The carpenters showed up mid morning to continue the roofing project. We were happy that they were back on the job. They use ¼ inch metal rods to tie the rafters to the building. They do not use a plate to nail the rafters to. The rafter is wrapped with wire where it meets the wall, then a hole is drilled/knocked in the cement block, after which the wire is threaded through the hole, back up to the rafter then both ends of the wire are nailed to the rafter. Quite the process but it works and keeps the roof from being blown off. When the masons plaster the building the wire is barely noticeable. The carpenters got about 1/3 of the metal roofing sheets put on today. They say that they will finish the project tomorrow. We will see! Now if we could get Abakuri, the outdoor toilet guy to work as fast. We contracted him to build toilets at Kulkpeni for Tichak, the night watchman and Timothy, the evangelist. They had to remold the blocks because the goats climbed on them while they were soft and ruined some of them. Steve called Abakuri this afternoon to see what the holdup was. He promised to start hauling blocks and supplies tomorrow. We are not holding our breath on that one.
The truck is in the shop; it needs new brake shoes. Gomda had to order them from Tamale but he thinks that he will get them put on this afternoon. He also told us to bring the air conditioner compressor that they pulled off when they replaced the engine a couple years ago. He is so worried that we are riding around in this heat with no air conditioning. He said, “It is not good for my sister (that’s me) to have to go in this heat!” The compressor on the truck is good but the clutch is not. He plans on just changing out the clutch. He says he can change the clutch without losing the Freon. I am not sure how that works. We still have not gotten the old engine block that they took out when they replaced the engine. I want it! Ask me what for? An engine block makes a great anvil and there are all sorts of holes that are perfect for bending rebar. We reminded him that I need the engine block; he said he would have the boys load it in the truck while he is working on it. He asked how we were going to offload it. I told him I was going to tie it to a tree and drive the truck out from under it! He just laughed.
Divine is trying to help organize the funeral for James, the church leader that died last week. They have “brought” the funeral to Kulkpanga. It is more like a memorial service. The church at Kulkpanga is very small so Divine asked the churches at Kuklkpeni, Wadiik, and Nyangbaln to help with the funeral. It would be an insult to have a funeral and not feed the people that are coming to the funeral. We decided it would be easier for us to make a monetary donation instead of trying to buy grain, oil, meat and ingredients. Divine stopped by and picked up the money this afternoon. The funeral is going to be on Tuesday.
Thank you for all you do for us and for our family.
In His Service,
Steve and Kandie
