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Ghana Mission
2003
Part 2 - A Day
at the Worksite |
Note: click on the pictures below for
full-sized view.
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One of the goals for this
year's mission was the completion of a school wing to the church.
Most of the construction was done by local masons and craftsmen, with
help from the team, and with money provided by the mission and fund-raising
efforts in the U.S. |
| The church itself (above
left) required only finishing touches since its construction had been
completed last year. However, this is what the school wing
(above right) looked like upon our arrival. It was scheduled for
completion in 7 days! |
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Construction was largely by
cinderblock, concrete (slab), and mortar. In preparation for
receiving the door and window frames, notches were chipped into the
blocks. The frames and the nails holding them in the notches were then
mortared in place. |
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It seemed as if all
were mortared -- the walls, floors, door and window frames, and outside
steps to the church. We learned to carry the water Ghanaian style,
although sometimes the pans leaked!
Water was brought to the site weekly by a fire truck. |
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We were amazed by how the
roofing panels (aluminum sheet) were cut. This was done using a
durable string and by pulling the string through the sheeting as
the two workmen walked toward each other. Some of our team members
tried this, but with very poor success! |
| Notches were cut into the
top-most cinderblocks to receive the roofing beams as well. These
were of very dense rough-cut lumber, splined into two or three sections,
and held by nails and mortar. |
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Amazingly, the construction
was completed within the 7 days! All the inside and outside walls
and floors were finish-mortared, the walls were painted, the roofing was
completed, the doors and windows were installed, and the site was
cleaned up. A celebration was clearly in order! |
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The dedication ceremony was a
religious service that included three church choirs. One of the
choirs wore robes and mortar-boards. We all danced during the
collection time. Everyone was ready to praise God!
Our youngest team member, shown with the Bishop, wore her Ghanaian
dress. |
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