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Published: February 9th 2010
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Afrikea
Way easier than the Swedish version It's been one week since Ken arrived in Likasi and already he has brought some new ideas / viewpoints to the table ... most recently ... we were discussing a meeting of church leaders in Toyota and Erick realised we would need "meals" to feed them mid-day ... Ken immediately shed his light on the situation ... "Meals? As in food? ... Please, from now on when reffering to meals can we use the word 'food'? It makes more sense to me." Just a little insight into Ken's way of thinking. You're Welcome.
Anyway ... I’m back on the real topic ... latest developments in the DRG:
On our first visit to the Toyota school we noticed that the benches the children use to sit on were in pretty rough shape ... benches that Erick had made years before ... most were missing legs. The teachers had started to use piles of bricks to substitute the legs on most benches and in the worst cases were just running a board between two towers of bricks ... awesome! Here comes Ken’s inspiration ... ready? “We should build new benches.” ... and finally this past weekend ... we did.
Erick
TOOLS!
Donated by WKC had quite a few adventures while picking up the supplies and I got a text on one of his many trips to the lumber yard reading “I’m under arrest and they asked me 2 pay $50” ... just another day in the DRG. With the lumber (and Erick) back at the house we started to build early Saturday afternoon. We had planned out our benches earlier in the week and got the wood cut into pieces that we could just nail together ... it was kind of like Ikea but with more of an African twist ... it was way easier than the crazy instructions the Swedish people come up with. By 6 that evening we had 10 benches assembled and ready for a Sunday sanding ... time for rest and SHIMA.
Sunday morning came way to early and Ken and I decided we should take the time to sleep in a bit before we began the finishing touches of our benches ... by 1 in the afternoon we were ready ... Bob Marley playing on the computer and sand paper in hand the afternoon had begun. Sanding benches in Africa in a garage in Likasi, DRG to the
The Prototype
Our first attempt ... was a success ... no big deal sounds of Bob Marley is quite the experience ... I would recommend trying it at least once in a lifetime ... like the Talking Heads song ... anyone? ... anyone? Oooooook ... moving on.
Benches ... complete!
Erick got back late that night from a Sunday full of “pastoral works” and rain. For him to hear that the benches were finished ... I think made his day. Too bad the power was out ... and would be for the next day. Power cuts on a weekday here in the DRG are like snow days on a school day in Canada ... minus the snow ... and long list of fun activities ... but still it meant a long weekend. So with another sleep in under my belt Monday really kicked off well.
Early that morning ... without me knowing ... Erick woke up, loaded the benches in the vehicle and was off to Toyota school to make a surprise delivery. He got there well before the children did and had all 10 benches arranged before they arrived for class at 730 ... they ... were ... STOKED! Or so I’m told ... wish I could have been
Ken the Karpenter
Kan he build it? Yes he Kan! there but missed the memo apparently ... it’s alright I guess. Anyway it was good to hear that the weekend work paid off.
Long weekend is over though ... back in the office early this morning getting ready for our church leader training this weekend ... discussing our plan of attack and how each of us will contribute ... should take up the rest of our week ... just got handed my very own “Church Leader Training” manual ... “Version 2” of course ... updated ... better than “Version 1” ... obviously. Should probably start thumbing through it ... brushing up my already abundant knowledge on how to train church leaders ... no big deal.
Hope you get a snow day ...
Willis Paul And ... I’ve just been reminded ... things I say like “nice work” and “check” ... they even catch on in the DRG ... Ken and Erick run it all the time now ... to the point of it being annoying ... to me ... possible? I didn’t think so.
Finally got photos up ... bench making, Toyota HBC and Lwambo church leades meeting ... Ketchup ... Hey pear
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Pearl
non-member comment
Great news keep it coming. .
Just saw the picture with your long hair. Maybe the kids were confused--Grow a beard.!Love you Prayer s and blessings. Grandma Pearl