We were able to unload the plane and move the machine to our storage depot for a March installation. The team's goal was to repair & re-roof house #9, no small job. We spent Friday getting organized & started with a plan on the re-roof. Saturday three of the team did some sightseeing while two of us worked on a linen shelving unit for Jane.
At 6:15 AM on Monday the phone rang that the generator at Petite-Ance would not start and that the radio station was off the air. Along with filters & tools three of us made our way through Cap-Haitien to get things running. When we found that the spare fuel filters that we had were not the right ones we were able to get the back-up generator running, by 9:30 we were back up on the roof. We spent five days roofing in 90 degree weather, much different that the weather that we were hearing from back in the US.
By Thursday evening we had just a little bit to complete on the roof but was closed in from weather and the Pa. team of three would be flying out the following morning.
On Friday morning, I received another phone call at 7:30 that there had been a fire at our duplex 1/2 mile away and that there was water deluging down from the ceiling. Racing down I found that our tenant Doug had been changing a propane tank and some how there was a massive propane leak and it was ignited by the nearby hot water tank. A neighboring missionary was able to put the fire out with Doug and his wife Susan suffering 1st degree burns to their faces and arms.
The concrete wall was charred black and the heat could still be felt radiating from it for quite some time.
When we turned the water back on, we could see that some plastic waterlines in the attic had melted and kept the fire from extending in through the open eaves. God had caused this to work the same as a sprinkler system to save the roof & building. Needless to say two of us spent the whole day making repairs to the melted plumbing and relocating the hot water tank.
Tomorrow will be finish the duplex, the roof project, change a pully & fanbelt on one of the vehicles, and meet the new team arriving in the morning.
The Dave Shafferly team is going to be starting an addition to the clinic. Bud & Cindy Lenker will be here, they are currently funding to come back full time to help with maintenance & office work. Doug Ries is coming in to install a new air conditioning system at the x-ray room and change some compressors at the radio station. I'm hoping to shadow Doug and get an education on air conditioning to be able to maintain them.
After a packed out church service, it was a couple hours of rest then off to a farewell party at the Christoph for two missionaries leaving the field.
Tomorrow morning Jane is off to the airport and I will be trying to finish up some things before the team arrives at 10:00.
Bud
1 comment:
I just read your post Bud. I'm right there with you. Having been there and met you and worked with you. What was such a shock to me was how 'trapped' you are there. If you don't have something, you can't get it. Emergencies have to be handled 'missionary' style. You have to make your own repairs. There is no Lowes or Home Depot. What you have is what you got! You are a great man for the job Bud. I loved your evenness and abilities and your quiet manner. I could just feel the fatigue and the non stop sequence of events in your days. You don't need emergencies but you don't have any choice, they happen. God is with you and we pray for you. May God send the people, supplies, and funds you need, and may He increase the support base for the whole OMS team there. God's blessings to you and the Haitian Christians there with you.
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