14 April 2010 - Stand. Up. - Red Rhino Outreach Project

14 April 2010 – Stand. Up.

April 13, 2010 Greg Traverso Uncategorized

Here’s a relatively dry update on the last week and half or so. Seems we’re on solid ground again.

A brief recap

A brief recap: When we left our waterlogged excavators last, we were dealing with lots of rain and some subterranean seeping blues. and

the compactor was bogging

the compactor was bogging.

hard packed murram

We were trying everything to keep the water from entering the excavation site, so we could get it filled with hard packed murram.

balance

We finally got the balance tipped in our favor,

slab

and poured a 6" reinforced concrete slab on it.

water tank

And built the stand for two 1500 liter water tanks to sit on.

excavation site

excavation site

excavation site

.

It got filled with pulverized hardcore

It got filled with pulverized hardcore

and a topper of murram.

and a topper of murram.

Joseph muscled the timber for the top slab over

Joseph muscled the timber for the top slab over

and we sighted and leveled it.

and we sighted and leveled it.

Sister Agata, a new friend, approved.

Sister Agata, a new friend, approved.

So the sarcophagus stand was cured and raised.

So the sarcophagus stand was cured and raised.

.

Rogers, the other mason was working on another stand for a water tank which includes two sinks of our own design for washing clothes.

Rogers, the other mason was working on another stand for a water tank which includes two sinks of our own design for washing clothes.

We used waterproof cement in order to get a really smooth surface.

We used waterproof cement in order to get a really smooth surface.

Mildred advised us as to the proper height, etc.

Mildred advised us as to the proper height, etc.

Rogers' bike, all fancied up with colored wire,

Rogers' bike, all fancied up with colored wire,

and the nearly finished product.

and the nearly finished product.

The next few photos show the progress of the houses.

The next few photos show the progress of the houses.

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The first guttering. This represents the all important ability to harvest rain water, store it, and use it for our drinking water supply throughout the year.

The first guttering. This represents the all important ability to harvest rain water, store it, and use it for our drinking water supply throughout the year.

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Doesn't this make you want to lace up your sneakers and play some three-on-three?

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lovely gutters

The late afternoon sun made the already lovely gutters radiant.

walls began to take shape

On the inside, with the wiring in place, the walls began to take shape.

inside

.

We’re beginning to love these houses, and we’re continuing to love you.

.

From the sweet heart of this place,

.

David

Comments(8)

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Joan Bosworth says
April 13, 2010 at 8:04 pm

Wow! Such progress. It would be great if you could install a time capsule in those walls [perhaps print out the RROP journal you’ve been writing] for someone to find two hundred years from now. The story is one that should always remain there.

I personally enjoy each chapter and always look forward to the next installment.

Thanks!

Joan
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Jeanette Marquez says
April 13, 2010 at 8:50 pm

You all deserve a BIG WOW! Really, a great looking building, soon to be be called HOME. The gift of self is without measure. You all use your gifts well. God Bless.
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Peggy says
April 13, 2010 at 9:59 pm

You are right, David. Even from this distance — you gotta love these houses. Imagine what they are going to mean to the children who will be living there!
Soon!
Love, Peggy
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david says
April 14, 2010 at 12:34 am

Hi Joan,

The idea of some kind of time capsule or something is a really good idea. I’ll work on it on this end and see what we can come up with. And thanks for your interest in the project and the postings. At times it has felt that in two hundred years we may just be finishing construction…but now we are closing in.

David
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david says
April 14, 2010 at 12:38 am

Hi Jeanette,

Yes, the houses will soon be homes! Homes for the kids we have been supporting and working with for three years. Then the stone and mortar and the timber and mbati will have real life breathed into them. I can’t wait. Thanks for your kind words.

David
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david says
April 14, 2010 at 12:40 am

Hi Peggy,

I hope they mean safety and health and love and a bright future. Then we will know we have made something. And a good deal of it with your efforts. Many thanks.

David
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Chris says
April 15, 2010 at 8:10 pm

Yes, the houses are really beautiful. You’re lucky I’m not there, or you would have murram tracks and basketball prints all over those floors. They beat the heck out of the dusty court across the street. I’m struck by how good the wood siding looks. It looks like the Sierras have made a momentary visit to Lukenya. And those new concrete sinks are *really* cool. I imagine you’ll come to be more grateful for them than you can even imagine now.

The ingenuity of the whole crew of you continues to amaze me. And I’m looking forward to meeting Sister Agata in these pages…

Love,

Chris
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david says
April 22, 2010 at 9:21 am

Hi Chris,

The character background filter must really be working; it’s 86ing my comments pretty regularly. In any case, the response, clever as it must have been, that I thought was posted, is now far from my mind. But yes, the floors are made for hoops, and the framed walls would set Shaq-like picks…has he set any this decade, by the way?

Love you brother,

David

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