And Now For Something Completely Different...

We interrupt this blog to bring you a story of a job that has taken Ron's attention from building a hostel to building a bridge.

Construction continues on the hostel.  Phil Falconer, forman Johanas and the guys keep plugging away.  Ron says that once the walls are going up, it doesn't look real different from day to day.  And meanwhile our day guard, who has construction experience, is starting to work on the staff duplex.

The bridge on the way to RFIS - falling apart!

But Ron's attention has been pulled to a pressing need.  This bridge is on the road that most students and staff travel going to and from Rain Forest International School (RFIS).  The area around RFIS is seeing more construction, and that calls for more trucks loaded with sand, gravel, and bricks.  Such heavy loads and increased traffic is taking a toll on this bridge.  (Pun intended)

It’s gotten so that nearly every day a car or truck has difficulty crossing – boards break, the support boards underneath bunch up, and it has become quite dangerous to cross. Parents and staff have been advised to take a different, less convenient route to school.

You can see the lengthwise boards on the bridge break and scatter after every vehicle passes.

So RFIS Administrative Assistant, Mr. Norbert, contacted the Chef de Quartier to discuss a solution.  Someone in the area donated a tree which was cut by chainsaw into lumber, as all lumber here is cut.  So sorry we don’t have a picture of that process.  The RFIS and missionary community "donated" labor, and engineering.  He has done a lot of research to design the bridge and will supervise workers from RFIS and each of the hostels.

Charles, Aoudou and Engelbert helped get the lumber ready

Ron and a few of the guys went out to the forest with a truck to bring the cut lumber to RFIS for planing.  At about 200 pounds a piece, the boards are tough to move around.

Boards laid out like they will be on the bridge

Then they laid the boards out at school the way they will be on the bridge which will serve heavy trucks, cars and motorcycles.  These boards are 3 times as wide as the boards of the original bridge, so they should do well.
Hopefully the bridge repair / reconstruction will be complete by the end of next week.  Then we'll get back to our regularly scheduled stories of hostel construction!