from closed doors to unkind words and actions, resulting in Francoise spending much of her early childhood isolated and hidden, not by choice but due to the stigma of the disability. Through LWA, Francoise and her family have found support and stability. LWA has begun a project to renovate Francoise’s home and coincidentally, the project started yesterday. The home is a modest wood frame and mud home. This project proposes to enhance the electrical system with wired lights in all rooms, replace the two windows and a door, pour a concrete floor in all rooms and install a patio and walkway outside. The improvements should allow Francoise to move more easily about her home in her wheelchair.
We arrived at the home at 9:30 am this morning gung ho and ready to work. The stucco crew was already in full swing but allowed us to join in and assist where convenient. We assisted with several activities including removing all loose rocks from around the foundation, shoveling and removing dirt to level the “kitchen” floor and to prepare an area for the small patio and assisting with various parts of the stucco process. The stucco is actually a mixture of sand and concrete and is applied to all walls, both inside and out to give them strength and a smoother finish. The crew quickly got us involved in mixing the stucco and then carrying the stucco in buckets into the home for the crew to apply. Mixing the stucco was done right on the ground and involved (1) shoveling the sand into a pile looking like a volcano, (2) adding the concrete powder and water, (3) then turning the three ingredients over and over until it was completely mixed and the right consistency. The home has no plumbing so we carried the water up a hill from a holding tank in 5 gallon (40#) containers. Both Tom and I made a water run and I must say I’m glad I didn’t have to do it all day! It was quite a workout due both the weight of the two containers and the rather undulating trail from the water tank to the home. Joining us in this work were Daniel, who worked in his school clothes and shoes, and Francoise’s sister.
We continue to be impressed with the commitment and industrious nature of the LWA staff and this local renovation crew. For a bunch of guys north of 60 (and one north of 70 😉 whose best skill was supervisory), it was a vigorous workout. We are looking forward to participating again Thursday morning in our second session and seeing the progress being made. We continue to be grateful for the support and prayers of so many of our congregation, friends and families as we are enjoying seeing the fruits of this LWA ministry firsthand.
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